Biographer Lloyd Louis accurately portrays the Mississippi River in the mid nineteenth century as being this spinal column of America, the symbol of geographic unity. He refers to the great river as the trunk of the American tree, with limbs and branches reaching to the Alleghenys, the Canadian border, the Rocky Mountains. For more than two thousand miles the river flows silently on its course to the sea, providing a natural artery of commerce. Gliding along the Mississippi's muddy water were steamers and flat boats of all descriptions, heavily laden with the rich agricultural produce of the land enroute the world markets. Indeed, the silent water of the river was the single most important economic feature of the continent, the very life blood of America. One contemporary wrote emphatically: "that the valley of the Mississippi is America."
Upon the succession of the Southern states and Louisiana and Mississippi in particular, the river was closed to free navigation which threaten to strangle northern commercial interests. With the advent of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gathered his ranking civil and military leaders to discuss strategy for opening the Mississippi River and ending what he termed, "a rebellion in the southern states". Seated around the large table examining a map of the nation, Lincoln made a wide sweeping gesture with his hand and placed his finger on the map and said: "see what a lot of land these fellows hold of which Vicksburg is the key, the war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket". It was the President's contention that we can take all the northern ports of the Confederacy meaning on the inland waters and they can defy us from Vicksburg, it means hog and hominy without limit, plus truce from all states of the far south and a cotton country in which they can raise the staple without interference. Lincoln went on to assure his listeners that I'm acquainted with that region and know what I am talking about and as important as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so. I trust that you'll agree that these are powerful statements coming from the sixteen President, but they are no exaggeration.
Confederate camp mounted along the bluffs, commanding the Mississippi River at Vicksburg were not only trained on the River, but denied that important avenue of commerce to northern shipping. It is important to further note that Vicksburg was also the connecting link between the eastern and western parts of the Confederacy, what Jefferson Davis referred to as the "nail head that holds the south's two hats together". In addition, the city satisfied a major Confederate supply route over which the armies of Robert E. Lee and Braxton Bragg relied quite heavily for supplies of food, clothing, medicine and ammunition as well as fresh troops. It was imperative for the administration in Washington to regain control of the lower Mississippi River, thereby opening that important avenue of commerce and enabling the rich agricultural produce of the Northwest to reach world markets. It would also split the Confederacy in two, sever that vital supply route, achieve a major objective of the Anaconda plan and effectively seal the doom of Richmond.
To underscore the significance of the Mississippi River and Vicksburg, in particular, permit me to offer the following statements in support. William T. Sherman, a man destined to play a prominent role in the military operations discussed this evening wrote: "The Mississippi source and mouth must be controlled by one government." So firm was his belief that Sherman stated "to secure the safety of the navigation of the Mississippi River, I would slay millions. On that point I am not only insane, but mad". General and Chief Henry W. Howe wrote in similar, direct but albeit less eloquent terms as he wrote: "in my opinion, the opening of the Mississippi River will be to us of more advantage than the capture of forty Richmonds." Finally, Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, in writing to Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton after the fall of Vicksburg, stated his view: "I thought and still think you did right to risk an army for the purpose of keeping command of even a section of the Mississippi River, had you succeeded none would have blamed, have you not made the attempt, few would have defended your course."
In order to protect the Mississippi Valley, Confederate authorities established a line of defense which ran from Columbus, Kentucky on the left overlooking the Mississippi River through Bowling Green to Cumberland Gap where the bright flank was anchored on the mountains. On the great river south of Columbus, fortifications were also placed on island number 10 and on the Chickasaw bluffs north of Memphis. Seventy miles below New Orleans, two powerful masonry forts supports Jackson and St. Philip stood guard at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Eager to confront the difficult task before them, Union land and navel forces moved with a vengeance from two directions. In a massive converging attack to wrestle control of the River from Confederate troops driving south from Cairo, Illinois Federal forces seized Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers respectfully and opened the pathway of invasion to the deep south.
Continuing the drive, Union forces gained victories at Shiloh in April, Cairn in May and having forced the surrender of Island number 10 seized Memphis in June. Moving up river from the Gulf, were ships of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, commanded by then, flag officer, David Glasgow Farragut. His ships bombarded and passed Forts Jackson and St. Philip and captured New Orleans on April 24th. With the initial success behind him, Farragut sent an advanced flotilla up river. Baton Rouge fell to the Federals on May 8th, Natchez four days later and the flotilla steamed north towards Vicksburg. After the fall of New Orleans as the Union pincher slowly closed along the river, the Confederate began to fortify Vicksburg. The city's geographic location made it ideal for defense. Equally important, existing rail lines which connected Vicksburg with Jackson and via Jackson points elsewhere in the Confederacy, enabled the shipment of heavy ordinates to the hill city. It was not long before Vicksburg became known as the Gibraltar of the Confederacy and it would prove a tough nut to crack.
