Vicksburg

1
Vicksburg

• Grants Attempts Prior to Vicksburg

2
Agenda

• Vicksburg and the Mississippi
• Canal Bypass
• Lake Providence
• Yazoo Pass
• Steeles Bayou
• Moving on

3
Vicksburg and the Mississippi

• -The last Confederate post on the river
• -Key to New Orleans
• -Control of the Mississippi River would provide
  a safe route for the transportation of troops
  and supplies.
• -Impassable batteries
• -Vicksburg was situated on high bluffs
  overlooking the Mississippi River. A five mile
  stretch of artillery batteries protected the city
  from invaders.

4
Vicksburg and the Mississippi

• -Surrounding terrain
• -The Delta to the north and the Louisiana
  lowlands to the east
• -Swampy land covered with thick forests and
  dense undergrowth containing numerous rivers,
  lakes and bayous subject to constant floods.
• -Swamps south of Vicksburg
• -Flooded swamplands preventing ground movement.

5
Vicksburg and the Mississippi

• -As Union forces moved south towards Vicksburg,
  the winter and the wet season began.
• -This ended all possibilities of moving forces
  by land.
• -Grant was forced to find an alternative route
  to reach Vicksburg.
• -Attempts from January through April, 1863

6
Canal Bypass

• Initial plan
• -Vicksburg is located on a horse shoe bend of
  the Mississippi River.
• -Grant formulated a plan to dig a canal one mile
  long up river from Vicksburg.
• -Would allow Grant to bypass the artillery
  batteries entirely.

7
Canal Bypass

• Outcome
• -The peninsula flooded, destroying the majority
  of the completed canal. The project was scraped
  and an alternative plan was formulated.

8
Lake Providence

• Initial plan
• -Lake Providence is located to the west of the
  Mississippi River, 75 Miles north west of
  Vicksburg
• -Creation of a canal from the Mississippi River
  to Lake Providence.
• -From Lake Providence, Grant could maneuver his
  Army through Louisiana's bayous, lakes, and
  rivers to come out on the Mississippi River 200
  miles below the city of Vicksburg.

9
Lake Providence

• Problems
• -Terrain proved difficult to maneuver.
• -Cypress trees below the water had to be removed
  to allow the passage of Grants ships.
• -Flood debris had to be cleared.
• Outcome
• -Before the plans could be completed the project
  was recalled.

10
Yazoo Pass

• Initial plan
• -Yazoo Pass is located 325 miles north of
  Vicksburg.
• -Using the multiple rivers of the delta to
  maneuver gun boats and infantry to flank
  Vicksburg from the right.
• Problems
• -Pemberton was notified and sent forces to
  protect Vicksburg.

11
Yazoo Pass

• Problems continued
• -Fort Pemberton was built 90 miles north of
  Vicksburg to stop Grants advance.
• Outcome
• -Grant was unable to penetrate Fort Pemberton
  and was forced to look for a new alternative plan.

12
Steeles Bayou

• Initial plan
• -Send gunboats and infantry down Steeles Bayou,
  located north of Vicksburg, through 200 miles of
  narrow, twisting bayous, rivers, and streams to
  flank the city from the right.

13
Steeles Bayou

• Problem
• -Route was heavily obstructed by underwater
  vegetation.
• -Encounter with Confederate troops.
• Outcome
• -Because of Confederate involvement and natural
  obstructions, Union troops were forced to return
  to the Mississippi River.

14
Moving On

• -As April began, the wet season ended and land
  operations were attainable.
• -Grant moved his forces south, following the west
  bank of the Mississippi River to bypass Vicksburg.