By 1864, the Federal “Anaconda” blockade of Southern ports was already effectively strangling the Confederacy of supplies. Only one major port remained relatively open—Mobile AL. Although the Union Navy had a blockading force just outside the harbor entrance, the port itself was defended by three cannon positions—Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines and Fort Powell—which prevented the … More Fort Morgan

I’m planning on being in Mobile for November, then over to Florida for the winter. Alas, the Walmarts here (there are a couple of them) don’t seem to have any bus stops within walking distance. Fortunately, though, most of the things I want to visit seem to be within a 20-minute or so drive, so … More Greetings From Alabama

So, what does one do if one has betrayed one’s country, started a war to defend slavery that killed more Americans than Osama Bin Laden did, and became the most hated person in the world? Well, you retire to a seaside estate to write a thousand-page book explaining why you were right all along, so … More Beauvoir: Jefferson Davis Estate

Biloxi is pretty proud of its historic old buildings (though sadly many of them were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The Visitors Center has a self-guided walking tour you can take downtown to view some of the sites. So here are some photos. The Katrina Memorial. When we think of Hurricane Katrina, we think of New … More A Walking Tour of Historic Biloxi

Well, I tried to visit the Mardi Gras Museum today, only to find that it is closed for remodeling.  😦 So I walked up to the Biloxi Lighthouse and Park instead. It’s a nice place to hang around and have lunch. So here are some photos. The lighthouse Feeding the birdies A nature walk runs … More A Walk in Lighthouse Park

Photos from a walk in downtown Biloxi. This electric sign was put up in 1915 to advertise the city to passing trains War Memorial, consisting of the mast and some deck guns from the WW2 light cruiser USS Biloxi Catholic Church with unusual architecture Sea Oats on the beach Fishing boat returning to port A … More Downtown Biloxi

Doesn’t sound very interesting, does it…. But I liked this museum. It explores the history of the fishing and shrimping industry on the Gulf Coast, mostly through displays of various types of fishing craft and some processing machinery. Some photos: The museum Turtle Exclusion device: allows sea turtles to get out of fishing nets when … More Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum

Biloxi Beach Great Blue Heron fishing in the surf Small plover (Sanderling, I think) running along the surf Jellyfish in the sand Dead crab washed up on shore Vertebra from a large fish Royal Tern I think these are Forsters Terns Juvie Brown Pelican I think this is a Red Drum fish. Either it washed … More A Walk on the Beach

Neil Simon fans will know that it’s hot here. Africa hot. Tarzan couldn’t take this hot.  😉 I’ll be here till the end of the month, then heading over to Mobile AL for a while, then on to Florida for the winter.  

In December 1862, the Union ironclad gunship USS Cairo was steaming up the Yazoo River, at Vicksburg MS, on a mission to shell some Confederate shore batteries. Before she got there, some small guns on shore fired a few shells at her, and the captain ordered the ship to turn about to fire back. it … More The Gunship “Cairo”