The strategic significance of Vicksburg greatly increased after the fall of Memphis as it then became the northern most point below Memphis where the Bluffs met the River. It was only a matter of time before war centered on Vicksburg. Initial efforts by Union land and navel forces to capture Vicksburg and open the great waterway to navigation ended in failure. The first threat developed in May 1862, when the ships from the West Gulf Blockading Squadron arrived below Vicksburg and demand was made for the city's surrender. In terse words, the demand was refused. Lieutenant Colonel James L. Autry, the post commander replied: "Mississippians don't know and refuse to learn the meaning of the word surrender. Admiral Farragut thinks he can teach them, let him try." Incensed, Federal authorities opened fire upon the city and maintained an intermitted bombardment from late May, all through June and into late July but to no avail. The bombardment was ineffective and Farragut's fleet racked with sickness and plagued by rapidly falling water with route to New Orleans ambivalent waters.
It was then and there it was realized by both Union and Confederate high commands that if Vicksburg were going to fall, it would be at the hands of a massive combined land and navel effort. The batteries which overlooked the Mississippi River at Vicksburg were powerful, indeed formidable but all the land accesses were open. The decision was made to construct a line of defense around the city which would guard the road and railroad access to Vicksburg. A responsibility for design and construction of the line was assigned to Major Sam Lockett, Chief Engineer of the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. Lockett, a graduate of West Point, class of 1859 in which he stood second, was a highly skilled and well trained engineer who set about his task with vigor. Reconnoitering through the hills and hollows around Vicksburg, Lockett quickly realized that the city was naturally defensible due to a series of sharp, narrow ridges fronted by deep steep ravines, Vicksburg was a natural fortress which he planned to make even stronger by the construction of field fortifications. The line as designed and constructed consisted of nine major forts connected by a continuous line of trenches and rifle pits. The line as shown here formed a huge semicircle around Vicksburg, the lengths of which rested on the river above and below the city. It would be manned by garrison of 30,000 troops mount 172,000 big guns and posed a major challenge to Union domination of the river.
If you haven't figured it out, I made these transparencies myself. Late that same year, a two prong Federal advance on Vicksburg met with disaster. Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Commander of the Union Army of the Tennessee had divided his force in two for an advance on Vicksburg. One column, under Grant's personal command, marched over land from Grand Junction, Tennessee into North Mississippi. The object was to draw Confederate forces responsible for the defense of Vicksburg - Jackson enclave into the northern portion of the state and there keep them pinned while the column under Major General William T. Sherman made a rapid push down the Mississippi River and seized Vicksburg. As Grant's column pushed south, through Holly Springs and Oxford toward Grenada, his ever lengthening supply and communications line became dreadfully exposed. The Mobile and Ohio Railroad on which Grant depended for supplies fell prey to raiding Confederate Calvary under Nathan Bedford Forrest. His advance based at Holly Springs also fell victim to raiding Confederate Calvary under Earl Van Dorn. Destruction of the vital rail line and of his advance based at Holly Springs forced Grant to fall back on Memphis.
This retrograde enabled Confederate forces utilizing interior rail lines to rush to Vicksburg, arriving in time to thwart Sherman's strike just northeast of the city along the banks of Chickasaw bayou. In reporting the action, Sherman simply wrote: "I reached Vicksburg at the time appointed landed, assaulted and failed." Checked on the over land route, Grant seized upon Federal navel supremacy on the inland waters to transfer his army to Milliken's Bend and Young's Point, Louisiana just north of and opposite Vicksburg. He also stationed troops further to the north at Lake Providence, Louisiana. During the winter months, Federal courses stockpiled tremendous quantities of food, clothing and medicine, munitions and countless other items in preparation for the Spring campaign aimed at Vicksburg.
Grant also orchestrated a serious of ill-fated bayou expeditions, shown here, the object of which was to reach the rear of Vicksburg. After months of frustration and failure, Grant was at a crossroads in his military career. There was tremendous clamor in the northern press to remove him from command. Even members of the Cabinet, urged Lincoln to replace Grant as commander of the western army. But the President responded to those critical of Grant by saying: "I can't spare this man, he fights. I'll try him a little longer". Aware of the clamor against him, Grant examined his options.
