The Battle at Vicksburg
At this point during the Civil War, January of 1863, the North was not quite as succesful as it wanted to be. Their two goals, one being to capture the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia, and the other to gain control of the Mississippi, were not going as planned. The Union was hardly any closer to Richmond than they were many months ago. However, they were having much more luck in the West. General Grant had gained control of the southern portion of the Mississippi, including New Orleans, and also controlled the upper portion down through Vicksburg. But they still dign't control 250 miles of that extremely important waterway- by contolling it, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas would be seperated from the rest of the nation and, being big-time suppliers for the South, wouldn't be able to continue fueling the South. It would also let the Union move men and supplies deep into Southern territory. This gain would be so vital to the Union, Abraham Lincoln even said "Vicksburg is the key...this war can never be brought to a close until the key is in our pocket..." The Southern president, Jefferson Davis, as well as his generals, knew how important Vicksburg was to both sides, and were determined not to give the "key" to the "bad guy." The year 1863 would be a year of decision.
The South was confident about this year, for they had been beating the Union, while keeping Richmond and Vicksburg safely under their control. In the West, the very succesful general of Ulysses Simpson Grant was ordered by the President to gain control of Vicksburg, and give the whole length of the Mississippi River to the Union. General Grant began his direction towards there on November 4, 1862 into Mississipi. But he never came close to the town, because a Southern cavalry destroyed his supply base, and in late December, was made to retreat. Though disliked by many, and was wanted to be removed by many, Lincoln kept him, but said that if Grant wanted his continued support, he would need to capture Vicksburg.
Vicksburg was not an easy place to attack; it was built on bluffs over 200 feet tall, with nearly a hundred cannons defending the place from river travelers for 30 miles. Miles of swamps protected it from the north, as well as did thickets, bayous, and rivers. The only area to reach Vicksburg in a [somwhat] easy manner would be from the east, still in Confederate hands. But even there, curving ridges extended for nine miles, helping the already well-defended city to be safer. Watch towers has walls 20 feet thick, overlooking guillies and ravines, and there were over a hundred cannons defending this area, and each cannon was protected by trenches and rifle pits. They were so sure that they were safe, and that Grant's prior failed attempts had left the soldiers disoriented and tired, that they even held a party on April 16th to celebrate their accomplishment.
But at midnight, light and explosions stopped the party, for lookotus had seen Porter's shipping fleet and lit fires to light the river for Confederate artillery. Admiral David W. Porter had armored the boats with wet bales of hay to the sides of the gunboats. Out of 525 rounds, onlly 68 hits were made, and inflicted little to no damage. Porter lost two transports and a steamboat. 6 days later, that night, another flotilla was send past the Vicksburg, witht he same result; one steamboat and a few transports lost. During this 6 day period, Grant led 2 of 3 army corps down the western side of the river to meet up with Porter; so far, General Grant's plan had been working out just fine. Later on in April, after William Tecumseh Sherman had led his corps to feint on Vicksburg from the north, Porter's gunboats and transport barges carried Grant's army peacefully across the mile-wide Mississippi.
In early May, Grant had an army of 33,000 on the eastern side of the Mississippi, on enemy land, removed from their supply base, but he had planned for this. They brought most of their hard bread, stale coffee, and salt, and "make the country furnish the balance," as Grant had said. They ate ham, pork roasts, bacon, and beef from civilian farmers. Grant had wanted to confuse the enemy even more after Sherman's attack, so he sent Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson in the last few weeks of April to a "wild ride" through central Mississippi, tearing up 50 miles of 3 railroad tracks that supplied Vicksburg. He and his army won the small battles, caputured 500 Southerners, and burned freight cars and train depots, convering 600 miles in 16 days. On the Union sid, only 3 men were killed, and 5 were wounded.
