How a 47-day siege of Vicksburg gave Lincoln the Mississippi River and doomed the Confederacy in 1863

The 47-day Siege of Vicksburg

Union General Ulysses S. Grant led his Army of the Tennessee against Confederate General John Pemberton from May 18 to July 4, 1863.

The city of Vicksburg stood as the last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Grant surrounded Vicksburg and began a siege that lasted 47 days.

President Lincoln called Vicksburg “the key to the war” because its capture would split the Confederacy and give the Union full control of the Mississippi River.

Grant’s Failed Canal Attempts

Before the siege, Grant tried several canal projects during winter 1862-1863 to bypass Vicksburg’s powerful hillside guns.

Workers dug the Williams Canal across the peninsula opposite Vicksburg to create a safe passage for Union boats.

The canal reached 60 feet wide but failed when river levels dropped too low.

Confederate gunners also targeted the diggers. Grant tried other water routes through Lake Providence, Yazoo Pass, and Steele’s Bayou, but all failed.

Porter’s Daring Naval Run Past Vicksburg

Admiral David Porter led seven ironclad gunboats past Vicksburg’s batteries on April 16, 1863. His crews protected their vessels with cotton bales, hay, and grain stacked on the sides facing Confederate guns.

Confederate lookouts spotted the fleet and alerted gunners who opened fire. Despite taking hits, Porter’s fleet passed with little damage.

This bold move allowed Porter to meet Grant downstream, providing naval support for the next phase of the campaign.

Grant’s Brilliant Crossing Strategy

Grant marched his army along the western bank of the Mississippi while Porter’s fleet carried supplies south of Vicksburg.

After failing to cross at Grand Gulf, Grant moved farther south to Bruinsburg.

On April 29-30, Grant’s forces crossed the river unopposed thanks to clever distractions elsewhere. Grant took a risk by leaving his supply lines behind, letting troops live off the land to move faster.

This approach let Grant attack Vicksburg from the east, surprising the defenders.

The Rapid Campaign to Encircle Vicksburg

After crossing the river, Grant’s army won five battles in just 17 days.

Union forces captured Jackson, Mississippi’s capital, on May 14, forcing Confederate General Johnston to retreat.

Grant then turned west toward Vicksburg, defeating Pemberton at Champion Hill on May 16. The next day, Union forces broke through at the Big Black River Bridge.

By May 18, Grant had pushed Pemberton’s army back into the defenses around Vicksburg.

Failed Assaults Lead to Siege Strategy

Grant ordered an immediate attack on May 19, hoping to catch the Confederates off guard.

General Sherman’s troops attacked the Stockade Redan, a V-shaped fort, but were driven back with heavy losses.

A second attack on May 22 also failed when Union soldiers couldn’t climb the steep ravines and overcome the strong defenses.

These two failed attacks cost Grant over 3,000 men. On May 25, Grant changed his plan and began a full siege of the city.

Civilians Dig Cave Shelters

Vicksburg families dug over 500 caves into the hillsides to escape the constant shelling from Union guns.

These “bombproofs” protected people from the 22,000 shells fired during the siege. Some caves were simple one-room shelters while others had multiple rooms.

Families moved their beds, tables, and other belongings underground. Union soldiers later nicknamed Vicksburg “Prairie Dog Town” when they saw all the caves.

Food Shortages Grip the City

As weeks passed, Pemberton’s army had plenty of ammunition but little food. By late June, half the Confederate soldiers were sick from poor diet and bad water.

Diseases spread quickly, with scurvy, malaria, and dysentery affecting thousands. Food prices soared – flour cost $200 per barrel and sugar $30.

Desperate people ate rats, mules, and even boiled shoe leather when regular food ran out.

The Third Louisiana Redan Mine Explosion

Union soldiers dug a tunnel 40 feet under the Third Louisiana Redan, a key fort guarding the Jackson Road.

On June 25, they packed the tunnel with 2,200 pounds of black powder and set it off. The explosion created a crater 12 feet deep and 40 feet wide, blasting a hole in the Confederate line.

The 45th Illinois Infantry charged into the crater, followed by other units.

Despite fighting for 20 hours, Union troops couldn’t advance beyond the crater as Confederates held their position.

A Slave Blown to Freedom

After the first mine failed, Union forces prepared a second one at the same location.

Confederate commanders forced about ten enslaved men to dig counter-tunnels to find and stop the Union diggers.

When the second mine exploded on July 1, it killed all but one of these men. The survivor, named Abraham, was blown through the air from Confederate ground into Union lines.

Union soldiers called him “the slave that was blown to freedom” after he survived with only minor injuries.

Surrender on Independence Day

After 47 days, Pemberton met with Grant on July 3 to discuss surrender. Grant first demanded unconditional surrender, but Pemberton refused these harsh terms.

Grant then offered to release the Confederate soldiers if they promised not to fight until properly exchanged.

Pemberton accepted, and on July 4, 1863, surrendered Vicksburg. That morning, 29,000 Confederate soldiers stacked their rifles and gave up their flags.

Visiting Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park welcomes visitors at 3201 Clay Street in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The park opens daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and charges $20 per vehicle. Guided tours start at the visitor center, where you can get maps for the 16-mile driving tour with 15 stops.

The USS Cairo Museum displays the recovered ironclad warship sunk in 1862. Surrender Field marks where Confederate troops laid down their arms.

The Vicksburg National Cemetery contains graves of 17,000 Union soldiers. Nearby attractions include historic downtown Vicksburg and riverfront museums.

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