Three options were discussed at army headquarters. The first was to launch a direct amphibious assault across the Mississippi River and storm the Vicksburg stronghold. The second was to pull back to Memphis and try the overland route once again. The third was to march the army down the west side of the river, search for a favorable crossing point and transfer the field of operations to the area south and east of Vicksburg. In characteristic fashion and with grim determination, Grant boldly opted for the march south. On March 29, 1863, Grant ordered Major General John A. McClernand of the 13th corps to open a road from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage on the Mississippi River below Vicksburg. The movement began on March 31st and thus the Vicksburg campaign began in earnest. I didn't want to spoil you with all my home made transparencies so I copied this one from a book.
As Grant's infantrymen swallowed their way south through Louisiana, corduroying roads and building bridges each step of the way, the Union fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter prepared to run by the batteries at Vicksburg. On the dark, moon- less night of April 16th, Porter's vessels raised anchor and moved down river towards the Citadel of Vicksburg. With engines muffled and running lights extinguished, Porter hoped to slip past the batteries undetected. Suddenly, the night sky was ablaze from bales of cotton soaked in turpentine which lined the river on both banks and barrels of tar set afire by the Confederate to illuminate the river and silhouette the fleet as it passed the batteries. For several hours the fleet withstood the punishing fire which poured from Confederate batteries. Admiral Porter paid close attention to where the shot and shell were landing and noticed they were hitting his smoke stacks, the pilot house and hurricane deck, some were even hitting the gun deck, but few were hitting any lower where the vital parts of the boats were: the engines, the boilers, the steam drums and mud filters. He reasoned that the Confederates were either poor gunners or else there was a fatal flaw in the placement of their batteries which prevented them from depressing their guns to direct an effective fire against the gunboats and transports.
After two years of war, he knew the Confederates to be skilled artillerists. Porter quickly directed his vessels to move across the channel and hug the Mississippi shore. As they did so, the shot and shell began to fly harmlessly overhead. So close did the fleet approach Vicksburg, that sailors reported hearing Confederate Gun Captains giving commands. They also heard bricks tumbling in the city streets, the effect of their own gunfire. When the shelling stopped, Porter tallied the damage to his fleet and recorded the loss of only one unmanned transport vessel. What was deemed impossible by many had been achieved. With Porter's fleet a mile below Vicksburg, Grant had the wherewithal to cross the mighty river.
It was Grant's intention to force a cross into the river at Grand Gulf where there was a good all weather landing and from which point, roads radiated deep into the interior of Mississippi. Two forts guarded Grand Gulf and posed an obstacle to Federal plans. On April 29, Porter's gunboats bombarded the Grand Gulf defenses in preparation for a landing by Grant's troops. The fleet silenced the guns of Fort Wade but could not silence those of Fort Cogan. Ever adaptive, and let there be no doubt in your mind, this is one of Grant's true strengths as a battle captain. Grant disembarked his men from the transports and marched them five miles further down the Leddy. That evening, Porter's fleet ran past the Confederate batteries and rendezvous with Grant at Disaroons Plantation.
On April 30, May 1, Grant hurled his army across the mighty river and onto Mississippi soil at Bruinsburg. A band aboard the flagship, Bently, struck up the red, white, blue as Union infantrymen came ashore in one of the largest amphibious operations in American military history, up to that time. Grant landed 22,000 men and began the inland campaign to capture Vicksburg.
Once ashore, Grant's force pushed rapidly inland and marched through the night, in the early morning hours of May 1st, Confederate resistance was encountered west of Port Gibson and a furious battle which raged throughout the day. Union soldiers fought with grim determination to secure their beach and on Mississippi soil while Confederate soldiers fought with equal determination to drive the invaders into the River. By days end, Confederate forces out numbered and hard pressed, retired from the field. Rather than march north on Vicksburg, Grant directed his army in a northeasterly direction. It was his intention to cut the rail line which connected Vicksburg with Jackson and sever that vital line of communications and supply cutting the Confederate garrison in Vicksburg off from supplies and reinforcements.
In a seventeen day period, what is often referred to as the blitzkrieg of the Vicksburg Campaign, Grant's army marched more than two hundred miles, fought five battles and drove the Confederates into the city's defenses. The campaign thus far, had been a stunning success for the Union Army. Grant's force had met and overcome Confederate resistance at Port Gibson on May 1st, raiment May 12th and two days later captured the capital of Mississippi, Jackson. Not wishing to waste combat troops on occupations, Grant neutralized Jackson with the torch then turned west towards his objective Vicksburg and route from Jackson to Vicksburg. His force inflicted devastating casualties on the Confederate army commanded by Lieutenant General, John C. Pemberton, at the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16th. The following day, May 17th Grant silently defeated Confederate forces at the Big Black River Bridge and hurled Pemberton's army into the defenses of Vicksburg. Having witnessed the debacle at the Big Black River and the wild flight of his troops, Pemberton dejectly stated: "just thirty years ago, I began my military career by receiving my appointment to a cadetship at the U.S. Military Academy and today that same date that career is ended in disaster and disgrace." For all practical purpose it was, but it was a disaster which would effect an entire nation.
