Shebangs (earthen caves) outside the Shirley house, during the Siege of Vicksburg, May-July 1863.

Shebangs (earthen caves) outside the Shirley house, during the Siege of Vicksburg, May-July 1863.

Vicksburg

Mississippi

Civil War

Shirley House

siege of Vicksburg

A black and white photograph of the Shirley house, surrounded by hand-excavated shebangs (earthen caves) during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, May to July of 1863. The 45th Illinois Infantry Regiment utilized the house as their headquarters during the siege, and it was also used as a field hospital for the Union wounded. Grant and the other Union commanders also visited the house as a forward observation point during the siege. An underground mine tunnel was excavated from the Shirley house to the Confederate lines.

unknown

Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park

1863, May to July

Vicksburg National Military Park

public resource

photograph, size unknown

English

still image

1863