Grant meanwhile was moving north and east. Instead of marching straight towards Vicksburg after a day-long balltle, he set off towards the capitol of Mississippi, Jackson. Pemberton and Johnston, Southern generals, knew that the only way to defend Jackson was to combine 30,000 of Pemberton's men with 6,000 of Johnston's. But Pemberton wanted to "hold Vicksburg as long as possible...most important point in the Confederacy." On May 12, 1863, Grant's ;ead division mest some of JOhnston's Rebel army at Raymond, 15 miles from Jackson. Johnston knew that 6,000 men couldnt defend against the Union, so he wrote a note to Pemberton to join forces with him and attack Grant from behind. He sent 3 copies of the note, and one did get through, but another ended up in the hands of a Union spy who gave the note to one of Grant's officers. So when Pemberton and a 20,000 man force left to Grant on May 16, he found 2 Union corps ready for battle. One of the corps was led by General James McPherson, the other by General John McClernand. The other one, led by Sherman, was already in Jackson.
Pemberton had his Rebels take up a good, strong position on a ridge called Cahmpion Hill, nearly halfway bewteen Vicksburg and Jackson. This ridge was nrealy 4 miles long and had Confederates nearly 70 feet above the Federals. The Union amry outnumbered them 29,000 to 20,000, but the COnfederates had the advantage of the higher location. McPherson's Union force attacked Pemberton's right wing, and those under McClernand went against the left. However, McCLernand was unneccecarilly cautious, while McPherson pusehd back against COnfederate troops. 3,800 Confederates and 2,400 Union soldiers died in the battle. Grant was pleased at the victory, but mad at McClernand, and was sure that had McClenand pressed the advantage, Pemberton would have been forced to surrender, and the fight for Vicksburg would be done. But instead, the Rebels under Pemberton retreated to Big Black River, which was another good defnsive position at a bridge. THe union soldiers pusehd after them, and McClernand's troops reached the Big Black River on the 17th. When he was hesistant to attack, one of his brigades decided to act on their own, and they rushed the bridge, quickly overtaking the Rebels and capturing over a thousands prisoners. Pemberton again retreating, and had recieved a message from Johnston- "If it is not too late, evacuate Vicksburg....save your army..." But it was too late, and Pemberton had no choice but to withdraw into Vicksburg.
Grant successfully had his army in position to attack Vicksburg form the east, and his bold and risky plan continued to move smoothly. They only had two choices to conquer Vicksburg: lay seige to the city, or attack the COnfederates. Grant wasn't so fond of a long seige due to the hot Mississippi weather. He also knew that Pemberton's force would be tired from the battle and wouldn't be willing to fight another one. So Grant ordered the attack on May 19, not even 24 hours after the Rebels had returned to their bunkers. However, fire hit them, and he ordered a withdrawal, and attempted a second attack on May 22. 10 A.M., Union men attacked a three mile long front. Again, Confederates attacked with musket and cannon fire. However, again, the Federals had to admit defeat: they had suffered 502 killed, 2550 injured, and 147 missing; the South only had 500 total of these problems. Grant finally accepted taht Vicksburg could only be taken by seige.
Grant began to prepare for the seige by having his men buyilding trenches-15 miles of it that faces Southern defenses. The seige began when Pemberton's Confederate army of 30,000 faces the Northern army of 45,000, plus 2 divisions eatward to keap Johnston's troop under contorl. Since Grant and his army were near the Mississippi, supplies and fresh troops kept coming. In just a few weeks, Grant controlled an army of 75,000 men. Vicksburg was confident in the first wfew weeks of the seige. The seemingly worst part of it was the constant artillery bombings, shooting sometimes 2,800 shells in 24 hours. Many civilians began building hoems int the coutnry side to protect themselves and use them ase temporarily homes. They beliefed General Johnston would come and save them. He was trying to raise an army to fight off Grant's men, but never thought he had enough. However, soon food began to go down, and mule meat and dried corn were the only foods. Mid-June, hopes were crushed, and no one believed they would be saved. Johnston evenrually reazizlied they had no hope. in Late Junbe, nearly half of the Rebel soldiers were on the sick list because of malnutrioition. The artillery no longer scared anyone, theyw ere dying of hunger.
