Following Mississippi's secession, Governor John J. Pettus ordered militia units to Vicksburg to prevent the Mississippi River being used to attack the state or reinforce federal garrisons.  On this evening, the regularly-scheduled Cincinnati to New Orleans riverboat A.O. Tyler, under Captain John Collier, had shots fired across her bows off Vicksburg and was forced to halt for inspection before being allowed to continue her journey. When war began, this vessel became the U.S.S. Tyler, and on August 13, 1861 fired its own shots into Vicksburg.  (By John Osborne)

The Mississippi delegates elected less than three weeks ago on December 20, 1860 for the Secession Convention had assembled in Jackson two days before.  Two thirds of delegates were in favor of secession and the proceedings flowed smoothly towards the state leaving the Union.  The second day a committee produced an ordinance of secession and this document was passed overwhelmingly on this third day.  Mississippi became the second state to declare its independence from the United States.  (By John Osborne) 

The Mississippi delegates elected less than three weeks ago on December 20, 1860 for the Secession Convention had assembled in Jackson the day before.  The election had produced a two third majority in favor of secession and the proceedings flowed smoothly towards the state leaving the Union.  On this second day a committee was named to produce an ordinance of secession and the following day this was voted on.  Mississippi thus became the second state to declare its independence from the United States.  (By John Osborne) 

The Mississippi delegates elected less than three weeks ago on December 20, 1860 for the Secession Convention assembled in Jackson.  Two thirds of delegates were in favor of secession and the proceedings flowed smoothly towards the state leaving the Union.  The second day a committee was named to produce an ordinance of secession.  The next day this was voted upon.  Mississippi, the only state in the country besides South Carolina where slaves outnumbered whites, became the second to declare its independence. (By John Osborne)