Rodney, MS- the "Almost Capital"

--- Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church built in 1863 in Rodney, MS; moved to Grand Gulf State Park in 1983. I have been in it many times, it is Gothic architecture. The outside has been restored beautifully.

Although Rodney, MS is now known as a ghost town (much to the dislike of the few who live there), before the Civil War it was prospering and considered a location for the capital of MS. The most famous story about Rodney occured during the Civil War, after the fall of Vicksburg. Rodney is located on the river, so the Union gunboat the Rattler was stationed there to keep watch over the town. The soldiers on the boat liked to watch the southern belles go into church on Sundays. Finally, one Sunday a few of them went into the church and were discovered by the Rebel soldiers. Shots were fired on both sides, ending with the Rebels taking over the Rattler gunboat. This marked the first time in history a small squad of soldiers overtook an entire ironclad gunboat crew.