| The Battle
of Vicksburg was a key battle. The outcome of this battle would determine
who would control the west. General Grant had to attack the city
six times before they finally surrendered. In these battles several
firsts in warfare happened.
Vicksburg is located near the Mississippi River and surrounded by swamp lands. In Grant's first battles many men and wagons were lost in the swamps. In order to go around the swamps Grant snuck his men down the Mississippi River to attack the town. They bombarded the city with cannons which caused the Confederate forces to finally surrender the city. Admiral David D. Porter would sail with a naval fleet consisting of two or more groups of boats in the battle for control of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1862. He also helped in the Battle of Vicksburg assisting of the bombardment. Private Albert Cashier was a light-haired, skinny eighteen year old farmer. Under the uniform that he wore there was a secret. The secret was that Cashier's real name was Jennie Hodgers. Cashier fooled the enlisting officers and the people she lived among and fought. She kept this secret for almost 50 years. Being hit by a car, discovered the real truth as doctors examined her. Four years later she died and was given two separate headstones. One as a soldier and one as herself. Important facts that happened during the Battle of Vicksburg were written among many different people. There were more than 48,000 soldiers who were captured, wounded or killed in the struggle over Vicksburg. With all of the commotion with the Mississippi River made Mississippi a very important state. More than 770 battles or skirmishes had taken place in Mississippi. The trenches dug by the Confederate and Union soldiers during the siege of Vicksburg came within a few yards of one another. General Ulysses S. Grant tried many different ways to get to Vicksburg with the army of the Tennessee. In all that he took he failed many times. General John C. Pemberton leading the Confederates were ready to defend their city. They had nine miles of protective fortifications. Grant immediately began an artillery assault against the confederate line. July 3, Pemberton finally admitted that his troops and the city could no longer hold out. On July 4, 1863, the defenders of Vicksburg laid down their fire arms and filed out of the city, the Union was not able to have a celebration, they stood in silence showing respect. After forty- seven days of siege Vicksburg had fallen. It was the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. --Jodi Carrier-- |