The citizens of Vicksburg watched in fear as the shattered remnants of Pemberton's army poured into the city on that fateful day. Mrs. Emma Balfour, wife of a prominent Vicksburg physician, stood in her doorway as the demoralized mass of humanity filled the streets. She later wrote with trepidation: "I hope never to witness again such a scene as the return of our routed army, with pen in hand she recorded the scenes which involved her. From twelve o'clock until late of the night, the roads and streets were jammed with wagons, cannon, horses, men, mule, stock, sheep, everything that you can imagine that now pertains to an army being brought herdly within the entrenchment she confided to her diary, the fears of many in Vicksburg as she wrote: "what is to become of all the living things in this place, shut up as in a trap, God only knows." On through the long day and into the evening, marched the weary soldiers clad in butternut and grey, singly or in small groups with no sense of order or discipline, the men filed into the rifle pits and turned to meet Grant's rapidly approaching army. A medley of sounds filled the night air as the Confederates ready their defenses. Officers shouted orders, teamsters with their animals and dragged artillery into position and as the soldiers worked the pick and shovels, some men cursed while others prayed.
Throughout the night the ringing of axes was constant as additional trees were felled to strengthen fortifications, cleared fields of fire and formed dense obstructions of falling trees in their fronts. Work continued at a feverish pace, but by sunrise the city was in a good state of defense. Late in the afternoon, May 18th, Confederate soldiers peering over their parapets, spotted long columns of Union infantrymen moving slowly towards the city. It was terrifying spectacle and yet magnificent in the extreme as battle flags mapped in the breeze above the columns and bayonets glistened in the sunlight. Union skirmishers were quickly deployed and artillery roared into action but the day wore away with nothing more than a long range artillery duel. That night as darkness enveloped the fields, the soldiers of both armies rested on their arms. Each knew that the bloody work at hand would commence with the rising sun and prepared in his own way.
On the 18th day of May, as the Federal army crosses the Big Black River and pushes on towards Vicksburg, the very first Union forces arrive in this direction and that would be the 15th Army Corps under the command of Major General William T. Sherman. Grant's most trusted and experienced subordinate officer. The next corps to arrive is that of the 17th Corps commanded by the young, inexperienced, yet dynamic and very likeable James McPherson. The final corps arrived, approaches the works in this area and that is the 13th Army Corps commanded by Major General John McClernand, the former Illinois democratic, member of Congress. As these troops arrived, they begin to slowly extend their lines to the left and to the right reconnoiter the Confederate works and prepare for the attack which they know will surely be ordered.
Grant was anxious for a quick victory and after making a hasty reconnaissance ordered an attack. Early on the morning of May 19th, Union artillery opened fire upon the city and for hours bombarded the Confederate works with solid shots and shell. The thick smoke of the guns shrouded the fields and made it virtually impossible to see. At 2:00 p.m. when the guns fell silent, Union soldiers deployed into the line of battle ascribed the graveyard road, in this area here. As they deployed into the line of battle ascribed the graveyard road, they stormed the cities defenses. They succeeded in planting several stands of color on the parapet of Vicksburg, but driven back by the loss 942 men. In this, the first assault against city's defenses, there were numerous acts of bravery that need to be recounted and I'll recount just a few.
Grant's army of Tennessee at Vicksburg were only two regular army units, one being the first attack, 13th United States Infantry, regulars as you know were the professional soldiers. They were noted for their esprit de corps, for their discipline, for their fighting ability and their conduct on the field of battle. Here at Vicksburg on the 19th day of May, as the men of the first battalion 13th U.S. Infantry lined up for battle, the eyes of the volunteers were turned in their direction. Led by the gallant captain, Ed Washington, the regulars 250 strong uncased their colors and moved across the fields. As they moved forward their ranks were thinned by a murderous fire of musketry, rounds of canister. The national colors and the regimental standard both went down but repeatedly were picked up and continued forward ever slowly. Seventeen flag bearers were cut down within four hundred yards carrying the regimental standard forward that day. But as the wound their way down into the deep ravines, fronting the Confederate works and filtered their way through the obstruction of fallen trees. They carried the colors up the steep slopes towards the parapets of Vicksburg. Jumping into the ditch, fronting the stockade redan, a large triangular shaped fortification that guarded the graveyard road. The gentleman carrying the national standard planted his colors on the exterior slope. They were quickly joined by the regimental standard, the first northern colors to be planted on the parapets of Vicksburg. And there they proudly waved, side by side throughout the hot afternoon of May 19th but to no avail. The attack was checked and driven back.