On July 3, 1853, Union troops reported white flags waving above Southern parapets. Two Confederate horsemen rode to Union lines, with a letter from Pemberton to Gran asking for a cease-fire to arrange terms for surrender of Vicksburg. The two argued for a while for terms, but a solutionw as finally find, and the surrender would take place the next day, July 4. The surrender was peaceful, the North treates the South with great respect, and shared their food with them. The seige had ended, and Vicksburg was now in Union hands. As Grant said it, "The fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell."
The South was confident about this year, for they had been beating the Union, while keeping Richmond and Vicksburg safely under their control. In the West, the very succesful general of Ulysses Simpson Grant was ordered by the President to gain control of Vicksburg, and give the whole length of the Mississippi River to the Union. General Grant began his direction towards there on November 4, 1862 into Mississipi. But he never came close to the town, because a Southern cavalry destroyed his supply base, and in late December, was made to retreat. Though disliked by many, and was wanted to be removed by many, Lincoln kept him, but said that if Grant wanted his continued support, he would need to capture Vicksburg.
Vicksburg was not an easy place to attack; it was built on bluffs over 200 feet tall, with nearly a hundred cannons defending the place from river travelers for 30 miles. Miles of swamps protected it from the north, as well as did thickets, bayous, and rivers. The only area to reach Vicksburg in a [somwhat] easy manner would be from the east, still in Confederate hands. But even there, curving ridges extended for nine miles, helping the already well-defended city to be safer. Watch towers has walls 20 feet thick, overlooking guillies and ravines, and there were over a hundred cannons defending this area, and each cannon was protected by trenches and rifle pits. They were so sure that they were safe, and that Grant's prior failed attempts had left the soldiers disoriented and tired, that they even held a party on April 16th to celebrate their accomplishment.
But at midnight, light and explosions stopped the party, for lookotus had seen Porter's shipping fleet and lit fires to light the river for Confederate artillery. Admiral David W. Porter had armored the boats with wet bales of hay to the sides of the gunboats. Out of 525 rounds, onlly 68 hits were made, and inflicted little to no damage. Porter lost two transports and a steamboat. 6 days later, that night, another flotilla was send past the Vicksburg, witht he same result; one steamboat and a few transports lost. During this 6 day period, Grant led 2 of 3 army corps down the western side of the river to meet up with Porter; so far, General Grant's plan had been working out just fine. Later on in April, after William Tecumseh Sherman had led his corps to feint on Vicksburg from the north, Porter's gunboats and transport barges carried Grant's army peacefully across the mile-wide Mississippi.
In early May, Grant had an army of 33,000 on the eastern side of the Mississippi, on enemy land, removed from their supply base, but he had planned for this. They brought most of their hard bread, stale coffee, and salt, and "make the country furnish the balance," as Grant had said. They ate ham, pork roasts, bacon, and beef from civilian farmers. Grant had wanted to confuse the enemy even more after Sherman's attack, so he sent Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson in the last few weeks of April to a "wild ride" through central Mississippi, tearing up 50 miles of 3 railroad tracks that supplied Vicksburg. He and his army won the small battles, caputured 500 Southerners, and burned freight cars and train depots, convering 600 miles in 16 days. On the Union sid, only 3 men were killed, and 5 were wounded.
Grant meanwhile was moving north and east. Instead of marching straight towards Vicksburg after a day-long balltle, he set off towards the capitol of Mississippi, Jackson. Pemberton and Johnston, Southern generals, knew that the only way to defend Jackson was to combine 30,000 of Pemberton's men with 6,000 of Johnston's. But Pemberton wanted to "hold Vicksburg as long as possible...most important point in the Confederacy." On May 12, 1863, Grant's ;ead division mest some of JOhnston's Rebel army at Raymond, 15 miles from Jackson. Johnston knew that 6,000 men couldnt defend against the Union, so he wrote a note to Pemberton to join forces with him and attack Grant from behind. He sent 3 copies of the note, and one did get through, but another ended up in the hands of a Union spy who gave the note to one of Grant's officers. So when Pemberton and a 20,000 man force left to Grant on May 16, he found 2 Union corps ready for battle. One of the corps was led by General James McPherson, the other by General John McClernand. The other one, led by Sherman, was already in Jackson.
