Bovina, Mississippi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bovina is a community located about 7 miles east of Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States, on Interstate 20. The name Bovina is related to the Latin word for "cow". The movie Mississippi Burning was filmed here. One of the most unusual weather occurrences in Mississippi history occurred on May 11, 1894. On that day a Gopher tortoise totally encased in ice fell with the hail.
St. Albans Episcopal Church was established in 1857 by cotton farmers living near the Big Black River. In 1858, a church was constructed along the railroad tracks southwest of the depot in Bovina. In the Civil War years, the church became a haven for civilians fleeing the Vicksburg siege, holding regular services until it was appropriated by the Union army for "military purposes". The church was desecrated and eventually destroyed. All that remained were a few pieces of glass and the mutilated cornerstone. When the church was rebuilt in 1880, the pieces of glass were incorporated into a unique window. In 1928, a new brick church was erected and the building of 1880 moved and turned to serve as the parish hall. In the 1970's a rectory was built near the church. Since 1860, the church has maintained its parish cemetery which lies to the east of the church.
Battle of Big Black River Bridge May 17, 1863
Pemberton ordered Bowen's division and a fresh brigade commanded by Brigadier General John Vaughn to hold the bridges across Big Black River long enough for Loring to cross. Unbeknownst to Pemberton, however, Loring was not marching toward the river. Instead, Federal troops appeared early in the morning and prepared to storm the defenses. McClernand's XIII Corps quickly deployed astride the road and artillery opened on the Confederate fortifications with solid shot and shell.The Confederate line was naturally strong and formed an arc with its left flank resting on Big Black River and the right flank on Gin Lake. A bayou of waist-deep water fronted a portion of the line and 18 cannon were placed to sweep the flat open ground to the east. As both sides prepared for battle, Union troops took advantage of terrain features and Brigadier General Mike Lawler, on the Federal right, deployed his men in a meander scar not far from the Confederate line of defense. Believing that his men could cover the intervening ground quickly and with little loss, Lawler boldly ordered his troops to fix bayonets and charge. With a mighty cheer the Federals swept across the open ground, through the bayou, and over the parapets. From beginning to end, the charge lasted three minutes. Overwhelmed by the charge, Confederate soldiers threw down their rifle-muskets and ran toward the bridges across the river. In the panic and confusion of defeat, many Confederate soldiers attempted to swim across the river and drowned. Luckily, Pemberton's chief engineer, Major Sam Lockett, set the bridges on fire effectively cutting off pursuit by the victorious Union army. Badly shaken, the Confederates staggered back into the Vicksburg defenses and prepared to resist the Union onslaught. Confederate losses at the Big Black River Bridge were not accurately reported, but 1,751 men, 18 cannon, and 5 battleflags were captured by the Federals. Union casualties totaled only 279 men of whom 39 were killed, 237 wounded, and 3 missing. Grant's forces bridged the river at three locations and, flushed with victory, pushed hard toward Vicksburg on May 18.
 |
This Mississippi state location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
