The fall of New Orleans in April1862,

capped the beginning of an 18-month drive

to control Vicksburg and the Mississippi River.

The fight for this strategic location was arduous.

Vicksburg, sitting high atop bluffs, was protected

by artillery and a maze of bayous. Confederate

river fortifications interrupted the flow of

Northern troops, supplies and commerce.

Driving southward from Tennessee and

northward from the Gulf, Federal troops

forced the surrender of Vicksburg. With this

victory, the North opened the Mississippi and

dealt a psychological blow to the Confederacy.

The South was split in two and unable to move

men and munitions across the river. While war's

end was still 20 months away, control of the

great Mississippi led ultimately to Union victory.

(Map included)

(Right side text)

An 18-Month Campaign

The battle for Vicksburg hit a fevered pitch when

Ulysses S. Grant was appointed commander of

the Department of the Tennessee and Lt. Gen.

John C. Pemberton, a West Point graduate and

native of Pennsylvania, was given charge of 50,000

Confederate troops defending the Mississippi.

Grant was ordered to clear the river of Confederate

resistance and Pemberton to defend it.

Grant planned to draw Confederate troops defending Vicksburg north and pin them down while another column.

led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, moved moved south from Memphis. Grant led 40,000 troops from La Grange,

Tennessee, toward Grenada, Mississippi, but met fierce resistance from Confederate forces dug into the Yalobusha

riverbank to defend the crossing and the railroad. Grant's plan was thwarted.

Confederate cavalry, led by

Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, headed northward from Grenada, captured the Federal supply base at Holly Springs,

Mississippi, and stopped the Union advance. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad carrying Northern supplies fell to Brig.

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's raiders. These events caused Grant to retreat to Memphis. Confederate troops

heading south toward Vicksburg engaged and decisively beat, Sherman's forces at Chickasaw Bayou.

Grant launched yet another drive to disrupt Southern communications and transportation, confuse the

Confederates, and divert Pemberton's troops. He led his troops 50 miles down the west side of the river from

Milliken's Bend, Louisiana to Hard Times. At the same time, Union Col. Benjamin H. Grierson led a brigade of 1,700

cavalry from La Grange through Mississippi to Baton Rouge destroying rolling stock, bridges, trestles, track and

telegraph lines during this 16-day, 475-mile ride. He also succeeded in luring Pemberton's cavalry and one infantry

division in pursuit.

With Grant in southern Louisiana, Adm. David D. Porter maneuvered his gunboats into place to secure the river at

Grand Gulf, forcing Grant farther down river to cross at Bruinsburg. Grant fought his way towards Vicksburg on the

eastern side of the river, overwhelming and scattering Confederate troops. With these victories to buoy his resolve,

Grant began the final siege of Vicksburg with Confederate surrender coming on July 4, 1863. Five days later Port

Hudson fell and the domination of the Mississippi River was complete.

(Bottom) 1862 - 1863 Timeline

1862

North May18

Farragut calls for surrender of Vicksburg

South May 18

Vicksburg refuses demand

North June

Farragut steams upriver past Vicksburg

North July

Brown and Arkansas launch surprise attack against Farragat's fleet

South July

Farragut retreats to New Orleans

North Sept

Federal divisions sent to reinforce Buell at Louisville

South Sept

Bragg sweeps across Tennessee to Louisville, KY

North Sept

Grant orders attacks from north and south against Price at Iuka

South Sept

Confederate force moves from Baldwyn to Iuka, MI [ sic] to deter Federal divisions

South Sept

Confederates evacuate Iuka and return to Baldwyn

South Oct

Van Dorn suffers defeat by Union at Corinth

North Oct

Grant appointed to secure the Mississippi for Union

South Oct

Pemberton appointed to defend Mississippi

North Nov

Grant marches from Grand Junction, TN into southern Mississippi along Mississippi Central Railroad

North Nov

Sherman pushes down Mississippi River toward Vicksburg

South Nov

Pemberton successfully defends river and railroad at Grenada

South Dec

Van Dorn captures Federal supply base at Holly Springs

South Dec

Forrest secures the Mobile & Ohio Railroad

North Dec

Grant retreats to Memphis

South Dec

Confederate troops repel Sherman at Chickasaw Bayou

1863

North Jan-Feb

Grant launches unsuccessful Bayou Expedition

North Mar

Grant begins march from Milliken's Bend south through Louisiana to Hard Times

North April

Grieson marches from La Grange, TN through Mississippi to Baton Rouge

North April

Porter's gunboats unsuccessfully bombard Confederate forts at Grand Gulf

North May

Grant continues south and crosses river at Bruinsburg

South May

Pemberton's forces attempt to defend Port Gibson and retreat to Vicksburg

North May

Grant defeats Confederate force at Port Gibson, Raymond and captures Jackson

North May

Grant moves along Southern Railroad toward Vicksburg with victories at Champion Hill and Big Black River

Bridge

North May

Grant and Porter assault Vicksburg and are repulsed

North June

Grant and Porter continue the siege of Vicksburg by land and sea

South July 4

Pemberton surrenders Vicksburg

Marker is on Interstate 20 at milepost 184.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Credits and Sources: