Civil War reenactors brought history to life at the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson as members of the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry taught attendees how soldiers of that era lived on rations or off the land, the wool uniforms they wore; the armaments they used; how meals were cooked, and how their horses were taken care of and used to transport men and materials.

Richard Wilder describes how rifles used during the Civil War were loaded, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Wilder shows the firing mechanism in a Civil War era rifle. “Keep your powder dry,” was a phrase used during the war, advising troops to be on the ready and to keep their gunpowder from getting wet. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Richard Wilder describes weapons and other gear used during the Civil War, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Richard Wilder sorts horse tack and other gear during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Richard Wilder details the 12-pounder mountain howitzer, a cannon on a pack carriage that could be transported by horse or mule. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Mark Finken shares with visitors how meals were prepared for soldiers in the field, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Corp. Arthur Battles, is in the process of tracing his ancestors back to the U.S. Colored Cavalry and Buffalo Soldiers of the Civil War and Spanish American War. He joined other re-enactors of the 3rd United States Colored Calvary for a living history event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Salted pork sizzling in a cast iron skiller and coffee brewing, was the basic meal of Civil War soldiers. Armies of the North and South ate off the land, which usually meant hunting local animals or commandeering animals from farms. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Mark Finken prepares the basic meal soldiers ate while in the field, consisting of coffee, salted pork and hard tack, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
Mark Finken prepares the basic meal soldiers ate while in the field, consisting of coffee, salted pork and hard tack, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
H. L. Williams tethers a horse during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Richard Wilder describes how rifles used during the Civil War were loaded, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Wilder shows the firing mechanism in a Civil War era rifle. “Keep your powder dry,” was a phrase used during the war, advising troops to be on the ready and to keep their gunpowder from getting wet. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Richard Wilder describes weapons and other gear used during the Civil War, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Richard Wilder sorts horse tack and other gear during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Richard Wilder details the 12-pounder mountain howitzer, a cannon on a pack carriage that could be transported by horse or mule. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Mark Finken shares with visitors how meals were prepared for soldiers in the field, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Corp. Arthur Battles, is in the process of tracing his ancestors back to the U.S. Colored Cavalry and Buffalo Soldiers of the Civil War and Spanish American War. He joined other re-enactors of the 3rd United States Colored Calvary for a living history event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Mark Finken prepares the basic meal soldiers ate while in the field, consisting of coffee, salted pork and hard tack, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • Mark Finken prepares the basic meal soldiers ate while in the field, consisting of coffee, salted pork and hard tack, during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today
  • H. L. Williams tethers a horse during the 3rd United States Colored Cavalry Living History event held at the Old Capitol Museum, Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Jackson. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

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Vickie King has experience as a professional photographer spanning 35 years- from childhood purchasing her first camera by selling flower seeds to neighbors, as a stringer for Associated Press in Des Moines, Iowa, a freelancer shooting an album cover to your loved one’s wedding, and your kids and pets at a J.C. Penney portrait studio. She joins the Mississippi Today team as a photojournalist.

A native Mississippian and resident of Jackson, Vickie was born in Laurel.
You know her work from years as a staff photographer for the Clarion-Ledger. Her award-winning photography has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Editor & Publisher Magazine, People Magazine, in national news broadcasts, and books depicting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to the glory of Ole Miss football.

Most recently, she is the former photographer, Special Projects Officer IV, Staff Officer I, videographer, and online content producer for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. She is also a Pulitzer Prize nominee for Spot News.

Vickie is a graduate of Simpson College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Relations.