I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3497
To authorize a study on the feasibility of preserving certain Civil War battle-
fields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail and of establishing a Civil
Rights Trail in the State of Mississippi.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 18, 1999
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. SHOWS, and Mr. TAYLOR of
Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources
A BILL
To authorize a study on the feasibility of preserving certain
Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign
Trail and of establishing a Civil Rights Trail in the
State of Mississippi.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I—VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN
TRAIL BATTLEFIELDS PRES-
ERVATION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Vicksburg Campaign
Trail Battlefields Preservation Act of 1999’’.
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SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) there are situated along the Vicksburg
Campaign Trail in the States of Mississippi, Lou-
isiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee the sites of several
key Civil War battles;
(2) the battlefields along the Vicksburg Cam-
paign Trail are collectively of national significance in
the history of the Civil War; and
(3) the preservation of those battlefields would
vitally contribute to the understanding of the herit-
age of the United States.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to author-
ize a feasibility study to determine what measures should
be taken to preserve certain Civil War battlefields along
the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.
SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) CAMPAIGN TRAIL STATE.—The term ‘‘Cam-
paign Trail State’’ means each of the States of Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, in-
cluding political subdivisions of those States.
(2) CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Civil War
battlefields’’ means the land and interests in
land that is the site of a Civil War battlefield,
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including structures on or adjacent to the land,
as generally depicted on the Map.
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘Civil War
battlefields’’ includes—
(i) the battlefields at Helena and Ar-
kansas Post, Arkansas;
(ii) Goodrich’s Landing near Transyl-
vania, and sites in and around Lake Provi-
dence, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana;
(iii) the battlefield at Milliken’s Bend,
Madison Parish, Louisiana;
(iv) the route of Grant’s march
through Louisiana from Milliken’s Bend to
Hard Times, Madison and Tensas Par-
ishes, Louisiana;
(v) the Winter Quarters at Tensas
Parish, Louisiana;
(vi) 
Grant’s 
landing 
site 
at
Bruinsburg, and the route of Grant’s
march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, Clai-
borne, Hinds, and Warren Counties, Mis-
sissippi;
(vii) the battlefield at Port Gibson (in-
cluding Shaifer House, Bethel Church, and
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the ruins of Windsor), Claiborne County,
Mississippi;
(viii) the battlefield at Grand Gulf,
Claiborne County, Mississippi;
(ix) the battlefield at Raymond (in-
cluding Waverly, (the Peyton House)),
Hinds County, Mississippi;
(x) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds
County, Mississippi;
(xi) the Union siege lines around
Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi;
(xii) the battlefield at Champion Hill
(including Coker House), Hinds County,
Mississippi;
(xiii) the battlefield at Big Black
River Bridge, Hinds and Warren Counties,
Mississippi;
(xiv) 
the 
Union 
fortifications 
at
Haynes Bluff, Confederate fortifications at
Snyder’s Bluff, and remnants of Federal
exterior lines, Warren County, Mississippi;
(xv) the battlefield at Chickasaw
Bayou, Warren County, Mississippi;
(xvi) Pemberton’s Headquarters at
Warren County, Mississippi;
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(xvii) the site of actions taken in the
Mississippi Delta and Confederate for-
tifications near Grenada, Grenada County,
Mississippi;
(xviii) the site of the start of
Greirson’s Raid and other related sites,
LaGrange, Tennessee; and
(xix) any other sites considered appro-
priate by the Secretary.
(3) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Vicksburg Campaign Trail National Battle-
fields’’, numbered lll, and dated lll.
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the National Park Service.
SEC. 104. FEASIBILITY STUDY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the
date that funds are made available to carry out this title,
the Secretary shall complete a feasibility study to deter-
mine what measures should be taken to preserve Civil War
battlefields.
(b) COMPONENTS.—In completing the study, the Sec-
retary shall—
(1) enter into contracts with entities to use ad-
vanced technology such as remote sensing, river