American Civil War Sites
Windsor Plantation
Mississippi Highway 552
Port Gibson, MS

Photos and Text Courtesy of LCWRT Member Charlie Moore

The Windsor Mansion was begun by Smith Coffee Daniel II in 1859 and completed in 1861.  Mr Daniel died a few weeks after completion at the age of 34. Basic construction was done by slaves.  Skilled carpenters and ironworkers were brought from New England for  finishing all woodwork and iron work for stairs.  The bricks for the 29 columns supporting the structure were made at a kiln that was located on the site.  The column’s capitals and balustrades were manufactured in St. Louis and then shipped down the Mississippi to the Port of Bruinsburg, and then transported to Windsor.  The total cost of the mansion was $175.000.

During the Civil War, Windsor was used as an observation post by the Confederates, who sent flag signals from its cupola across the Mississippi to forces in Louisiana.  It was used as a Union hospital after the battle of Fort Gibson, May, 1863.