The date/time/place for the dedication of the historical marker - approved by the Mississippi Department of Archives & History (MDAH) - re the capture of the Federal tinclad USS Petrel is STILL ON and CONFIRMED as being:

Sunday, June 15, 3:00 pm in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

Our special guest will be Mr. Ed Bearss, Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service. Mr. Bearss wrote the 1982 article re the Petrel capture which was published in Morningside Notes as part of his longtime excellent and extensive scholarship re the War Between The States in Mississippi.

Noted Civil War and Reconstruction historian Dr. Bill Richter, who has written on Col. John Griffith and his family, will also be present.

At this time, participants will include not only local historians from the Vicksburg and Jackson area, but also folks from West Texas (driving from Junction, Texas!!!!!), Arizona, Indiana, and elsewhere.

Interested parties can call Mr. Harold C. Fisher, at 662-746-4781 or Cell Phone 662-571-1322 (E Mail: dover2@aol.com). In addition, Mr. Sam Olden, who is the President of the Yazoo City Historical Society can be reached at 662-746-5015. Please contact Harold or Sam if you have any questions, need directions, etc.

Please spread the word to any and all parties that may be interested in this event.

The site of the marker will be a mile or so above (going north) Yazoo City on OLD HIGHWAY 49W. The site of the marker will be where Old Highway 49W and an old farm road, blacktop, SCHAEFER ROAD meet. Visitors are encouraged to turn to the left at this point and park on the blacktop.

After the dedication, a reception will be hosted by the Yazoo City Historical Society and held at the Yazoo City Historical Museum in Yazoo City; directions will be provided at the dedication or can be obtained from Mr. Sam Olden or Mr. Harold Fisher (see above).

Additional info and links re the capture of the Federal tinclad USS Petrel can be seen at the URL given below.

Thanks to everyone who made this event possible!!!!

Kenneth Byrd