1. The Siege of
Vicksburg
December 1862 July 1863

2. The capture of Vicksburg,
Mississippi, was vital if the
Union was to regain control over
the Mississippi River.
Ulysses S Grant’s campaign to
take the city lasted eight months

3. Vicksburg was essential to the
South
• From its position on
the Mississippi River
it dominated trade
between New
Orleans and
Memphis
• The Union had
captured both those
cities already

4. Vicksburg was the only link
between the eastern and
western halves of the
Confederacy
• If the Union
captured the city it
would split the
Confederates in two
• Jefferson Davis
ordered that
Vicksburg must be
saved at all costs

5. The Union Plan
• Grant had planned a
two-part assault on the
heavily fortified city from
the north
• In December 1862 he
sent the powerful and
respected General
Sherman down the
Mississippi River for a
frontal assault

6. The Union Plan
• Grant intended to march
overland into Vicksburg
from Memphis to attack
simultaneously
• He had to abandon his
plan when his main
supply base was
destroyed by Confederate
raiders

7. The Union Plan
• General Sherman
attempted to capture
the land north of the city
on his own, but failed
and had to withdraw
• Grant needed to take
the city but the wide
Mississippi River lay
between them

8. The Union plan
• Grant planned to
lead his army
through the swamps
along the river by
building elaborate
canals and then
ferry his troops
across the river and
attack from the high
ground to the east

9. The Union plan falls apart
• He attempted this plan
three different times
during the winter and
each time the plan
failed because of rain,
high water, and
Confederate opposition
• By the start of spring
Grant realized he would
have to change tactics

10. Grant’s new plan
• Grant sent his army 30 miles south to cut a way
through the swamps to the river
• Under cover of night Union gunboats sailed past
Confederate guns to meet with Grant’s army

11. Grant’s new plan
• On April 30 the
gunboats ferried
Grant’s men across
the river
• General Sherman
kept the
Confederates busy
with a diversionary
attack north of the
city

12. Grant’s new plan
• Grant did not turn to
Vicksburg immediately
• Instead he engaged the
Confederate
reinforcements and
captured the Mississippi
capital of Jackson so
the Confederate troops
there couldn’t be sent to
strengthen Vicksburg

13. Grant attacks Vicksburg
• As he advanced on the city Confederate forces led by
John C. Pemberton advanced to meet him
• Grant defeated him twice and Pemberton retreated
back into Vicksburg

14. Grant attempts to take the city
• Twice Grant
attempted to take
the city but it was
too well guarded
and fortified
• Grant realized the
city would never
surrender until its
supplies ran out

15. The siege of Vicksburg
• On May 22nd Grant
and his men settled
in for a siege
• They cut Vicksburg
off from all supplies
• They surrounded it
with 15 miles of
trenches

16. The siege of Vicksburg
• The city of Vicksburg was more than just a military
fortress, it was also a city populated by men, women,
and children
• This was an example of the concept of “total war”,
combat waged against a civilian population as well as
military targets with the object of reducing a people’s
will to fight

17. The siege of Vicksburg
• Shells and cannon fire rained down on the city nonstop from the Union’s 220 heavy guns
• Vicksburg civilians suffered as much as soldiers
• Many dug caves into the hillsides and took refuge
after their homes had been destroyed

18. The siege of Vicksburg
• Food and supplies soon began to run out
• Citizens of Vicksburg were forced to eat their
mules, horses, dogs, and even rats just to
survive

19. The siege of Vicksburg ends
• Confederate general Pemperton tried to negotiate a
compromise
• Grant refused, insisting only on unconditional
surrender
• On July 4th, 1863 when the city’s food and
ammunition were gone they surrendered and Grant’s
men finally took the city

20. The siege of Vicksburg ends
 Along
with Gettysburg, Vicksburg was
the most important victory in the war
 The Mississippi River was now in Union
hands, and the backbone of the
Confederacy was broken
 For the next 81 years the citizens of
Vicksburg would refuse to celebrate
Independence Day on July 4th