Battle for the Mississippi

  The fall of New Orleans in April1862, capped the beginning of an 18-month drive to control Vicksburg and the Mississippi River. The fight for this strategic location was arduous. Vicksburg, sitting high atop bluffs, was protected by artillery and a maze of bayous. Confederate river fortifications interrupted the flow of Northern troops, supplies and commerce. Driving southward from Tennessee and northward from the Gulf, Federal troops forced the surrender of Vicksburg. With this victory, the North opened the Mississippi and dealt a psychological blow to the Confederacy. The South was split in two and unable to move men and munitions across the river. While war's end was still 20 months away, control of the great Mississippi led ultimately to Union victory. (Map included) An 18-Month Campaign The battle for Vicksburg hit a fevered pitch when Ulysses S. Grant was appointed commander of the Department of the Tennessee and Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton, a West Point graduate and native of Pennsylvania, was given charge of 50,000 Confederate troops defending the Mississippi. Grant was ordered to clear the river of Confederate resistance and Pemberton to defend it. Grant planned to draw Confederate troops defending Vicksburg north and pin them down while another column. led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, moved moved south from Memphis. Grant led 40,000 troops from La Grange, Tennessee, toward Grenada, Mississippi, but met fierce resistance from Confederate forces dug into the Yalobusha riverbank to defend the crossing and the railroad. Grant's plan was thwarted. Confederate cavalry, led by Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, headed northward from Grenada, captured the Federal supply base at Holly Springs, Mississippi, and stopped the Union advance. The Mobile & Ohio Railroad carrying Northern supplies fell to Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's raiders. These events caused Grant to retreat to Memphis. Confederate troops heading south toward Vicksburg engaged and decisively beat, Sherman's forces at Chickasaw Bayou. Grant launched yet another drive to disrupt Southern communications and transportation, confuse the Confederates, and divert Pemberton's troops. He led his troops 50 miles down the west side of the river from Milliken's Bend, Louisiana to Hard Times. At the same time, Union Col. Benjamin H. Grierson led a brigade of 1,700 cavalry from La Grange through Mississippi to Baton Rouge destroying rolling stock, bridges, trestles, track and telegraph lines during this 16-day, 475-mile ride. He also succeeded in luring Pemberton's cavalry and one infantry division in pursuit. With Grant in southern Louisiana, Adm. David D. Porter maneuvered his gunboats into place to secure the river at Grand Gulf, forcing Grant farther down river to cross at Bruinsburg. Grant fought his way towards Vicksburg on the eastern side of the river, overwhelming and scattering Confederate troops. With these victories to buoy his resolve, Grant began the final siege of Vicksburg with Confederate surrender coming on July 4, 1863. Five days later Port Hudson fell and the domination of the Mississippi River was complete. 1862 - 1863 Timeline 1862 North May18 Farragut calls for surrender of VicksburgSouth May 18 Vicksburg refuses demand North June Farragut steams upriver past Vicksburg North July Brown and Arkansas launch surprise attack against Farragat's fleet South July Farragut retreats to New Orleans North Sept Federal divisions sent to reinforce Buell at Louisville South Sept Bragg sweeps across Tennessee to Louisville, KY North Sept Grant orders attacks from north and south against Price at Iuka South Sept Confederate force moves from Baldwyn to Iuka, MI [ sic] to deter Federal divisions South Sept Confederates evacuate Iuka and return to Baldwyn South Oct Van Dorn suffers defeat by Union at Corinth North Oct Grant appointed to secure the Mississippi for Union South Oct Pemberton appointed to defend Mississippi North Nov Grant marches from Grand Junction, TN into southern Mississippi along Mississippi Central Railroad North Nov Sherman pushes down Mississippi River toward Vicksburg South Nov Pemberton successfully defends river and railroad at Grenada South Dec Van Dorn captures Federal supply base at Holly Springs South Dec Forrest secures the Mobile & Ohio Railroad North Dec Grant retreats to Memphis South DecConfederate troops repel Sherman at Chickasaw Bayou 1863 North Jan-Feb Grant launches unsuccessful Bayou Expedition North Mar Grant begins march from Milliken's Bend south through Louisiana to Hard Times North AprilGrieson marches from La Grange, TN through Mississippi to Baton Rouge North April Porter's gunboats unsuccessfully bombard Confederate forts at Grand Gulf North May Grant continues south and crosses river at Bruinsburg South May Pemberton's forces attempt to defend Port Gibson and retreat to Vicksburg North May Grant defeats Confederate force at Port Gibson, Raymond and captures Jackson North May Grant moves along Southern Railroad toward Vicksburg with victories at Champion Hill and Big Black River Bridge North May Grant and Porter assault Vicksburg and are repulsed North June Grant and Porter continue the siege of Vicksburg by land and sea South July 4 Pemberton surrenders Vicksburg