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Vicksburg was the last major Confederate garrison on the Mississippi. It was commanded by John C. Pemberton, whose loyalty was sometimes questioned because he was born in Pennsylvania. His area commander was Joseph E. Johnston, who disagreed sharply with the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, who was urging Pemberton to save the town at all costs, while Johnston was urging him to abandon the place and save his army.

The Union armies were commanded by Ulysses Grant, ably assisted by Sherman, and also reinforced by a private army raised by a politician-in-uniform John McClernand. They were further helped by the first notable Union cavalry raid, right across the state of Mississippi, which greatly distracted and disoriented the garrison commander.

The garrison surrendered on a Fourth of July - jubilantly celebrated in the North.

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15y ago

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