The Battle of Vicksburg: Its Description and Importance

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Assaults
Siege
Surrender and Aftermath
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The substantial clash during the American Civil War Vicksburg’s campaign was the Battle of Vicksburg, also referred to as the Siege of Vicksburg. Through a succession of skilled tactics, Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant and his Tennessee army traversed the Mississippi River. Subsequently, they pushed Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton’s Confederate army into the shielding edges neighboring Vicksburg’s citadel city in Mississippi. Grant beleaguered the city from the eighteenth day of May 1863 to the fourth day of July 1863 (Sidwell 705). The cordon was sustained until the metropolis submitted, relenting the Mississippi River command to the Union. Therefore, the Union accomplished one of its fundamental goals for attaining triumph in the Southern empires’ battle and secession along the Mississippi River. The earlier Gettysburg victory caused pronounced delight for the people in the Northern kingdoms (Sidwell 706). Nevertheless, a prolonged period of bloodshed lasted for about two years, which persisted from the date of conquest to the peace deal reached in 1865.

Assaults

Grant organized for a quick reconnaissance since he needed a swift end. His troops, led by Sherman’s corps, arranged a frontal town physical attack against the Confederate forces by streaming from the Northern Graveyard Street into the deadly Stockade Redan fire. The Federals sought out hideouts and retreated to the Union borders (Klingenberg 923). Despite the presumption that the Confederates were depressed, they redeemed their defensive superiority promptly.

Grant executed his second attack by undertaking systematic reconnoitering and releasing missiles fire to rebels to weaken them. There was a bloody rebuff, but the Union corps was highly reactive and fully rummaged with the tactics. The Union undertook the night assault accompanied by hardtack, coffee, and beans, and it was anticipated that Vicksburg would tumble the following day (Klingenberg 924). This is because the Union troops barraged the city the entire night and also employed the naval firing from the river. The invasion caused slight property destruction and shattered the morale of the Confederates.

Notwithstanding the night bombardment, the Union perpetrated another four-hour combat the following morning along a threefold-mile facade. Sherman, James B. McPherson, and John A. McClernand confronted Graveyard Road, the epicenter along Jackson Road, and the south along Baldwin Ferry Road, respectively. John A. McClernand further attacked across the Mississippi Southern Railroad (Klingenberg 924). The Union troops tried to subdue their rivals several times, but Confederates would beat them hands down as they had easy access to reinforcements due to their smaller internal borderlines. Afterward, Grant organized a diversionary raid led sequentially by Sherman’s, McPherson’s, and McClernand’s forces. Despite the charged reinforcement, the Union’s troops were bloodily repelled and were afflicted with about 4,000 casualties (Klingenberg 924). All the efforts and attempted assaults against the Confederates were rendered unsuccessful.

Siege

Grant’s river gunfire shots confined the Confederate corps and inhabitants. Despite Grant’s soldiers approaching and besieging Mississippi, Pemberton maintained his unwavering hold of a few city miles, with anticipation of liberation from Johnston or somewhere else. However, the Confederates were faced with the problem of fouling air due to the dead Grant’s corps and donkeys lying in the expanse of Mississippi (Smith 50). There were also screams from the wounded soldiers crying for water and medical assistance. Due to the fear of being perceived as a coward, Grant initially declined the request for a cease-fire.

After some time, he conceded, and the Confederates stopped the invasion. The injured soldiers from both wings recuperated, interacted, and traded as if no antagonisms had previously existed between them. Rumors lauding and commending McClernand because of the feat irritated Grant, who termed the news as untrue statements only meant to bolster McClernand’s political influence (Smith 52). Grant feared that he would be substituted with Maj. Gen. Edward, who would have the benefit of running the XIII troop more efficiently after seizing power.

To deprive Grant of resources, the Confederates bombarded Milliken’s Bend, but they were unsuccessful in subduing them. The Union then plowed parallel trenches advancing towards the rebel borders while maintaining vigilance due to snipers. The approach was followed by nonstop bombing, which caused the destruction of many housing and structures in Vicksburg. The Union soldiers lodged in the ridges, which were situated between the rebel retaliatory area and the main town (Smith 66). The dugouts were furnished with pictures, furniture, and rugs to make them suitable for occupation. Movement in these bunkers was timed and foraging with the barrage pace. Finally, as the battleground was relatively adjacent to the troops’ homes, they frequently visited their families and friends, which helped in boosting their morale.

Surrender and Aftermath

The Confederate troops, led by Joseph E. Johnston, felt it was growing too weak to ambush Grant’s massive corps. This is because the Confederates’ growth was at the expense of the rigid-pressed grouping, while Grant’s forces had sufficient supplies. Johnston advocated for surrendering to save the people of Vicksburg due to the deprived resources (Sidwell 706). However, the Confederate government-backed the unremitting attacks citing that the climatic conditions would be favorable in June to setback the Union assault. Therefore, Johnstone renewed his determination and vigor for rescuing the city. Subsequently, his army in Northern Virginia attacked the North with the partial purpose of Vicksburg tension relief through the Gettysburg Campaign. Johnstone’s clamor for peace made him carefully progress to the West, headed for Union borders, ready for attack.

However, the onslaught did not materialize since Pemberton had written an unconditional surrender to Grant, thus withdrawing his troop. Grant gave parole to all Confederate prisoners as opposed to feeding them as requested by Pemberton (Sidwell 707). The resolution of releasing them was necessitated by their impoverished, starved, and miserable condition. Grant did not contemplate their resurgence into the battlefield but instead would retreat home with humiliation accompanying the defeat of the remaining Confederates.

The process of formalizing the concession was done under an old oak tree on the fourth day of July. The Union army expressed their joy as they feted the day with immense solemnity following their crucial conquest at Vicksburg (Sidwell 707). The celebration was also extended to the residents who were enduring prolonged starvation by sharing their supplies with them. Presently, the works of art involving Vicksburg are conserved as Vicksburg National Military Park.

Conclusion

Despite the Vicksburg Campaign calling for a further feat, the seizing of Port Hudson caused the collapse of the fortress city. Additionally, the Confederacy was divided into two, and the Mississippi River was under the reign of the Union. The combat also made Grant to be praised for his unrelenting approach and propensity during the battle in conquering the Confederate Army. Grant was treated with the utmost respect for his decisiveness and determination throughout his career. Consequently, he was awarded the rank of Lieutenant General (Lieut. Gen.), and eventually the whole Federal Army commandant.

Works Cited

Klingenberg, Mitchell G. “The Union Assaults at Vicksburg: Grant Attacks Pemberton, 1863 by Timothy B. Smith”. Journal of Southern History, vol. 86, no. 4, 2020, pp. 923-924.

Sidwell, Robert W. “The Decision was Always My Own: Ulysses S. Grant and the Vicksburg Campaign by Timothy B. Smith.” Journal of Southern History, vol. 85, no. 3, 2019, pp. 705-707.

Smith, Timothy B. Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation. University Press of Kansas, 2016.

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