The Battle of Vicksburg

The Battle of VicksburgHayden SeibertBy: Hayden SeibertJoshua Froess

Why?The city of Vicksburg was an important location to controlIf the union could control it they would control the entire Mississippi River. If they could take the city, the south would be cut in half, and be separated from its main food supply LocationWarren county Mississippi

The Battlefield

GeneralsUlysses S. GrantJohn C. PembertonBorn April 27, 1822Attended West Point Fought under General Zachery Taylor in the Mexican war Died July 23, 1885Born in Philadelphia August 10, 1814Fought in the Seminole warDied July 13, 1881

Grants plan of attackFirst, Grant had to take ships down past the guns of Vicksburg so that he could take his army across to the east of the MississippiOnce he was there, he attacked and took the city of Jackson to the east of VicksburgThen, he would attack Vicksburg from the south, and southeastThen, Grant decided to lay siege to the cityThirteen trenches were built around the city

Grants plan of attack continuedThe siege officially had began on the 22nd of MayMines were detonated by the union underneath the confederate defensesThere were two explosions One destroyed Fort Hill Bastion, a confederate fort on June 25th

Pembertons plan of defensePembertons defenses included the natural defenses created by the terrain where Vicksburg was, this included creeks, mud, woodland, and bluffs.Pemberton also had trenches built around the borders of Vicksburg, along with several fortsThere were many artillery batteries placed around the perimeter

Getting the boats in position The union boats had to get past the guns of Vicksburg so that they could transport the union troops from the west side of the Mississippi to the eastOn the night of April 16 the fleet tried to get past the gunsOne transport was lost

JacksonJackson was a city to the east of VicksburgGrants army attacked and conquered Jackson first before moving on Vicksburg300 cassualties

The combatMost of the combat was trench warfare and skirmishesThe city was almost continuously bombarded by Artillery shells, from both the Mississippi River and from landUnion casualties: 10,142Confederate casualties: 9,091

Life behind the wallsLiving in Vicksburg wile it was under siege would not have been funThere was continuous artillery fireLittle food supplies DiseasePeople built shelters underground to defend from artillery

The surrenderSoon the people of Vicksburg could take the siege no longer, they were all starving, disease ridden and tiredGeneral Pemberton asked for surrender terms on July 3rdGrant replied Unconditional surrender, however he decided to give the starved confederates food suppliesThe surrender was completed on July 4th

AftermathAfter the battle was won the south was cut in half and their chances of winning the war were crushedBoth the loss of Vicksburg and Gettysburg severely hurt the confederacyGeneral Grant went on to win the war for the south and latter become president of the United StatesPemberton went on to take up farming after the warSources Sighted www.thomaslegion.netwww.civilwar.orgwww.civilwarhome.comwww.sonofthesouth.netwww.history.comwww.nps.org