What is the battle of vicksburg really about?
The Battle of Vicksburg was all about controlling the Mississippi River. The seige began on 22 May 1863 and lasted untill 4 July 1863. After two failed attempts to take Vicksburg Gen. Grant knew that the only way to defeat the Pemberton and his men was by a well planned seige. Pemberton’s garrison of about 20,000 men was defeated by starvation, disease and daily shelling by Porter’s gun boats and Grant’s forces. The residents, dealing with hunger and the daily shelling were forced to flee to caves and bombshelters in the local hills. On 3 July 1863 Pemberton asked for the terms of surrender and was given none. Grant paroled the Pemberton and his force and took Vicksburg on 4 July 1863. The force that was paroled would end up opposing Grant at Chattanooga. While all this was going on the Confederates were raising a force under Johnston near Jackson. The force numbered around 31,000. Sherman moved his force to oppose this new threat and this would result in the Siege of Jackson. That is
