In May,
1863, Joseph E. Johnston ordered General
John Pemberton to attack Ulysses
S. Grant at Clinton, Mississippi. Considering this too risky,
Pemberton decided to attack Grant's supply train on the road between
Grand Gulf and Raymond. Discovering Pemberton's plans, Grant attacked
the Confederate Army at Champion's Hill.
Pemberton was badly defeated and with the remains of his army returned
to their fortifications around Vicksburg.
After two failed assaults, Grant decided to starve Pemberton out.
This strategy proved successful and on 4th July, Pemberton surrendered
Vicksburg. The western Confederacy was now completely isolated from
the eastern Confederacy and the Union Army
had total control of the Mississippi River.
(1)
In his autobiography, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant ,
Ulysses Grant explained
the importance of capturing Vicksburg.
Vicksburg was important to the enemy because it occupied the first
high ground coming close to the river before Memphis. From there a
railroad runs east, connecting with other roads leading to all points
of the Southern States. A railroad also starts from the opposite side
of the river, extending west as far as Shreveport, Louisiana. Vicksburg
was the only channel, at the time the only channel connecting the
parts of the confederacy divided by the Mississippi. So long as it
was held by the enemy, the free navigation of the river was prevented.
Hence its importance. Points of the river between Vicksburg and Port
Hudson were held as dependencies; but their fall was sure to follow
the capture of the former place.
(2)
Order sent by Major-General Ulysses
Grant to Major-General William
Sherman at Vicksburg (8th December, 1862)
You will proceed, with as little delay as possible, to Memphis, Tennessee,
taking with you one division of your present command. On your arrival
at Memphis you will assume command of all troops there. As soon as
possible move them down the river to the vicinity of Vicksburg, and
with the co-operation of the gunboat fleet under command of Flag-officer
Porter proceed to the reduction of that place in such manner as circumstances,
and your own judgment, may dictate.
The amount of rations, forage, land transportation, etc., necessary
to take, will be left entirely with yourself. The Quartermaster at
St. Louis will be instructed to send you transportation for 30,000
men; should you still find yourself deficient, your quartermaster
will be authorized to make up the deficiency from such transports
as may come into the port of Memphis.
(3)
Thomas W. Knox, New York Herald (18th January, 1863)
Throughout the battle the conduct of the general officers was excellent,
with a few exceptions. General Sherman was so exceedingly erratic
that the discussion of the past twelve months with respect to his
sanity, was revived with much earnestness.
All through
the long December day the wounded lay upon the hill uncared for by
either contending party. The ground was
that for which there had been so fierce a contest, and, while we could
not take possession of it, the rebels did not choose to occupy it.
Daybreak, sunrise, noon, sunset and night, and still the wounded uncared
for. What must have been their suffering!
On the
morning of Wednesday, the 31st of December the firing had been entirely
stopped, and the rebels consented to receive a flag of truce. Five
hours were allowed for burying the dead and taking away the wounded,
and at the end of the
time the work was accomplished. A few of the rebels came out and talked
freely with the bearers of the flag. They stated
that after the 1st of January they should shoot every officer captured,
and put the privates at work on fortifications, with
ball and chain, in retaliation for the emancipation proclamation of
the President. They expressed the utmost confidence in their ability
to hold Vicksburg against the force now before it. From their statements
it was inferred that Price was in command at Vicksburg, and that Tilghmans
division was to arrive there on that day. There were evidently strong
grounds for their hopes. They were well posted as to our strength,
and informed us of the exact number of our transports and gunboats,
and gave the number of men in the expedition with surprising accuracy.
All the
slightly wounded had been taken to Vicksburg as prisoners of war,
and we were allowed to bring away only those that we found on the
ground. The rain and cold combined, with fifty hours' continued exposure,
had left but few men alive. Had the flag been taken out and received
on the afternoon subsequent to the battle, there is little doubt that
many lives would have been saved. Doctors Burke and Franklin attended
as best they could to the wants of the sufferers. By some criminal
oversight there had been little preparation for battle on the part
of Sherman's medical director, and the hospitals
were but poorly supplied with many needed stores. Since the battle
General Sherman has persistently refused to allow a hospital boat
to go above, though their detention in this region is daily fatal
to many lives. The only known reason for his refusal is his fear that
a knowledge of his management will reach the people of the North.
(4)
John Pemberton, letter sent to each
of his four division commanders at Vicksburg
(Ist July, 1864)
Unless the siege of Vicksburg is raised, or supplies are thrown
in, it will be necessary very shortly to evacuate the place. I see
no prosoect of the former, and there are too many great, if not insuperable
obstacles in the way of the latter.
(5)
Ulysses Grant, Personal Memoirs
of U. S. Grant (1885)
On 3rd July, 1863, about ten o'clock a.m. white flags appeared
on a portion of the rebel works. It was a glorious sight to officers
and soldiers on the line where these white flags were visible, and
the news spread to all parts of the command. The troops felt that
their long and weary marches, hard fighting, ceaseless watching by
night and day, in a hot climate, exposure to all sorts of weather,
to diseases and, worst of all, to the gibes of many Northern papers
that came to them saying all their suffering was in vain, that Vicksburg
would never be taken, were at last at an end and the Union sure to
be saved.
At three o'clock Pemberton appeared at the point suggested in my verbal
message. Our place of meeting was on a hillside within a few hundred
feet of the rebel lines. Pemberton and I had served in the same division
during part of the Mexican War. I knew him very well therefore, and
greeted him as an old acquaintance.
This news, with the victory at Gettysburg won the same day, lifted
a great load of anxiety from the minds of the President, his Cabinet
and the loyal people all over the North. The fate of the Confederacy
was sealed when Vicksburg fell. Much hard fighting was to be done
afterwards and many precious lives were to be sacrificed; but the
morale was with the supporters of the Union ever after.
Available from Amazon Books
(order below)
