I just received what is probably the best estimate of the distance from the Corps. of Engineers. I've also listed a table I developed of the various figures thrown around over the years.

Grabau did not source his data, perhaps he took it from Carter.

If you wish to source this information, please pass me your email address.

George Martin
Sparks, NV
ggmartin55@att.net

"Based on the 1879 survey, I estimate that Vicksburg prior to the cutoff was
at river mile 598. On that same survey Port Hudson was at river 809. Now,
there were probably other cutoffs and meanders between 1863 and 1879, but you
are safe to estimate that the distance was approximately 211 river
miles--give or take a few miles."

200 River Miles Ray Miles, " A River Unvexed", p. 504

201 River Miles Corps. of Eng. fast look estimate, Friday, Oct. 15

211 RIVER MILES Mississippi River Commission Historian

222 River Miles "Lloyd's Steamboat Director" quoted by Steve Mayeux

240 River Miles Grabau, "Ninety-Eight Days", p. 506

240 River Miles "It was all over-except for Joe Johnston's army east of the city, and

Port Hudson holding on precariously 240 miles down river."

Samuel Carter III, The Final Fortress, The Campaign for Vicksburg

1862-1863, St Martin's Press, 1980, p.303, [value not sourced

Confirmed again on p. 83]

300 Miles The Queen of the West " . . . found herself free to roam the river's

length as far as Port Hudson -_the important Confederate work on

on the same side of the river as Vicksburg . . . This portion of the

river was a near three-hundred mile stretch of clear water."

John C. Pemberton, Pemberton Defender of Vicksburg, U of NC

Press, paperback, 1942, p. 85]