Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - History Other Battle of Vicksburg Battle of Vicksburg The Civil war cut our nation in two, Americans fighting Americans, brother against brother. A key battle fought westward was the turning point in the war: the Battle of Vicksburg. Grant began to make plans for a campaign against Vicksburg. The campaign in the American Civil War culminating in the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863. General Ulysses S. Grant with the largest force, about 67, 000 men. I was to guard rail communications and occupy towns in the Union. It held territory in the west, but he would concentrate on taking Vicksburg. Vicksburg is the last principal confederate bastion on the Mississippi. (Street-17) During the period May through July 1862, several attempts to seize Vicksburg were made by Adam. David G. Farragut’s fleet and troops under General Thomas Williams. These Ventures failed because the guns used on the ships could not be directed effectively against the confederate batteries high on the bluffs, and because the confederate troops far outnumbered the Union contingents sent against them. (Street 79) Between Cairo, Illinois, and the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River twists and winds for nearly 1,000 miles. Receiving control of Vicksburg and the Mississippi River was a huge benefit in the war. The River was vital to both the American Government and to the Confederate forces in the west. Confederate forces mounted artillery batteries ready to challenge the passage of Union ships. Before the outbreak of the Civil War, Vicksburg, Mississippi had become one of the most prosperous and sophisticated towns on the old Southern frontier. The city was a becoming center of trade, its wharves crowded with boats carrying all manner of goods and commodities. It boasted a municipal orchestra, a Shakespeare repertory company, and an imposing courthouse in the Greek revival style. To its proud citizens, Vicksburg was the “Queen City of the Bluff” and center, as one f them wrote, of them wrote, of “culture, education and luxury”. All this to change with coming of the war. (Brann 81) By early 1862 the peaceful town had become one of the most stregically important spots in the entire confederacy. From the beginning of the war in 1861, to protect their most prized possession, the Confederacy but up fortifications at strategic points along the river. Federal forces eventually captured post after post. After fighting their way southward from Illinois and northward from Gulf of Mexico. Until by late summer of 1862, only Vicksburg and Port Hudson appeared to be major constraints to the Union of the two posts, Vicksburg was by far the strongest and most important. Setting high over looking a bend in the river, protected by artillery and dangerous swamps. So far the city had defined Union efforts to force into submission. (Williams 1) In order to protect the Mississippi Valley, Confederates established a line of defense, which ran from Columbus, Kentucky, overlooking the Mississippi River through Bowling Green to Cumberland Gap where the bright flank was secure on the mountains. On the Mississippi River, south of Columbus, fortifications were also placed on island number 10 and on the Chickasaw Bluffs north of supported Jackson St. Phillip stood guard at the mouth of the Mississippi River. (Brann 82) Anxious to confront the task, Union land and naval forces moved from two directions. In a huge attack to gain control of the Mississippi from the Confederate troops headed south from Cairo Illinois, federal forces took forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers respectfully and opened the pathway of invasion to the south. (Street 27) Efforts by Union land and naval forces to capture Vicksburg and open the great waterway to navigation ended in failure. (Catton 230) It was only a mater of time before war centered in on Vicksburg. It was only a matter of time before war centered in on Vicksburg. (Williams 1) The first threat developed in May 1862, when the ships from the West Gulf Blockading Squadron arrived bellow Vicksburg and demanded that the surrender. The Surrender was refused. (Catton 231) It was then realized by both Union and Confederate high commands that would be in he hands of a huge combined land and naval effort. (Street 80) A decision was made to construct a line of defense around the city, which would guard the road and railroad access to Vicksburg. Therefore appointing Ulysses S. Grant in October of 1862. He was chosen to be the commander of the Department of the Tennessee and in charge of cleaning the Mississippi of Confederate resistance. Grants long campaign to capture Vicksburg on the Mississippi was one of the most important senses of connected battles during the Civil War. (Wheeler36) Bibliography: Works Cited Page Brann, Willam Cowper. Complete Works of Brann the Iconoclast, Volume 12.. New York, New York, The Brann Publishers, Inc. 1919 Catton, Bruce. The American Heritage New History of The Civil War. New York New York, Penguin Group Penguin Books USA Inc. 1988 Street, James Jr. The Struggle for Tennessee. Time-Life Books Inc. Morristown, New Jersey, 1985. Williams, Kenneth P. “Vicksburg is the Key.” Http:// http://www.americancivilwar.com/vicksburg.html.online.GOTO. Wheeler, Joseph. Amerias Civil War. “Civil War Times”. VOL.21, NO. 24 12,August, 2000 Word Count: 789
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