| Short Summary of the Battle of Vicksburg
Short Summary: The Battle of Vicksburg was fought from May 18, 1863 to July 4, 1863 and led by the Union General Ulysses S. Grant against the Confederate Army led by Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton. This famous Civil War battle and siege was fought between 77,000 Union soldiers and 33,000 Confederate troops. At the end of four days the Union losses were over 16,000 and the Confederate losses amounted to over 12,000, it was a victory for the Union. Battle of Vicksburg
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th American President who served in office from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. One of the major battlefields in the Civil War during his presidency was the horrific siege and Battle of Vicksburg in Mississippi. |
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| Facts about the Battle of Vicksburg
The main battles of the Civil War were divided into two principal theaters in which the major military operations took place. The Battle of Vicksburg was fought in Mississippi in the Western theater. The Western Theater that comprised of the area west of the Appalachians and east of the Mississippi River The Civil War Battlegrounds map explains the divisions between the states in the theaters of war
Facts about the Battle of Vicksburg
The conflict was between the Union Army of Tennessee and the Confederate Army of Vicksburg. Control of the Mississippi River was a vital economic factor for both the North and the South, an essential waterway for farmers shipping their goods to the eastern states via the Gulf of Mexico. And Vicksburg was the key to controlling the Mississippi River. | Civil War Battlegrounds 
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Summary and Facts about the Battle of Vicksburg
The Vicksburg Campaign in Mississippi proved a difficult proposition for General Ulysses S. Grant. The Capture of New Orleans was a great naval victory for the Union a year earlier, but the guns of Union ships could not reach the Confederate fortifications on top of the high cliffs. The town of Vicksburg stood on the top of a steep cliff directly on the river. Artillery fortifications had been erected on the northern end of the town overlooking the river under the Confederate command of under Lt. Gen. John Pemberton. Grant attacked overland from the direction of Corinth but the Confederate soldiers kept forcing him back. Grant finally marched his Union army down on the western side of the river, crossing it below Vicksburg, and approached the fortress from the east and the south. Grant was greatly assisted in his approach and plans of attack by the Union fleet under the command of Admiral David Dixon Porter. Admiral Porter's ships protected the Union army whilst crossing the river. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, the Confederate commander, immediately came out from Vicksburg to meet the advancing Union army. However, General Grant was ready for his attack and drove his forces back. The siege tactics towards Vicksburg therefore began from the land side. The Siege of Vicksburg dragged on and lasted between May 18, 1863 to July 4, 1863. The Confederates made a gallant defense but slowly and surely they were starved into submission. On July 4, 1863, John Pemberton and over 31,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered the fortress at Vicksburg into the hands of the Union. Facts about the Battle of Vicksburg
The following short fact sheet provides interesting facts and information about the Battle of Vicksburg, one of the major battles that was fought during the American Civil War (April 12, 1861 and continued until May 10, 1865). |
Battle of Vicksburg: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) | | Facts for Kids | Questions and Answers | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 1 | Q. Where was the Battle of Vicksburg fought?
A. The battle was fought and siege held in Warren County, Mississippi. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 2 | Q. When was the Battle of Vicksburg fought?
The Battle of Vicksburg was fought between May 18, 1863 and July 4, 1863 | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 3 | Q. Who won the Battle of Vicksburg?
A. The battle was won by the Union forces who besieged Vicksburg | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 4 | Q. Who were the generals and leaders?
A. The Confederate general was Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton. The Union General was Major General Ulysses S. Grant. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 5 | Q. How many men fought in the Battle of Vicksburg?
A. The strength of the Union force was 77,000. The number of besieged Confederate soldiers totaled 33,000. | Battle of Vicksburg: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) |
Battle of Vicksburg
The info about the Battle of Vicksburg provides interesting facts and important information about this important Civil War conflict that occured during the presidency of the 16th President of the United States of America. |
Battle of Vicksburg: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) | | Facts for Kids | Questions and Answers | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 6 | Q. How many Union casualties were there?
A. The total number of Union losses were 4,536: Number Killed 545, Number Wounded 3,688, Number Missing 303. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 7 | Q. How many Confederate casualties were there?
A. The total number of Confederate losses were 31,277. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 8 | Q. Why was the Battle of Vicksburg important?
A. It was strategically significant because the Confederate loss at Vicksburg, was a crucial gain to the Union strategy of capturing the Mississippi River. The victory at Vicksburg divided the South in half. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 9 | It was the last major fort on the Mississippi still in Confederate hands and remained an obstacle for Union supply shipments. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 10 | At the time of the siege the Union already held Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, New Orleans, Memphis, Fort Donelson and Port Gibson. Its loss was disastrous to the Confederacy and became a turning point in the war in the military campaigns in the Western theater. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 11 | The Civil War was dragging on. There were loud public cries for a peace treaty to end the conflict between brother Americans and put an end to the constant casualty lists. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 12 | The Siege and Battle of Vicksburg was politically important as it was drawing close to the end of President Lincoln's first term in office and his opponent for the presidency was the former Union General George P. McClellan, who was in favor of ending the Civil war with a peace treaty and concessions to the Confederacy. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 13 | The Siege and Battle of Vicksburg was a major blow to the forces of the Confederacy with their loss of over 33,000 men, 172 cannons and over 50,000 rifles. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 14 | The Confederacy had no rescue plan in place to aid the soldiers and the civilians besieged in Vicksburg. Confederate general Joseph E. Johnston was shocked that Pemberton had allowed his army to be trapped in Vicksburg, and he had no rescue plan for the garrison. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 15 | Not enough food had been stored in the garrison town of Vicksburg to withstand a long siege and feed the 33,000 Confederate soldiers. Merchants had hoarded food and started to sell it to civilians at extortionate prices. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 16 | Women and children were terrified by the constant noise and bombardment of shells and many set up homes in caves, living in the most primitive conditions. Over over 500 caves were dug into the hillside to escape the bombardment | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 17 | Towards the end of the siege of Vicksburg people were on the verge of starvation, were suffering from malnutrition, becoming dehydrated and sick from various diseases. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 18 | Every mule and dog in Vicksburg had been eaten. It was even reported there were not even rats left in the town. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 19 | Pemberton lost all hope of any help. The battle and siege of Vicksburg had lasted for forty-five days and on the morning of July 3 he raised a white flag. Grant and Pemberton met and arranged terms of surrender, and at 10 A.M. the next day Confederates began to march out and the Battle and siege of Vicksburg was finally over. | | | | Battle of Vicksburg Fact 20 | The Confederates surrendered on July 4, 1863 - the people of Vicksburg, remembering the horror and deaths during the battle and the siege, refused to celebrate the Fourth of July until World War 2. | Battle of Vicksburg: FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions for kids) |
Battle of Vicksburg - President Abraham Lincoln Video
The article on the Battle of Vicksburg provides an overview of one of the major events of his presidential term in office. The following Abraham Lincoln video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 16th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. | | |
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