It was under cover of darkness the men who made it to the ditch, fronting stockade redan were able to retrieve their colors and bring them back with honor. The national colors alone had 56 bullet holes in it, 3 bullets stuck in the staff and a piece of canister attesting to Sergeant Gardner's claim that men never stood a hotter fire. They lost over 40% of their men in the attack against stockade redan that day.
In the months which followed as the battle honors were being awarded, General William T. Sherman, the very first Colonel of the 13th U.S. Infantry saw to it that his own as they were called were duly recognized for their achievement at Vicksburg. And Rather than inscribe just Vicksburg on their battle standard they were ordered to inscribe "First at Vicksburg". And so proud were the officers and men of that unit of that singular honor that they adopted that slogan as their unit motto and to this date if you ever see a member of the First Battalion, 13th United States Infantry, which is still active Army unit, currently on duty at Camp Jackson in South Carolina, you will proudly see emblazoned their shoulder pads the motto, "First at Vicksburg".
While the regulars were streaming through the Abauteea and up the spokes towards the fortifications in Vicksburg, the Union troops elsewhere along were pinned down by a murderous fire and musketry. One Union regiment, the 55th Illinois volunteers pinned down less than a hundred yards from the Confederate works were laying down a murderous fire of their own against the Confederate fortifications throughout the hot afternoon. But their ammunition began to run desperately low, their Colonel Oscar Mollenburg not wishing to pull his regiments out of line and take them to the rear to replenish munitions called for volunteers to run to the rear and bring up a fresh supply of munitions. He knew it was an extremely dangerous assignment. Four men had volunteered, including a young musician by the name of Oryan Howe. The four men ran down the graveyard road just as fast as their legs would carry them. Three men were killed outright, the fourth Oryan Howe was severely wounded as he took a Confederate mini bomb in his leg. Toppled hard to the ground, but undaunted by his wound the young musician picked himself up, dusted himself off and continued to hobble down the road to the rear until he spotted a familiar figure on horseback. No less an individual, than Major General William T. Sherman, the quarter commander. Howe hobbled up to Sherman, saluted smartly and began to recount the situation at the front. Sherman seated on horseback at the time, gazed down on the young lad, although he could tell by the ashen complexion on his face and the blood streaming down his leg that he was severely wounded, Sherman listened to his tale and when Howe was finished reporting, he ordered him to the rear he ordered him to the rear and said: "I will see to it personally that a fresh supply of munitions are carried forward. As Howe continued to the rear in hospital treatment, he suddenly stopped and wheeled around and yelled back, 56 caliber, meaning the size of munitions that was needed at the front. Well 56 caliber munitions was gathered in hand, volunteers of the 11th Iowa Infantry carried the heavy crates forward under a murderous fire reached the front line. There they began to distribute the ammunition among the troops only to come to the grim realization, it was the wrong size. It was of no use whatsoever. But be that as it may, the attack would have been checked and driven back anyway.
But in the days which followed, Sherman recalled the bravery of this young musician, who although badly wounded, had enough sense about him to even report the caliber of munitions needed at the front. He thought that this young boy deserved recognition for his act and he put him in for a medal. Well in time, a medal was issued, no less than the Medal of Honor. On May the 19th of 1863, Oryan P. Howe was only 14 years of age. He is the youngest recipient of that coveted award for action at Vicksburg. Remarkably enough however, he is not the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor for action during the Civil War, a young 12 year old boy received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Civil War and to this date remains the youngest recipient of this nation's highest award.
Undaunted by failure on 19th of May, Grant decided to make a more thorough reconnaissance then furl his entire force against Vicksburg on May 22nd. Early that morning, Union artillery roared into action and for hours bombarded the works with solid shot and shell tearing large holes in earth and fortifications. At 10:00 a.m., the prearranged time for the assault to begin, the artillery fell silent. Union soldiers moved forward over a three mile front, toward the defenses of Vicksburg. Again they succeed in planting their colors on the parapets of Vicksburg and several areas and made a short line penetration at railroad redan on McClernand's front, but were driven back a second time with severe loss. In the assault on May 22nd, Grant lost over 3,000 men killed, wounded or missing.
