A small spring flower in the Mississippi Delta. The flower is growing next to the Ruins of Windsor, located near Port Gibson between Vicksburg and Natchez. The photograph may be of the flower, but the focus here is on Windsor. At one time the Greek revival mansion was one of the most gracious mansions in Mississippi, constructed in 1859 using slave labor. Windsor was the crest of Mississippi high society during and even more so after the Civil War. But during the war, it played a significant role as well. Due to its four story height, it was at various times used as an observatory by both Confederate and Union soldiers. Back in those days, the Mississippi River was much closer to the house, and a good war-time view of the river was indispensable. At one point during the war, after some Union soldiers were shot at Windsor, General Grant arrived determined to burn it to the ground. Although he was persuaded to spare the magnificent structure, he did burn the barn just to teach them a lesson. The mansion was also used as a Federal hospital during and after the Battle of Port Gibson. One Federal Soldier wrote home saying,"it was the most magnificent house I ever saw." But unfortunately, General Grant's burning the barn was only foreshadowing things still to come. On February 17, 1890, 25 years after the conclusion of the Civil War, the sky over the Mississippi River loomed heavy with smoke. People rushed to the source of the fire and found Windsor ablaze in smoke and flames. A day party for some family and friends took a tragic turn when some dumbass tossed a cigarette into some wood shavings on the 3rd floor. My personal guess is he was up there fooling around with someone he wasn't supposed to be with, and when a young man has THAT on his mind, he's not very smart regarding anything else. So they both probably fled the scene to prevent their secret from being revealed. But the results were indeed tragic. The fire was blazing out of control and Catherine Daniell Williams, mistress of Windsor, had to take refuge under the limbs of a live oak tree, a safe distance away. With a sad and tear-streaked face, she watched as everything she owned turned to ashes. So after surviving the Civil War, Windsor in the end fell victim to a careless fire. And perhaps, if my theory is right, some misguided passion. Today, 23 of the original 29 forty-five foot tall Corinthian columns are all that remain. One more note. The same architect that built the Rosswood Plantation also designed and built Windsor. There are so many more stories about Windsor. Thanks for reading! marshall