Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. May 22, July 4, 1863 Mr. Sparks

Strategic Situation

Importance of Mississippi River and Vicksburg At the time of the Civil War, the Mississippi River was the single most important economic feature of the continent. Confederate forces closed the river to navigation, which threatened to strangle northern commercial interests.

Lincoln’s Assessment “See what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.... We can take all the northern ports of the Confederacy, and they can defy us from Vicksburg…. I am acquainted with that region and know what I am talking about, and as valuable as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so.”

Trans Mississippi Confederacy as a Supply Source Texas led the nation in cattle, with an estimated three and a half million head –Virginia and Georgia, the next largest Confederate cattle- producing states, counted slightly more than one million each. Texas ranked behind only Tennessee in the number of horses and mules, fourth in the number of sheep, and seventh in the production of swine. Texas was a significant source of livestock for armies in the west, but that could only remain the case so long as those animals could cross the river safely. Federal success at Vicksburg would deny the eastern Confederacy access to these and other supplies

The Anaconda Plan

Splitting the South in Two Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas (as well as the Indian Territory) accounted for almost half of the Confederacy’s total land mass Federal control of the Mississippi River would isolate the western and eastern halves of the Confederacy So Grant’s mission is to seize Vicksburg in order to control the Mississippi River and separate the Confederacy in two

Flashback to Shiloh: Grant in the West

Siege of Vicksburg May 22, July 4, 1863 John C. Pemberton Ulysses S. Grant 77,000 33,000

Ft. Sumter April 12, 1861

Vicksburg May 22, July 4, 1863 Mississippi The lengthy Battle of Vicksburg began in Warren County on May 13, The North and the South considered Vicksburg an important stronghold. Union General Ulysses S. Grant launched massive assaults on Vicksburg and terrorized the inhabitants. Confederates achieved a minimal victory at Milliken’s Bend against untrained black troops. Federal troops pushed Confederate forces back as the size of the Union forces continued to increase. Confederate General John Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 3, 1863.

The Key to the Mississippi: Vicksburg

Terrain Vicksburg was part of a line of bluffs. It formed an escarpment that greatly favored the defense both on land and on water.

Big Guns over the Cliffs Confederate Defenses

Vicksburg and the Mississippi As Union forces moved south toward Vicksburg in late 1862, the winter and the wet season began. –This ended all possibilities of moving forces by land. –Grant was forced to find an alternative route to reach Vicksburg. –Made several failed attempts from December 1862 through April 1863

A New Plan Grant would later claim that he never put much stock in his failed attempts, but considered them useful in keeping the men busy and creating an illusion of activity As April began, the wet season ended and land operations were once again possible Grant moved his forces south, following the west bank of the Mississippi River to bypass Vicksburg.

The Union/Federal Navy Navy –Mississippi River Squadron commanded by Flag Officer David Porter –About 60 combat vessels –13 ironclads Union Naval Commander David Porter

Joint Operations Operations carried on by two or more of the armed forces. At Vicksburg, this was the Army and the Navy

Grant Involves Porter in Early Planning “I had had in contemplation the whole winter the movement by land to a point below Vicksburg from which to operate– my recollection was that Admiral Porter was the first one to whom I mentioned it. The cooperation of the Navy was absolutely essential to the success (even to the contemplation) of such an enterprise.” People tend to work harder toward a goal when they are involved in the development of the plan to achieve the goal.

Grant’s New Plan After his failed attempts of Dec 1862 through Mar 1863, Grant decided to march his army down the west side of the Mississippi to a point below Vicksburg where river transports could ferry the men across To make this work, the transports would have to run past the gauntlet of the Vicksburg batteries

Union Gunboats sneak by at Night Union Naval Commander David Porter led seven gunboats followed by three transports loaded with thousands of men under the cover of darkness past the Confederate batteries. –Only one ship was lost Running the Gauntlet

Crossing at Bruinsburg Grant received intelligence from a local slave that there was an unguarded landing site at Bruinsburg, roughly halfway between Grand Gulf and Rodney Road.

Rodney and Bruinsburg Roads Unopposed landing of over 17,000 men Largest amphibious operation in American history until the Allied invasion of Normandy during WWII Grant advanced on Rodney and Bruinsburg Roads toward Port Gibson

Isolation of Vicksburg Success at Jackson allowed Grant to “isolate” Pemberton from support from Johnson Isolate: –A tactical task given to a unit to seal off (both physically and psychologically) an enemy from his sources of support, to deny an enemy freedom of movement, and prevent an enemy unit from having contact with other enemy forces.

Assaults on Vicksburg Grant was eager to finish Pemberton off and he conducted assaults on the Vicksburg defenses on May 19 and 22 Both failed and Grant gave up the idea of taking Vicksburg by assault and began siege tactics Lessons unlearned by Europeans, WWI

Civilians About 3,000 lived in Vicksburg Many took shelter in caves –Some held up to 200 Toward the end of the siege, the daily ration was “two common biscuits, two rashers (slices) of bacon, a few peas and a spoon full of rice...” Lack of food ends the siege.

Siege Operations The Navy played a big role in the siege Porter fired 11,500 projectiles from his ironclads and mortarboats He also landed 13 heavy cannon from his gunboats for the Army to use as siege artillery –These fired 4,500 rounds The Navy also ensured supplies and reinforcements reached Grant’s Army without interference from the Confederates After 47 days, Pemberton surrendered

Surrender Confederate soldiers had to give up their arms, but they were the paroled (allowed to go free if they promised not to fight until properly exchanged later for Federal prisoners) Officers were allowed to keep their side arms, clothing, and one horse each Some 29,500 men were surrendered –By allowing parole, Grant prevented himself from being encumbered by so many prisoners –He also assumed many of the despondent men would have no interest in fighting again even if exchanged later…..so he hoped.

Federal Control of the Mississippi Splits the Confederacy

Grant Gains Victory over the Mississippi on July 4, 1863 One Day after Gettysburg!!

Aftermath of the Siege of Vicksburg Union Causalities: 5,000 (77,000) Confederate Casualties: 3,000 (33,000) –Confederates Surrendered: 30,000

Up Next… Gettysburg, PA.