VirtualMuseum

In the fall of 1862, Major General Ulysses S. Grant was assigned the difficult task of opening the remainder of the Mississippi River by capturing the Confederate fortress of Vicksburg. Throughout the winter of 1862 and spring of 1863, the “Brown Water Navy” assisted Grant’s campaign. In a supporting operation, General John B. McClernand and the fleet moved against Arkansas Post, where Fort Hindman defended the Arkansas River as an approach to Little Rock. McClernand captured almost 5,000 Confederates at Arkansas Post. After destroying the facilities there, he joined Grant. After a series of amphibious operations failed, Grant decided to march his army down the Louisiana side of the river, cross the Mississippi south of Vicksburg and strike the city from the south or east.

On April 30, Grant’s forces landed on the Mississippi shore and began to march inland. Moving eastward, they defeated Confederate forces at Port Gibson on May 1 and Raymond on May 12, capturing the state capital at Jackson two days later. Turning to the west, the Federals won victories again at Champion Hill on May 16 and Big Black Bridge the following day. Upon his arrival on the outskirts of the city, Grant planned a direct assault on the Confederate defenses. Two Union attacks (May 19 and 22) failed, however, and the Federals began formal siege operations against Vicksburg. Federal artillery batteries pounded the city from the Union siege lines, while Union ships battered it from the river side. Finally, after a siege of 47 days, the garrison surrendered and the city fell on July 4, 1863. With Grant’s decisive victory, the Confederacy was cut in half, and the Mississippi was open to Union forces.