The Friends of Raymond, an organization dedicated to historical preservation, is gearing up for re-enactments to mark the 150th anniversary of events that led to the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg during the Civil War.

Activities are set for Oct. 19-21, 2012 — months before, the time of year in 1863that saw the battles of Raymond and Champion Hill and the surrender of Vicksburg to Union forces. Organizers say October will provide more suitable weather, plus they wanted to avoid conflicts with other Civil War-related events.