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The Siege of Vicksburg
May 26 - July 3, 1863
| Following the failure of the May 22 assault, Grant realized that Vicksburg could not
be taken by storm and decided to lay siege to the city. Slowly his army established a line
of works around the beleaguered city and cut Vicksburg off from supply and communications
with the outside world. Commencing on May 26, Union forces constructed thirteen approaches
along their front aimed at different points along the Confederate defense line. The object
was to dig up to the Confederate works then tunnel underneath them, plant charges of black
powder, and destroy the fortifications. Union troops would then surge through the breach
and gain entrance to Vicksburg. |
Union soldiers dig approach trenches towards the Confederate fortifications
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| Throughout the month of June, Union troops advanced their approaches slowly toward the
Confederate defenses. Protected by the fire of sharpshooters and artillery, Grant's
fatigue parties neared their objectives by late June. Along the Jackson Road, a mine was
detonated beneath the Third Louisiana Redan on June 25, and
Federal soldiers swarmed into the crater attempting to exploit the breach in the city's
defenses. The struggle raged for 26 hours during which time clubbed muskets and bayonets
were freely used as the Confederates fought with grim determination to deny their enemy
access to Vicksburg. The troops in blue were finally driven back at the point of bayonet
and the breach sealed. On July 1, a second mine was detonated but not followed by an
infantry assault. Throughout the weary month of June the gallant defenders of Vicksburg
suffered under the constant bombardment of enemy guns from reduced rations and exposure to
the elements. Reduced in number by sickness and battle casualties, the garrison of
Vicksburg was spread dangerously thin. Soldiers and citizens alike began to despair that
relief would ever come. At Jackson and Canton General Johnston gathered a relief force
which took up the line of march toward Vicksburg on July 1. By then it was too late as the
sands of time had expired for the fortress city on the Mississippi River. |
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Last update: Friday, November 05, 1999
http://www.nps.gov/vick/vcmpgn/siege.htm
Editor: G. Zeman |
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