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Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg was a battle in the American Civil War that took place on May 18 – July 4, 1863 in Mississippi.
249 Questions
What are some facts on the Battle of Vicksburg?
Vicksburg campaign in the American Civil War, the fighting (Nov., 1862-July, 1863) for control of the Mississippi River. The Union wanted such control in order to split the Confederacy and to restore free commerce to the politically important Northwest. New Orleans and Memphis fell to Union forces in the spring of 1862, but an attempt to take Vicksburg, Miss., by water failed (May-June). As a result the South still held 200 mi (320 km) of the river between Port Hudson, La., and Vicksburg. Early in Nov., 1862, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant , commanding the Dept. of the Tennessee, planned a converging assault on Vicksburg; Gen. William T. Sherman led an expedition down the river from Memphis to attack the city from the north, while Grant himself advanced overland from the east. However, Confederate cavalry under Earl Van Dorn and Nathan B. Forrest cut Grant's line of communications, forcing him to retreat, and Sherman was repulsed in the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs (Dec. 29, 1862). In Jan., 1863, Grant concentrated his army across the river from Vicksburg. He took over the command of John A. McClernand , who had succeeded Sherman. After several unsuccessful experiments to gain an approach to the seemingly impregnable city (Feb.-Mar., 1863), Grant in April began a brilliant movement to take it from the south. To divert the attention of the Confederate commander, John C. Pemberton , Grant left Sherman before the city and ordered a cavalry raid through central Mississippi. On the night of Apr. 16-17, David Dixon Porter ran gunboats and transports down the river past Vicksburg, and in the following days Grant marched his army south to meet the fleet and be transported across the river at Bruinsburg (c.30 mi/48 km S of Vicksburg). On May 1, McClernand and James B. McPherson defeated the Confederates at Port Gibson, forcing them to abandon their batteries at Grand Gulf, which Grant seized as a base. When Sherman joined him on May 7, 1863, Grant left Grand Gulf, marched northeast, and on May 12 defeated the Confederates at Raymond. At Jackson (May 14), he met Gen. Joseph E. Johnston , Confederate commander in the West, who retreated. Turning west toward Vicksburg, Grant defeated Pemberton in successive battles (May 16, 17) at Champion's Hill and at the bridge over the Big Black River, forcing him back into Vicksburg. After two unsuccessful attempts at storming the city's fortifications, Grant opened siege. With the Union forces between them, Pemberton and Johnston were unable to unite, and after about six weeks of gallant resistance Vicksburg's defenders surrendered on July 4, 1863. The fall of Port Hudson a few days later placed the Mississippi River entirely in Union hands.
Important people in the Battle of Gettysburg?
In the American Civil War's Battle of Gettysburg, the key leaders at the top level for each side were the following: On the Union side, Major General George Meade was the top commander, with a variety of capable lower-ranking officers in positions of influence during the battle. On the Confederate side, General Robert E. Lee was the top commander. Several of his corps commanders should also be mentioned, as they had important (and generally negative, as the results would show) influence on the battle: Lt. General James Longstreet and Lt. General Richard S. Ewell.
Why did the confederates loose the Battle of Vicksburg?
Even though he was undermanned and poorly supplied, Pemberton had superior position. The main reason for the surrender was that he could not feed and protect the civilian population. Had he been able to ignore or expel them, and only worry about his forces, he may have been able to hold out until a relieving force could have rescued him.
How were civalians affected by the siege of Vicksburg?
In setting up his armies towards the goal of capturing Vicksburg, it was inevitable that Grant's forces would first come into contact with civilians living outside of the city. With good honor he forbid his troops from entering into anyone's home. He also wanted his troops to live off the land and not to take supplies from the people with them. He also forbade the robbery of peoples personal effects such as jewelery and clothing. While this was good policy, it was not all good in that there were conditions not favorable to all Southern civilians. This of course was a war, however, and Grant's troops were ordered to destroy all crops of wheat and corn and farming implements. Horses and mules could be confiscated to support Union troops. Generally speaking, Grant was aware that his superior officer, General Halleck, would not approve of these measures, however, as per his memoirs, he wrote that by the time Halleck found out about this it would be all but too late. Still hoping to force the surrender of Vicksburg by attacking it, Grant mounted one more assault on it.
This was on May 22. He believed that this would force Vicksburg's defenders to surrender rather than allowing it to be laid to siege. The Union assault failed and Grant was forced into a siege situation. This would delay matters of course, and militarily speaking, such a delay would tie up Grant's troops. The Southern civilians in the area would of course be forced to contend with a sitting foreign army which had all but destroyed everything outside of their homes.
Back in Washington DC, even at this point President Lincoln was not certain of success as he wrote in a letter.
As the fortress-city was running out of supplies, of course both soldiers and Vicksburg civilians were quite short on rations. Grant had now surrounded the city with 70,000 troops and was digging approach trenches to the city. Confederate military rations were cut to one quarter, diseases were crippling them. As for Vicksburg's civilians, there was rampant illness mostly scurvy. They were down to having the meat of rats, cats, dogs and mules in order to survive.
