The Siege of Vicksburg

The Siege of Vicksburg

December 1862 - July 1863

December 1862 - July 1863

The capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi, was vital if the Union was to regain control over the Mississippi River.Ulysses S Grant’s campaign to take the city lasted eight months

Vicksburg was essential to the South

• From its position on the Mississippi River it dominated trade between New Orleans and Memphis

• The Union had captured both those cities already

Vicksburg was the only link between the eastern and

western halves of the Confederacy

• If the Union captured the city it would split the Confederates in two

• Jefferson Davis ordered that Vicksburg must be saved at all costs

The Union Plan

• Grant had planned a two-part assault on the heavily fortified city from the north

• In December 1862 he sent the powerful and respected General Sherman down the Mississippi River for a frontal assault

The Union Plan

• Grant intended to march overland into Vicksburg from Memphis to attack simultaneously

• He had to abandon his plan when his main supply base was destroyed by Confederate raiders

The Union Plan

• General Sherman attempted to capture the land north of the city on his own, but failed and had to withdraw

• Grant needed to take the city but the wide Mississippi River lay between them

The Union plan

• Grant planned to lead his army through the swamps along the river by building elaborate canals and then ferry his troops across the river and attack from the high ground to the east

The Union plan falls apart

• He attempted this plan three different times during the winter and each time the plan failed because of rain, high water, and Confederate opposition

• By the start of spring Grant realized he would have to change tactics

Grant’s new plan• Grant sent his army 30 miles south to cut a way

through the swamps to the river• Under cover of night Union gunboats sailed past

Confederate guns to meet with Grant’s army

Grant’s new plan

• On April 30 the gunboats ferried Grant’s men across the river

• General Sherman kept the Confederates busy with a diversionary attack north of the city

Grant’s new plan

• Grant did not turn to Vicksburg immediately

• Instead he engaged the Confederate reinforcements and captured the Mississippi capital of Jackson so the Confederate troops there couldn’t be sent to strengthen Vicksburg

Grant attacks Vicksburg• As he advanced on the city Confederate forces led by

John C. Pemberton advanced to meet him• Grant defeated him twice and Pemberton retreated

back into Vicksburg

Grant attempts to take the city

• Twice Grant attempted to take the city but it was too well guarded and fortified

• Grant realized the city would never surrender until its supplies ran out

The siege of Vicksburg

• On May 22nd Grant and his men settled in for a siege

• They cut Vicksburg off from all supplies

• They surrounded it with 15 miles of trenches

The siege of Vicksburg• The city of Vicksburg was more than just a military

fortress, it was also a city populated by men, women, and children

• This was an example of the concept of “total war”, combat waged against a civilian population as well as military targets with the object of reducing a people’s will to fight

The siege of Vicksburg

• Shells and cannon fire rained down on the city non-stop from the Union’s 220 heavy guns

• Vicksburg civilians suffered as much as soldiers• Many dug caves into the hillsides and took refuge

after their homes had been destroyed

The siege of Vicksburg

• Food and supplies soon began to run out• Citizens of Vicksburg were forced to eat their

mules, horses, dogs, and even rats just to survive

The siege of Vicksburg ends• Confederate general Pemperton tried to negotiate a

compromise• Grant refused, insisting only on unconditional surrender• On July 4th, 1863 when the city’s food and ammunition

were gone they surrendered and Grant’s men finally took the city

The siege of Vicksburg ends

Along with Gettysburg, Vicksburg was the most important victory in the war

The Mississippi River was now in Union hands, and the backbone of the Confederacy was broken

For the next 81 years the citizens of Vicksburg would refuse to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th