Pemberton had his Rebels take up a good, strong position on a ridge called Cahmpion Hill, nearly halfway bewteen Vicksburg and Jackson. This ridge was nrealy 4 miles long and had Confederates nearly 70 feet above the Federals. The Union amry outnumbered them 29,000 to 20,000, but the COnfederates had the advantage of the higher location. McPherson's Union force attacked Pemberton's right wing, and those under McClernand went against the left. However, McCLernand was unneccecarilly cautious, while McPherson pusehd back against COnfederate troops. 3,800 Confederates and 2,400 Union soldiers died in the battle. Grant was pleased at the victory, but mad at McClernand, and was sure that had McClenand pressed the advantage, Pemberton would have been forced to surrender, and the fight for Vicksburg would be done. But instead, the Rebels under Pemberton retreated to Big Black River, which was another good defnsive position at a bridge. THe union soldiers pusehd after them, and McClernand's troops reached the Big Black River on the 17th. When he was hesistant to attack, one of his brigades decided to act on their own, and they rushed the bridge, quickly overtaking the Rebels and capturing over a thousands prisoners. Pemberton again retreating, and had recieved a message from Johnston- "If it is not too late, evacuate Vicksburg....save your army..." But it was too late, and Pemberton had no choice but to withdraw into Vicksburg.
Grant successfully had his army in position to attack Vicksburg form the east, and his bold and risky plan continued to move smoothly. They only had two choices to conquer Vicksburg: lay seige to the city, or attack the COnfederates. Grant wasn't so fond of a long seige due to the hot Mississippi weather. He also knew that Pemberton's force would be tired from the battle and wouldn't be willing to fight another one. So Grant ordered the attack on May 19, not even 24 hours after the Rebels had returned to their bunkers. However, fire hit them, and he ordered a withdrawal, and attempted a second attack on May 22. 10 A.M., Union men attacked a three mile long front. Again, Confederates attacked with musket and cannon fire. However, again, the Federals had to admit defeat: they had suffered 502 killed, 2550 injured, and 147 missing; the South only had 500 total of these problems. Grant finally accepted taht Vicksburg could only be taken by seige.
Grant began to prepare for the seige by having his men buyilding trenches-15 miles of it that faces Southern defenses. The seige began when Pemberton's Confederate army of 30,000 faces the Northern army of 45,000, plus 2 divisions eatward to keap Johnston's troop under contorl. Since Grant and his army were near the Mississippi, supplies and fresh troops kept coming. In just a few weeks, Grant controlled an army of 75,000 men. Vicksburg was confident in the first wfew weeks of the seige. The seemingly worst part of it was the constant artillery bombings, shooting sometimes 2,800 shells in 24 hours. Many civilians began building hoems int the coutnry side to protect themselves and use them ase temporarily homes. They beliefed General Johnston would come and save them. He was trying to raise an army to fight off Grant's men, but never thought he had enough. However, soon food began to go down, and mule meat and dried corn were the only foods. Mid-June, hopes were crushed, and no one believed they would be saved. Johnston evenrually reazizlied they had no hope. in Late Junbe, nearly half of the Rebel soldiers were on the sick list because of malnutrioition. The artillery no longer scared anyone, theyw ere dying of hunger.
On July 3, 1853, Union troops reported white flags waving above Southern parapets. Two Confederate horsemen rode to Union lines, with a letter from Pemberton to Gran asking for a cease-fire to arrange terms for surrender of Vicksburg. The two argued for a while for terms, but a solutionw as finally find, and the surrender would take place the next day, July 4. The surrender was peaceful, the North treates the South with great respect, and shared their food with them. The seige had ended, and Vicksburg was now in Union hands. As Grant said it, "The fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell."