Davis Plantations and Winter Quarters Plantation

Today we drove across the Natchez Mississippi River bridge to Louisiana, during a downpour of rain that lasted hours. We were on the hunt for two different sites that were just a few miles from each other. Our trusty Corolla Blu and her new tires pushed through the flooded roads, and somehow we reached our destinations.

First up, Winter Quarters State Historic Site, which was originally built in 1805 as a hunting lodge near the scenic Lake St. Joseph. Eventually the site would expand into 2,000 acres under Dr. Haller Nutt, who also enslaved more than 300 African Americans.

The Nutt family was away when the area was swarmed by the Union army in the Vicksburg campaign of 1863, but the family were Union sympathizers. The overseer at the home was able to get a letter of protection from two advance officers, Union Generals McPherson and Smith. It was the only plantation home (out of 14) on the banks of Lake St. Joseph left standing, with the others destroyed on General Sherman's orders. From 1863-64, it was used to house Union soldiers who were passing through the region.

The Winter Quarters property and home were temporarily closed, so we were unfortunately not able to see inside. Excuse the raindrops, it was impossible to get a clear shot!

We then drove a short distance to the Davis Plantations marker, which talks about the plantations Jefferson Davis & his older brother Joseph once owned about four miles east of this sign. The land has since become an island in the middle of the Mississippi River, so without a boat this was the closest I could get. It's ok, there are no buildings left of either Davis plantation.

Though the Davis marker is on the Louisiana side, the plantations at the time resided in the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi River has shifted quite a bit since the mid-1800's, which is why we have situations like this one.