Windsor Ruins
The largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion ever built in Mississippi was constructed in 1859-61. It was four stories with 23 Corinthian columns. The owner, Smith Daniell, only lived in the mansion for a few weeks before he died. The Windsor plantation consisted of over 2,600 acres. It is said that Mark Twain used to stand in the rooftop observatory an muse while overlooking the Mississippi River. He compared it to a college instead of a residence because of its size. He wrote about it in his book "Life on the Mississippi."
It was used as a Union hospital and observation post during the war and this is probably why it was spared from being burned by the Union troops at the time. A Union officer, Henry Otis Dwight serving in the 20th Ohio Infantry, sketched a picture in a diary that was later found. This is the only known picture of how it looked before it was burned to the ground in 1890. It is said that the fire was started by a party guest who carelessly dropped a cigarette.
November 1, 2015
Windsor Ruins
The largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion ever built in Mississippi was constructed in 1859-61. It was four stories with 23 Corinthian columns. The owner, Smith Daniell, only lived in the mansion for a few weeks before he died. The Windsor plantation consisted of over 2,600 acres. It is said that Mark Twain used to stand in the rooftop observatory an muse while overlooking the Mississippi River. He compared it to a college instead of a residence because of its size. He wrote about it in his book "Life on the Mississippi."
It was used as a Union hospital and observation post during the war and this is probably why it was spared from being burned by the Union troops at the time. A Union officer, Henry Otis Dwight serving in the 20th Ohio Infantry, sketched a picture in a diary that was later found. This is the only known picture of how it looked before it was burned to the ground in 1890. It is said that the fire was started by a party guest who carelessly dropped a cigarette.
November 1, 2015