In ‘Hidden History of Vicksburg,’ MSU’s Foreman sheds light on Deep South’s mysteries, uncovers forgotten past

STARKVILLE, Miss.—�㽶ֱ��’s Joshua K. Foreman, an instructor in the Department of Communication and advisor to the student newspaper, The Reflector, has released the latest installment in his acclaimed Hidden History series.

A portrait of Josh Foreman. — Josh Foreman (Photo by Beth Wynn)

Co-authored with longtime friend and fellow Jackson native Ryan Starrett, “Hidden History of Vicksburg” debuted last month as the sixth book in the duo’s exploration of the Deep South’s lesser-known stories and mysteries.

The cover art of "Hidden History of Vicksburg" is shown.

“Vicksburg is an old city with an outsize role in Mississippi’s history,” Foreman said. “Everyone knows about its significance in the Civil War, but we wanted to go beyond that well-documented chapter and uncover stories that have been overshadowed by time.”

One such story revisits the notorious “Vicksburg Gamblers,” a group of rowdy card players who disrupted a Fourth of July barbecue in the 1830s. In response, a vigilante mob executed five of them in the town square—an event that captured national attention.

“Abraham Lincoln even wrote a speech about it before he became president,” Foreman said. “It’s fascinating to see how people tried to shape the narrative even then. Almost 200 years ago, there were competing versions of the same event, much like today’s media landscape.”

The book also explores the life of Edwin A., an obscure poet who lived in Vicksburg during the 1840s. Foreman uncovered his writings and found striking parallels to modern internet subcultures.

“He was, in many ways, a prototype of today’s ‘incel’—someone deeply frustrated by an imbalance in the male-to-female population,” Foreman said. “Instead of venting online, he channeled his frustrations into bitter, yearning poetry about the people of Vicksburg.”

Foreman and Starrett have previously co-authored “Hidden History of Jackson” (2018), “Hidden History of the Mississippi Sound” (2019), “Hidden History of New Orleans” (2020), “Hidden History of Natchez” (2021) and “Hidden History of the Mississippi Delta” (2023), all released by Arcadia Publishing.

With their latest release, the duo is approaching a milestone of 10,000 books sold.

Looking ahead, Foreman and Starrett are embarking on a new venture. Their upcoming YouTube series “Mississippi Stories with Foreman and Starrett,” will bring their historical investigations to life on screen. Using cutting-edge vlogging technology, they plan to film a 12-episode season this summer, traveling to locations featured in their books and bringing Mississippi’s hidden history to a wider audience.

Additionally, the authors are setting their sights on future books exploring the North Mississippi region. More information about their work can be found at .

A sixth-generation Mississippian and 11th-generation Southerner, Foreman spent nearly a decade teaching and writing in South Korea before returning home. He holds degrees from �㽶ֱ��and the University of New Hampshire. Foreman is the current president of the Southeastern Journalism Conference.

Starrett, a graduate of the University of Dallas, Adams State University and Spring Hill College, returned to Jackson after a decade in Texas to continue his teaching career.

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Communication, visit and .

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In ‘Hidden History of Vicksburg,’ MSU’s Foreman sheds light on Deep South’s mysteries, uncovers forgotten past

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