Ashland (also Ashland Landing) is a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...

Jefferson County, Mississippi Jefferson County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi; its western border is formed by the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the population was 7,726, making it the third ...

, United States. Ashland was located directly on the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

Deception of President-elect Taylor

Ashland was located near Cypress Grove Plantation, purchased in 1840 by future United States president

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military leader who served as the 12th president of the United States from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to th ...

. After Taylor was elected president in 1849, the large and elegant steamer ''Tennessee'' was sent to pick him up at Ashland Landing and transport him to

Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...

to attend several receptions. It went unnoticed in the pre-dawn hours that the steamer ''Saladin'' had arrived at Ashland Landing before the ''Tennessee''. Tom Coleman, ''Saladin's'' 24-year-old captain, was a Taylor family friend who wanted the honor of transporting the president-elect to Vicksburg. When aides discovered the deception, they woke Taylor, who had been sleeping in ''Saladin's'' stateroom. Taylor laughed and stated that the ''Tennessee'' would catch up at Vicksburg and he could transfer there.

References

Former populated places in Jefferson County, Mississippi Former populated places in Mississippi Mississippi populated places on the Mississippi River {{JeffersonCountyMS-geo-stub