In another one of the more interesting human interest stories of the Vicksburg campaign we find action of the 22nd day of May, along the graveyard road, Sherman's front. Sherman's attack on the 19th had failed primarily due to the dense obstruction of fallen trees in his front which completely disrupted approaching lines of infantry. Sherman realized that if his attack against the stockade redan were to be successful, it would require lightening quick speed. The abbita, that obstruction of fallen trees, must be avoided at all costs. The only open route of advance was straight down the road itself which was raked by Confederate artillery and fronting the stockade redan was a ditch roughly 8 feet deep, 12 feet wide, the last obstacle that must be overcome if this attack were to be successful. Well Sherman developed a rather unique approach to the situation, he decided to form large bundles of cane known as phacines, his troops would also prepare planks and scaling ladders. The idea was for volunteers to carry these materials ahead of the assaulting column. When they reached the ditch, throw down the bundles of cane, filling up a portion of the ditch which could then be quickly planked, the scaling ladders thrown up against the wall and the infantry column in its assault could charge down the graveyard road over the planks, up the ladders, over the top of the forts and capture the fortifications. Sounds pretty easy doesn't it. Anyone care to volunteer?
If you go to Vicksburg today, in that area of the park, you will note a dense forrest that forrest did not exist back in 1863. Where was Sherman going to get the materials to build the planks and scaling ladders. But during the course of his reconnaissance, in preparation for the attack he spotted a wooden frame building about a mile to the rear. So he called for volunteers to go the rear, dismantle this building and use those materials to build the planks and scaling ladders. You'll notice I said he called for volunteers. What is the very first rule you learned in the army. Never volunteer. Actually, I understand that's the second rule today, the first is don't tell, don't ask, something of that nature. But back during the Civil War it was never volunteer for anything regardless of how simple it may sound, you're going to get burned. And sure enough, these poor soldiers who volunteered for this assignment were in for the burning of a lifetime. He also sent them down under cover of darkness, which should further raise your suspicion.
Well it just so happened that the house was occupied, not by disloyal citizens, but by no less an individual that Major General Ulysses S. Grant, who was using the house as his headquarters. Sherman did not have the courage to ask Grant to vacate his plush accommodations and so he called on volunteers to extract the remaining General. These volunteers arrived at the building, you would think that the guard in front of the building would have tipped them off that someone of extreme importance was occupying it. These volunteers began throwing rocks through the windows, ripping boards off the side of the house, and Grant was inside sound asleep. Well with his slumber disturbed, Grant bounded out of bed and ran to the front door and you can imagine the surprise of these volunteers as their setting about dismantling this building. Hearing a familiar voice crying out, "What is going on here?" Out walks Grant in his nightshirt. Well these poor volunteers stuttered their way through an explanation. Grant listened very patiently and accepted their explanation and vacated the building. Set up his headquarters in a tent and there he remained for the duration of the siege. Well that building was razed in record time after that. The planks and scaling ladders were made, the bundles of cane were formed and all was in readiness for the attack on May 22nd.
Following the four hour artillery bombardment which was aimed to soften the Confederate defenses and of course the thick smoke of the guns would shroud the fields concealing the storming party. The order was given for these men to move forward, 150 volunteers dubbed the Forlorn Hope had their planks and scaling ladders in hand and down the graveyard road they ran just as fast as their legs would carry them. About a 100 yards from Confederate fortifications they entered a road that had a very deep, narrow road cut. As they began to exit the other side, the concealing smoke began to dissipate and rise exposing the fields for all to see. The Confederate peering over their parapets caught sight of the storming party, stood and let loose a withering volley of musketry, toppling scores of these men but those who were unharmed, true to their mission reached the ditch, threw down the bundles of cane and were quickly planked over, the scaling ladders thrown up against the wall of the fort and the men jumped into the ditch and turned to watch the infantry column in its assault. As the gazed down the graveyard road toward their rear, they were horrified when they saw no one charging down the road. The order was never conveyed to the troops to follow the storming party. By this time all of the concealing smoke had risen, the fields were exposed for all to see. Sherman was livid, but the attack was ordered nonetheless and down the graveyard road came the men of the 15th Army Corps only to be driven back with heavy loss.
