In my response on the location of Sherman's camp on the WEST side of the Big Black River across from Bridgeport Ferry, I mistakenly said that Sherman's camp was "east" of Bridgeport. That would of course been WEST of Bridgeport. The old Jackson Road which extended from Jackson to Vicksburg came through Bolton then curled along the railroad until it turned up a hill southward and passed right by the house of Sid and Matilda Champion. Then, after getting to the "crossroads" (1 mile) the road turned west and over Baker's Creek - then on to Bridgeport where there was a store - and a ferry to cross the Big Black. This was one of the most popular crossings on the Big Black. Steel's Headquarters at the Black River Bridge was only a couple of miles - Sherman's camp PRIOR to the fall of Vicksburg was up more toward Clear Creek - but after the fall of Vicksburg he moved it down to Parson Fox's plantation in a grove of old oak trees. It's impossible to find the exactly location of this particular camp but one can at least get in the approximate area. The Big Black was about 1/4 mile away from Parson Fox's house - Birdsong Ferry is located 2-3 miles north of Bridgeport.

The old Jackson Road meandered through the area north of the now I-20 and came out at a place called CAULKIN - the the ridge road passed right by the old Rock House located on a hillside overlooking the City Cemetery to the north. The road led directly into Vicksburg in the area of the Court House. It is my hope that someday they will mark that historic route. The roads (mostly dirt) are sunken and in many ways undisturbed over the past 145 years.