On the morning of May 6th, resource program manager Virginia Dubowy was walking in the area of the Texas monument, located at the southern end of the park, when she came upon a slough of dirt at the base of the adjacent fortification. She soon realized that the area had been vandalized by looters. In addition to the extensive damage found at the fortification, over 90 holes were found at the site. The Texas Monument, dedicated in 1961, recently underwent preservation efforts at a cost of $45,000. The fortification, one of nine major defenses established during the Vicksburg campaign, was the only one penetrated by Union forces and is in original condition. The Southeastern Archeological Center (SEAC) assisted the park with the investigation and damage assessment. A preliminary estimate for damage is in the area of tens of thousands of dollars. Local and national media outlets have been contacted and a substantial reward has been posted through Crime Stoppers for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the violators. The investigation also found that a ground sensor, set along a trail off a side road, just outside the park boundary, was stolen as the violators swept their way though the park using metal detectors.
