From the start of the Civil War, control of the Mississippi River south of Cairo, Ill., was vitally important to the federal government. Controlling it would let Union troops and supplies pass into the South. It would isolate Texas, Arkansas, and most of Louisiana. By late summer of 1862, only Vicksburg, Miss., and Port Hudson, LA., blocked Union control of the Mississippi.
Set atop a high bluff overlooking a river bend, Vicksburg was protected by riverfront artillery batteries and a ring of forts with 172 guns guarding all land approaches. In October 1862, Vicksburg was the focus of operations between Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant, ordered to clear the Mississippi of Confederate resistance, and Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton (with 50,000 widely scattered Confederate troops) expected to keep the river open for the Confederates.
By spring of 1863, Grant decided to march his 45,000-man army down the Mississippi's Louisiana side, cross the river well below Vicksburg, and swing into position to attack the city from the south or east. On March 31, 1863, Grant started south from his encampments 20 miles northwest of Vicksburg, on the west side of the river. On April 30, he sent his men across the river and, marching eastward, Grant's troops defeated Pemberton's forces near the outskirts of Jackson Mississippi and on May 14, Grant captured Jackson, the state capital.
Turning west, Grant began to march the 40 miles to Vicksburg. On May 16, at Champion Hill, about 20 miles from Vicksburg, his federal troops once again defeated Pemberton's field army in the campaign's largest, bloodiest, most significant action. The next day, at Big Black River Bridge, less than 10 miles from Vicksburg, the Federals overwhelmed and drove Pemberton's disorganized troops back into the Vicksburg fortifications. By May18, the Federals were nearing the bristling Confederate defenses. Grant lost no time in assaulting the Vicksburg lines. The first attack, against the Stockade Redan on May 19 failed. A second attach, launched May 22, over a three-mile front, was also repulsed.
Reluctant to expend more lives trying to storm the city, Grant began a formal siege. He set up artillery batteries to hammer the Confederate fortifications from the land side, while Adm. David Porter's gunboats blasted the city from the river. Pemberton knew by late June that he must soon "capitulate upon the best attainable terms." On July 3, after 46 days of siege, he met with Grant to discuss the terms. On July 4, 1863, in the morning, Vicksburg was officially surrendered.
With Port Hudson's surrender five days later a major Federal objective in the war - to open the Mississippi River and to sever the Confederacy - was realized. "The Father of Waters," said President Lincoln, "again goes unvexed to the sea."
Today we visited the Vicksburg National Military Park Visitor Center and drove the 16-mile tour of the battlefield. Much like Gettysburg, the Vicksburg Park is dotted with many state and regimental markers, monuments, and tablets. We purchased a CD audio tour and also used the park's numbered stops to get a good sense to the siege.
From the Confederate lines, this is the view of the Mississippi River from the bluffs.
In the Visitor Center a statue of Gen. Grant on the left, President Lincoln and Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton.
Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton. The sword, in the case to the right, is the sword Pemberton wore.
During the siege, the two forces were lined up facing each other in a semi-circular formation around the City of Vicksburg. From this position a battery of guns hammered the Confederate Great Redoubt directly ahead, across a valley. At one, time as many as 22 Federal artillery pieces were positioned here.
Soon after Vicksburg National Military Park was established in 1899, architects and sculptors were commissioned to honor the soldiers and sailors that fought in the campaign. The work of commemoration continues today and there are over 1,370 monuments, tablets and markers. Dedicated in 1906, the Illinois Memorial is the largest in the park. It commemorates the sacrifice of over 36,000 soldiers from Illinois that fought in the Vicksburg campaign, the largest state contingent.
The landscape along the drive is filled with trenches, earthen fortifications and rifle pits.
Trenches that still remain.
This is the Rhode Island monument depicting a color bearer waiting for the command to advance into battle.
While at the Providence Public Library, I worked with Trustee Zenas Bliss on the renovation of the Central Library, 1984-1987. Mary and Howard probably remember him.
Fine statue of Gen. Grant.
A contemporary monument for the state of Pennsylvania. The intact circle on the bottom represents the union of states before the Civil War. The broken circle, the dissolved union. And, the upper circle the restored union after the war.
The 212 foot monument honoring the Navy combatants.
The ironclad gunboat Cairo, which was sunk on December 12, 1862. It was raised in 1960 and is partially restored.
Of the nearly 17,000 Union soldiers buried here, at the Vicksburg National Cemetery, about 13,000 are unknown. Established in 1866, the cemetery is also the final resting place for veterans of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean Conflict. Many Confederates who died during the siege are buried in Vicksburg's Cedar Hill Cemetery.
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