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The '''Vicksburg Campaign''' was a series of major and minor battles during the [[American Civil War]] led by Major [[General]] [[Ulysses S. Grant]], culminating in the siege and surrender of Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]] on July 4, 1863.  The surrender of Vicksburg opened up the Mississippi River as a vital waterway and split the Confederacy in two.

The '''Vicksburg Campaign''' was a series of major and minor battles during the [[American Civil War]] led by Major [[General]] [[Ulysses S. Grant]], culminating in the siege and surrender of Vicksburg, [[Mississippi]] on July 4, 1863.  The surrender of Vicksburg opened up the Mississippi River as a vital waterway and split the Confederacy in two.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

At  the time of the Civil War, the Mississippi River was the single most important economic feature of the continent; the very lifeblood of [[America]]. Upon the secession of the southern states, Confederate forces closed the river to navigation, which threatened to strangle northern commercial interests.

At  the time of the Civil War, the Mississippi River was the single most important economic feature of the continent; the very lifeblood of [[America]]. Upon the secession of the southern states, Confederate forces closed the river to navigation, which threatened to strangle northern commercial interests.

Believing that his men could cover the intervening ground quickly and with little loss, Lawler boldly ordered his troops to fix bayonets and charge. With a mighty cheer the Federals swept across the open ground, through the bayou, and over the parapets. Overwhelmed by the charge, Confederate soldiers threw down their rifle-muskets and ran toward the bridges across the river. In the panic and confusion of defeat, many Confederate soldiers attempted to swim across the river and drowned. Luckily, Pemberton's chief engineer, Major Sam Lockett, set the bridges on fire effectively cutting off pursuit by the victorious Union army. Badly shaken, the Confederates staggered back into the Vicksburg defenses and prepared to resist the Union onslaught.

Believing that his men could cover the intervening ground quickly and with little loss, Lawler boldly ordered his troops to fix bayonets and charge. With a mighty cheer the Federals swept across the open ground, through the bayou, and over the parapets. Overwhelmed by the charge, Confederate soldiers threw down their rifle-muskets and ran toward the bridges across the river. In the panic and confusion of defeat, many Confederate soldiers attempted to swim across the river and drowned. Luckily, Pemberton's chief engineer, Major Sam Lockett, set the bridges on fire effectively cutting off pursuit by the victorious Union army. Badly shaken, the Confederates staggered back into the Vicksburg defenses and prepared to resist the Union onslaught.

   

   

Confederate losses at the Big Black River Bridge were not accurately reported, but 1,751 men, 18 cannon, and 5 battleflags were captured by the Federals. Union casualties totaled only 279 men of whom 39 were killed, 237 wounded, and 3 missing. Grant's forces bridged the river at three locations and, flushed with victory, pushed hard toward Vicksburg on May 18.  

Confederate losses at the Big Black River Bridge were not accurately reported, but 1,751 men, 18 cannon, and 5 battle flags were captured by the Federals. Union casualties totaled only 279 men of whom 39 were killed, 237 wounded, and 3 missing. Grant's forces bridged the river at three locations and, flushed with victory, pushed hard toward Vicksburg on May 18.  

==Vicksburg==

==Vicksburg==

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.nps.gov/archive/vick/vcmpgn/vcmpgn.htm]}}

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.nps.gov/archive/vick/vcmpgn/vcmpgn.htm]}}

[[Category:American Civil War]][[Category:United States History]][[Category:Mississippi]][[Category:Louisiana]]

[[Category:American Civil War]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:Mississippi]]

[[Category:Louisiana]]