“Vicksburg is the key!” – Abraham Lincoln

On this day in 1863, Ulysses S. Grant launched one of the most important campaigns of the entire Civil War, the Siege of Vicksburg.

Vicksburg wasn’t just another town. It sat on high ground overlooking a key bend in the Mississippi River, meaning whoever held it controlled the river. For the Confederacy, it was a lifeline. For the Union, it was a target. Lincoln even said, “The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.”

The Road to the Siege

Grant had tried and failed to take Vicksburg for months. Swamps, strong defenses, and bad luck kept blocking his path. But in May 1863, after winning at Champion Hill (May 16) and Big Black River Bridge (May 17), Grant forced Confederate General John C. Pemberton’s army to retreat into the city.

On May 18, Union forces surrounded Vicksburg and began a siege that would last 47 long days.

Trapped and Starving

Life inside the city turned into a nightmare. Grant’s men shelled Vicksburg day and night. Food ran out. Civilians and soldiers alike lived in caves, eating whatever they could find, rats, mules, even shoe leather.

Grant tried two direct attacks, on May 19 and May 22, but both were beaten back. After that, he settled in and waited. Slowly but surely, the city’s defenses crumbled.

Finally, on July 4, 1863, the Confederate forces surrendered.

Why It Mattered

The fall of Vicksburg was huge. It gave the Union full control of the Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in two. Just one day after the victory at Gettysburg, this win marked a major turning point in the war.

It also made Grant a national hero and helped clear the path for him to lead all Union armies later in the war.

Sources:

American Battlefield Trust – Siege of Vicksburg National Park Service – Vicksburg Campaign

The Civil War: A Narrative, Shelby Foote