Although, his nose was bloodied a second time, Grant was not yet willing to toss in the towel and lay seize to the city. As he contemplated his next move, Grant left behind his dead and wounded, many of whom who have been lying exposed since the 19th of May. Exposed to the sun, to the rain, to the heat, the bodies of the dead began to bloat and turn black. The stench was sickening. One Confederate soldier wrote: "The Yanks are trying stink us out of Vicksburg." On May 25th, white flags appeared along the Confederate line, Union soldiers were hopeful that the city would soon be surrendered. Their hopes were dashed, however, as word quickly spread that a note was passed from Pemberton to Grant imploring in the name of humanity that Grant bury his dead as the order had become quite offensive.
A truce was granted for 2 1/2 hours during which time men in blue and grey mingled between the works, there a group a four played cards recalled one soldier. Two Yanks and two Reb's while others swapped tobacco for coffee. While the gruesome task, the burial details was completed, it was almost has if there were no war in progress. At the appointed time, however, the flags were taken down and everyone ran for cover. The siege of Vicksburg began in earnest that day.
Throughout the month of May and into June, Union soldiers slowly extended their lines to the left and to the right until they completely encircled the beleaguered city. Once the encirclement was complete, Pemberton's garrison was effectively cut off from all supply and communications with the outside world. The Confederates had to subsist solely on what they had stockpiled in Vicksburg prior to the siege. With each passing day, those supplies dwindled until they were nearly exhausted. In order to conserve what food supplies were on hand, Pemberton ordered the daily ration cut to 3/4, then to 1/2, then to 1/4 then they were cut again and yet again and yet again. By the end of June, the garrison was issued only a handful of peas and rice per man, per day. Even their water was rationed to just one cup per day. For those of you have never had the shear pleasure of a Mississippi summer, well let me tell you - temperatures often exceed 110 degrees, humidity is always up around 200 percent. Water is a necessity. Disease began to spread rapid through the ranks, dysentery, diarrhea, malaria, various fevers all took a heavy toll of human life and were more certain of death than was the enemy. At first scores, then hundreds of men could be seen, laying aside their weapons and walked or crawled as best they could to the hospitals in Vicksburg.
Public buildings were filled to capacity, many fine private residences were converted to hospitals but even there, there was no sucker, for there were no medicines to give them. Each day the dead wagons, as they were known, made the rounds of the hospitals and the dead brought out in ever increasing number and carried to their long rest and interred in the city cemetery, north of town.
As May slowly faded into June, Union soldiers began to dig approaches toward the Confederate line forming zig zags and then parallels. Grant moved up his infantry and artillery, first within 300 yards, then 200 yards, then 100 yards. The digging then continued as Union soldiers worked their way up to the parapets of Vicksburg. The object was to get as close to the enemy as possible wherefore if an attack was ordered, all they need do is pour out of their trench, over the parapet and among the enemy. This would minimize their casualties and maximize the troops strength which would vacate the enemy. Hopefully it would be enough strength of numbers to seize the forts and gain access to Vicksburg.
An option was to tunnel underneath the enemy works, hallow out rooms, fill them with black powder and destroy the fortifications of Vicksburg. Thirteen approaches were excavated by Union soldiers at different points along the siege line with the object of mining the Confederate works. Of these thirteen approaches, the most successful was known as Logan's approach situated along the Jackson Road, here in the center of the Confederate line. Situated along the Jackson Road, Logan's approach inched forward toward the 3rd Louisiana redan, a large triangular shaped fortification manned by the 3rd Louisiana infantry. Excavating a sap or a trench, if you will, that was seven feet deep and eight feet wide, Union fatigue parties reached the 3rd Louisiana redan on June 23rd. A gallery was then carved directly under fort and preparations made for mining.
On June 25th, 2,200 pounds of black powder were placed in the mine. At 3:00 p.m. the fuse was lit, tense moments passed as the Federals waited to storm into the breach and seize Vicksburg. Suddenly, there was muffled thud and then a loud explosion as the ground began to break and a column of flame and dirt reached to the sky. Inside the column of flame, one could see men, mules and wagons blown skyward. Before the dust could even settle, Union soldiers poured into the crater and attempted to secure the breach. In the wild, mealy which ensued, cold muskets and bayonets were freely used and hand grenades were tossed back and forth. The battle raged in unabated fury for 26 hours as Grant won fresh regiment after another all to no avail. The breach was sealed by the Confederates at the point of bayonet. The great gamble had failed.
