Raymond Battlefield Trail Officially Opened

Friends of Raymond dedicated the Raymond Battlefield Walking/Interpretive Trail in a ceremony conducted at the Raymond Battlefield at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2007. The trail, which includes interpretive markers and a kiosk that explain the Battle of Raymond, the Vicksburg Campaign, and the Little J Railroad that once traversed the battlefield, was enhanced with a new granite marker that denotes the Raymond Military Park while honoring those who helped make it possible. The ceremony was conducted on the new tourist bus parking lot constructed by Hinds County, and included an unveiling of the granite marker by Friends of Raymond Generals in attendance. The unveiling was followed by a ribbon-cutting to officially open the trail. The event was followed by a reception and an opportunity to walk the trail, which is a ¾ mile asphalt route that circumvents a 24-acre tract of hallowed battlefield ground acquired from Gaddis Farms through an exemplary cooperative effort of agricultural land conservation and historic preservation.

Terry Winschel, Vicksburg National Military Park historian, and Friends of Raymond president Parker Hills, accompanied by the Friends of Raymond Generals in the ribbon-cutting, are gratified that the cannon salute by Stanford’s Mississippi Battery fired exactly on cue.

After the Invocation was delivered by Reverend Cliff Nelson, FOR President Parker Hills introduced former Mississippi Senator Charles Pittman of Raymond, a member of the governor’s staff and an FOR General. Pittman then read a proclamation from Governor Haley Barbour which recognized the preservation and interpretation work of Friends of Raymond since the formation of that organization in 1998, while also recognizing its work with, and support by, such organizations and entities as Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Raymond Chamber of Commerce, Hinds County Board of Supervisors, Hinds Community College, Civil War Preservation Trust, History Channel, Mississippi Heritage Trust, and Vicksburg National Military Park.

Terrence Winschel, Park Historian for Vicksburg National Military Park, was then introduced by Hills as the keynote speaker. In his to-the-point remarks, Winschel stated:

The leveling of America has created a “sameness” that dilutes our character and corrodes our very soul. Today, Raymond boldly stands in the shadow of the “sameness” that advances toward you along Highway 18 and says, “We will be different.” Today’s event reflects the depth of pride that the residents of the village of Raymond have in their community; a strong sense of community identity; and an awareness of all that makes this community unique among American towns. Preservation of this battlefield and dedication of this trail evidences the pride you have in this community’s rich history, a boastfulness of its present, and confidence in its future. While maintaining your uniqueness you are working to achieve economic development based in part on heritage tourism by linking Raymond to the broader story of the Vicksburg campaign. Each year visitors to Vicksburg National Military Park generate more than one hundred million dollars in revenue for Vicksburg and Warren County. Raymond is currently attracting a growing share of the same source of that wealth through historic preservation. You have developed partnerships that will assist in achieving this goal, such as that with the Civil War Preservation Trust that assisted in securing this land, and with the National Park Service that contributed cannon carriages and assisted in the development of this trail. The National Park Service has even developed a Raymond Battlefield tour brochure to enable visitors to experience this hallowed ground and, for some, walk in the footsteps of their ancestors. These are strong partnerships that bring promise for the future of this community. Consequently, Raymond is now uniquely positioned to benefit economically from the fast approaching Sesquicentennial of the Civil War as people across this great land are expected to visit the battlefields in record numbers. Joshua Chamberlain predicted that “generations that know us not will come to these deathless fields to see where great things were done for them and ponder.” Thus, if I may paraphrase from the film, Field of Dreams, “If you preserve it they will come,” and they will create jobs for your citizens, provide tax dollars for your community, and enable Raymond to continue forward while maintaining all that makes it unique--its community values, and its identity.

Both sides of the Americans who fought at Raymond on May 12, 1863, were present on Dedication Day. Dr. Robert Levine of Philadelphia, PA, represented the Union soldiers at Raymond while Paul Lampton of Meridian, MS, represented the Confederate artillery.

After the keynote address, the monument unveiling and the ribbon-cutting were each accompanied by spirited cannon blasts fired by members of Stanford’s Mississippi Battery to celebrate the formal opening of the trail. Stanford’s Battery is also collectively an FOR General and is recognized on the new monument for its contributions to the battlefield’s preservation.

Members of Friends of Raymond in attendance included travelers from around the United States, many of whom have become contributing members of Friends of Raymond after personally visiting the battlefield and witnessing the grassroots efforts of Friends of Raymond in its mission of preserving the history of the Raymond area. One such visitor was Dr. Robert Levine of Philadelphia, PA, himself a FOR General, who stated, “I greatly admire what Raymond is doing to preserve its history, and I want to be a part of this fine work.”

According to Friends of Raymond president, Parker Hills, “Our dedication day was a milestone in the efforts of Friends of Raymond in its preservation mission. The Raymond Military Park is fast becoming a reality, and while we still have much to do to preserve and interpret this battlefield, this trail will serve as a constant reminder that with vision and hard work, we can preserve our history and our environment while enhancing business through historic tourism. With cooperation and caring, we can have it all.”