What Union victory enabled them to control the Mississippi River?

Answer 1

By capturing Vicksburg, the last major river-port in Confederate hands.

It was almost impossible to attack the high-lying town from the West bank where Grant had been ordered to march against his will.

Through brilliant diversionary tactics, he was able to cross the river downstream, without the commander of the garrison noticing.

Then he brought the Confederates to battle, helped by the bad situation of the garrison commander, who was receiving conflicting orders.

It should be noted that the siege on Vicksburg was the Union's third and final attempt to capture this important city.

Answer 2

During the Civil War Union forces gained control of the Mississippi River by attacking from both north and south. Early in the war, the Union captured New Orleans and then Natchez. To the north, Union troops captured as far south as Memphis. From Memphis south almost to Vicksburg is the Mississippi Delta. That is a flood plain. Vicksburg stood on a high bluff.

The Union army slowly worked its way south from Memphis fighting off resistance. It had the backing of gunboats with large naval guns. The south did not provide its troops with matching artillery. Its field artillery was much smaller.

North of Vicksburg a swamp prevented the army from attacking the city. Any attack backed up by gunboats would need to come from the south.

Grant had his Army cross the river and march out of sight from view of the people of Vicksburg. On a moonless night he had his gunboats drift down the river past the city. They were almost past when the giant guns of Vicksburg opened up. The defenders only destroyed one boat.

When the army came south of the city, Grant's Union Army fought a battle against the armies of Pemberton and Joe Johnson. Pemberton retreated to Vicksburg and Joe Johnson retreated to Jackson, Mississippi. A weakness in the Confederate Army resulted from the fact that both Pemberton and Joe Johnson

both reported directly to President Jefferson Davis.

General Grant placed the Union Army between Johnson's army and Pemberton's army. He then set up a siege against Vicksburg. The main confederate problem in Vicksburg was a lack of food. The same swamp that prevented an attack from the north also prevented supply from the north. When the Army had nothing to eat for several days, it surrendered and the Union gained control.

Answer 3

The Union forces tried and failed to conquer Vicksburg from the North. It was impossible. They failed completely. Grant's generals suggested they turn around and go back. Grant ordered them to try something else.

They crossed the Mississippi and tried digging a ditch hoping to change the channel so the river would bypass Vicksburg. It did not work. It would take several years before the river would shift and go through the ditch instead of right up to the banks. Grants generals suggested they give up and go back. Grant said they would try something else.

Grant took his army south of the city. He contacted Admiral Farragut in New Orleans. He said, "Come to Vicksburg. I need you."

Admiral Farragut used his fleet to carry the Union Army across the Mississippi to south of Vicksburg. There Grant's army met the Confederate Army. The battlefield was in range of the cannon of Farragut's battleships. The Confederates under General Pemberton retreated into Vicksburg and General Joe Johnson retreated to Jackson, Mississippi. (Instead of putting control of the entire situation under Joe Johnson, the Confederate President, Jeff Davis, thought he could micromanage the situation better from Richmond, Virginia, than Joe Johnson could on site. Davis did not believe in the chain of command.)

General Grant placed the Union Army between the two Confederate armies. The same swamp north of Vicksburg which made attacking Vicksburg impossible for Grant made it impossible for the Confederates to supply Pemberton. Grant began a siege of Vicksburg. His troops dug trenches toward the Confederate lines.

Vicksburg was not prepared for a siege. It did not have the supplies. One man reported, "First we ate the cows. Then we ate the horses. Then we ate the mules. Then we ate the dogs. Then we ate the cats. When we had absolutely nothing to eat, we surrendered." They surrendered because of starvation, not because of Grant's trenches. They were ready for the order to fight Grant's army. They were not ready to die of starvation.

Grant paroled the confederates. The parol slips look like receipts used for meals at some small family restaurants. They are about 3 x 5 inches. The former solders walked home glad to be finished with their part of the war.

Answer 4

By besieging Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the river.

They were helped by confusion in the Confederate command. The garrison commander, Pemberton, was receiving conflicting orders from his President, Jefferson Davis, to hold Vicksburg at any cost, and from his Area Commander, Joe Johnston telling him to abandon the place and save his army.

Also Johnston had long-running feuds with both Davis and Pemberton.

Answer 5

The Union's control of the Mississippi River for military purposes allowed for warships to land troops in various parts of Southern territory. Union cargo however did not substantially increase at all. The so-called "cutting the South in half" was great Propaganda material, but logistically it had no effect on that for the South. Texas ports and its border with Mexico allowed for continued trade. There was also the false idea that by controlling Vicksburg, supplies from the west could use Vicksburg to move those supplies to the east. This was incorrect. The east supplied the west not vice versa. The Confederate high command had charged off Vicksburg as early as 1862.

Answer 6

The Vicksburg Campaign, specifically the Siege of Vicksburg, allowed Union forces to establish control of the Mississippi River.

Answer 7

For all intents and purposes, the fall of Vicksburg put the Mississippi Valley in Union hands, July 4, 1863.

Answer 8

By capturing Vicksburg.