Undaunted, a second mine was planted and detonated on July 1st, but was not followed by an infantry assault. The Confederates in this area realizing exactly what the Union engineers were up to, attempted to sink counter shafts from within their own works, these counter shafts would go down ten, fifteen, twenty feet. The idea was to locate the Union tunnel before a mine could be planted or detonated. Down in the counter shafts by all accounts, the air was stifling. It was next to impossible to breath. Down in the counter shafts, you could clearly hear the enemy soldiers digging away. You could even make out their conversations, but sound as you know travels differently underground then it does on the surface. Although the Confederates could hear the enemy digging away and even make out their conversations, they could not tell from what distance or direction the sounds were coming. All they knew was on the 25th day of June, the digging sound stopped, which meant the mind had been completed.
Well in the explosion which followed, several Confederate soldiers were buried. After the assault on June 25th, Union engineers continued excavating another gallery underneath what remained of the 3rd Louisiana redan. The Confederates hoping to retard their progress, called on Chief Engineer, Sam Lockett, to come to the scene to see what he would recommend. Lockett was at a loss as to what to do. He recommended tossing down a thunder keg on the enemy. A thunder keg was simply a large barrel filled with 500 pounds of black powder, the fuse was lit, the barrel was rolled over the parapets directly on top of where the enemy was digging away. The thunder keg went off with a vengeance, and when the smoke cleared, there was no damage whatsoever to the Union tunnel. Lockett at a loss as to what to do next, simply ordered that counter mining resume.
Not wishing to lose additional, irreplaceable white soldiers, 7 blacks were pressed into service and placed down in these counter shafts and they were busy digging away when on July 1st a second mine was detonated. This one much smaller only 1800 pounds. Six of these blacks were buried alive. One however, was actually blown out of the ground skyward, and landed behind Union lines. Now you can imagine these Union soldiers under arms waiting for the attack to be ordered, seeing this black man fall out of the sky behind them. By all accounts, this poor man landed on his head and was completed unscathed. Union soldiers ran up to him, picked him up, dusted him off. One soldiers even had the audacity to ask him, "how high did you go?" To which he responded, "Don't rightly know massa, but came three miles." This guy was an instant celebrity. He was taken back and introduced to General Grant, he was introduced to General McPherson, the Corps Commander on that front. McPherson was so enamored by this man and his story that he took him on as his personal cook. And he remained McPherson's cook until McPherson's death in front of Atlanta in 1864. But in the days remaining of the siege of Vicksburg, so enterprising Union soldiers actually sequestered this man in a tent and charged 50 cents admission for curious soldiers, just to look at America's first astronaut.
That day, July the 1st, Grant was notified by his subordinates that given just a few more days digging, thirteen mines could be planted and detonated simultaneously. This was the moment that Grant and his army had been working for all these many weeks of siege. It is not likely that the Confederates could have withstood such an attack. Grant was in the process of planning an attack that he had scheduled to take place on July the 6th. When on a hot afternoon of July the 3rd, Grant noticed white flags appear along Confederate lines. Riding out from the city came a cattle cade of officers in grey, led by Lieutenant John C. Pemberton. Grant rode to meet with him between the lines. Pemberton asked Grant on what terms would he receive the surrender that garrison and city of Vicksburg. Grant replied that he had no terms other than immediate and unconditional surrender. These terms were unacceptable to Pemberton, who assured Grant that he would bury many more of his men before he ever entered Vicksburg. The Generals agreed only upon a secession of hostilities then rode their separate ways.
Grant assured Pemberton that he would have his final terms by 10:00 that night. True to his word, Grant sent in his final amended terms. Instead of an unconditional surrender of Vicksburg, Grant offered parole to the garrison. Pemberton received the note, in the quiet of his headquarters in the company of his generals, Pemberton read the note then passed it around for his subordinates to read and comment upon. Almost to a man they agreed these were the best terms that could be had.
On the morning of July 4, 1863, white flags fluttered in the breeze above the fortifications of Vicksburg. Marching out from their works, Confederate soldiers furled their flags, stacked their arms and turned over their accouterments. At which time a victorious Union army marched in and took possession of Vicksburg. The fortress city on the Mississippi River which had eluded them for so long. Grant road in along the Jackson Road and down to the Warren County Courthouse, where he watched the stars and stripes be placed a top the building. He then road down to the waterfront where he personally thanked and congratulated, Admiral Porter for the assistance rendered by the United States Navy during the Vicksburg operations. Grant would be the first to admit that he could never have taken Vicksburg without the Navy's assistance.
Almost has an afterthought, he sent a message to Washington informing President Lincoln of the city's surrender. It took several days for the message to reach the Capitol, during which time the only remaining Confederate bastion on the Mississippi River, Fort Hudson, Louisiana fell into Union hands. Upon the receipt of Grant's message, Lincoln sighed "Thank God, the Father of waters again goes on decks to the sea".