Vicksburg in the Civil War
VICKSBURG IN THE CIVIL WAR
VICKSBURG IN THE CIVIL WAR. With the fall of New Orleans to Union forces in April 1862, the importance of Vicksburg, Miss., for control of the Mississippi River became evident, and the Confederates quickly constructed fortifications. On 28 June ships from Union Adm. David Farragut's squadron slipped past the Vicksburg batteries and anchored upstream, establishing a Union naval presence around Vicksburg. In November Gen. Ulysses S. Grant moved his troops south from Memphis through northern Mississippi. The advancing forces, led by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, were decisively beaten at Chickasaw Bluffs on 27–29 December. Four subsequent assaults were similarly repulsed. In desperation, Grant abandoned his Memphis base, moved down the west bank of the Mississippi (living off the country), recrossed the river below Vicksburg, and marched on the city from the east.
Confederate commander Gen. John C. Pemberton was surprised by the move and sent only a small force to oppose Grant. Within three weeks Vicksburg was in a state of siege. Aided by bombardment from the river fleet, Grant assaulted the Vicksburg lines once on 19 May and twice on 22 May 1863. Each attack failed with heavy loss. But the siege was ultimately successful. Dwindling supplies, mounting casualties, sickness, and the impossibility
of reinforcement finally induced Pemberton to open surrender negotiations. On 4 July 1863 he capitulated, officers and men being paroled as prisoners of war. Port Hudson, 300 miles down the river, surrendered 9 July. For the rest of the war, Vicksburg was a Union base of operations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arnold, James R. Grant Wins the War: Decision at Vicksburg. New York: Wiley, 1997.
Ballard, Michael B. Pemberton: A Biography. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1991.
Foote, Shelby. The Beleaguered City: The Vicksburg Campaign. New York: Modern Library, 1995.
Hewitt, Lawrence L. Port Hudson: Confederate Bastion on the Mississippi. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1987.
Thomas Robson Hay / a. r.
See also Chattanooga Campaign ; Navy, Confederate ; Navy, United States ; New Orleans, Capture of .