Grant's troops had dug beneath the city and set offexplosives, however, the defenders had kept them out of Vicksburg.
While confident of ultimate victory, Grant realized he would have a post Vicksburg problem. Mainly what to do with some 30,000 military prisoners. This would tie up his troops in their keeping or of setting up their parole.
On July 4th, Independence Day, Vicksburg surrendered. For her civilians, this was a humiliating siege. To understand how they felt, and how this siege would be remembered for future citizens of Vicksburg, the city would not celebrate the 4th of July again until 1945.
What body of water did the union control as a result of keeping Kentucky in the union?
The Mississippi River.
Who was the leader of the Battle of Vicksburg?
President Lincoln ordered General Ulysses S. Grantand his army to capture Vicksburg.
What two Union victories in the Summer of 1863 were the turning point in the US Civil War?
The Union victory at Antietam, the bloodiest battle in US history, was such a decisive win that Lincoln felt inspired to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. This effectively prevented any assistance from Britain, whose workers were anti-slavery and France failed to offer assistance as well. Another decisive victory at Vicksburg spread panic in the south and many struggled to sell off their war bonds , believing defeat was inevitable.
Who were the military leaders for the Battle of Vicksburg?
Union Army of the Tennessee - Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant Union Navy - Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter Confederate Army of Mississippi - Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton Confederate Department of the West - General Joseph E. Johnston. Confederate General Earl Van Dorn had a force in Mississippi early in the campaign.
Who were the major people involved in the battle of Vicksburg?
General John C. Pemberton, commander of the Vicksburg garrison, last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi.
Joseph E. Johnston, overall Confederate commander in the West.
Ulysses Grant, Union General charged with capturing Vicksburg.
W.T.Sherman, Grant's supporter and close friend.
John McClernand, a politician in uniform who had got secret permission from Lincoln to raise a private army and proceed down the Mississippi to take Vicksburg.
What would be a good summary of the Battle of Vicksburg?
Vicksburg was not so much a battle as a siege. After cutting Vicksburg off from supplies and reinforcements, Grant starved them out, accompanied by constant artillery bombardment. Eventually the inhabitants starved and Pemberton had no choice but to surrender. With that, the Mississippi fell into Union hands, preventing its use for reinforcement and supply to the Southern states East of the Mississippi.
Did anyone important die in the siege of Vicksburg?
Grant did not become famous because of Vicksburg, but it certainly greatly enhanced his reputation.
What was the successful union strategy of Vicksburg?
Any siege is by its nature a strategy of Attrition. Grant's real stratagem was to cross the river below the city at an isolated point and encircle the city from the landward side, investing the city from an unexpected point; and even tough the initial assaults failed, the succeeding siege succeeded.
Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
How many Union troops took part in the siege of Vicksburg?
Union General US grant ringed the city of Vicksburg with 70,000 troops. The Federals also began digging approaches. As the siege dragged on, the defending soldiers had their rations cut by 75%. Both civilians and Rebel soldiers at Vicksburg held out as long as they could.
Why was Vicksburg a strategic military location?
Vicksburg stood as a fortified artillery emplacement at a strategic location on the Mississippi River.
Why did the Vicksburg battle occur?
Vicksburg was important because it was the supply crossroads for the south. located on the Mississippi it was convenient to dropoff and pick up, supplies. It was also important to note that many supplies came thru Mexico. Taking vicks burg ended the war in the Mississippi region. Grant then was sent to lead the Northern forces thru the wilderness battles, since the North could not follow closely enough as the south exited Gettysburg to deliver a "knock out blow" lack of food and boots lead to the souths final surrender. too much gunpowder and bullets made it thru and no food.
What was Grant's objective in the Battle of Vicksburg?
After failing to take the city by assault, Grant marched his troops over difficult terrain and recrossed the river at a point out of sight of the Confederate guns. His troops encircled the city and cut it off from supplies and reinforcements. After two more failed assaults, Grant settled in for a siege, starving and bombarding Vicksburg into submission.
What state did the battle Vicksburg take place in?
It was won by the United States, and lost by the Confederate States.
Vicksburg was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi. Its loss ended the war in the West, and enabled Grant to proceed to Chattanooga and reinforce the Army of the Cumberland. It gave him high credibility, resulting in his appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies a few months later.
What is the Battle of Vicksburg?
Arguably the most important Union victory of all.
It liberated the Mississippi, ending the war in the west, enabling Grant to go to the aid of the Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga. It also gave Grant enough crdedibility to be promoted General-in-Chief a few months later.
What were each side objective going into battle gettyburg and Vicksburg?
The garrison commander, John C. Pemberton, would certainly like to have known the answer to that question, as he was at the mercy of conflicting orders. The Confederate president told him his orders were to hold the town at all costs, while his local area commander, Joseph E. Johnston, was urging him to evacuate the place and save his army.
On the Union side, it was a simpler matter. Grant's aim was simply to capture Vicksburg and liberate the Mississippi.
Is Vicksburg in north or south?
The North.
It was a key battle that ended the war in the West, and released Grant to go to the aid of the Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga.
It was carried out under very difficult conditions and earned great credit for Grant.
