Vicksburg

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Vicksburg

• Assaults

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Assaults on Vicksburg

• After the Battle of the Big Black on May 17,
  Pemberton retreats into Vicksburg and begins
  establishing his defense
• Grant is anxious to finish the job and orders two
  assaults on May 19 and 22
• The first is relatively hasty, the second more
  deliberate
• Both fail

THE SIEGE OF VICKSBURG-- APPROACH OF McPHERSON'S
SAPS TO THE REBEL WORKS Harpers Weekly
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Confederate Defenses

• The Confederates built nine major fortifications
  that anchored their line
• Each covered the roads and the railroad that
  constituted the best Federal avenues of approach
• Rifle pits connecting the major works made the
  Confederate line more or less continuous
• Vicksburg was, then, rather an intrenched camp
  than a fortified place, owing much of its
  strength to the difficult ground, obstructed by
  fallen trees in its front, which rendered
  rapidity of movement and ensemble coordination
  in an assault impossible.
• Report of Captains Prime and Comstock, Grants
  chief engineers

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Terrain facing the Federal Assaults
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May 19 Assault

• Major attack is by Shermans corps at the
  Confederate left-center at Stockade Redan (a
  V-shaped fortification, open to the rear)
• Particularly effective fire comes from the
  Confederate lunettes (a small outwork,
  sometimes crescent-shaped, usually on the flank
  of a larger fortification)
• Greens lunette and the 27th Louisiana Lunette
  provided enfilade fire over the ground in front
  of the redan

Enfilade Fire
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May 19 Assault
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May 19 Assault

• Terrain, obstacles, and fire all worked in
  concert to stop the Federal attack
• Confederate rifle and artillery fire raked the
  blue lines from front and flank as they plunged
  into the ravine where abatis, wire
  entanglements, and pits covered with grass mats
  further broke up the Union formations.
• Chris Gabel, Staff Ride Handbook for the
  Vicksburg Campaign, 162

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May 19 Assault

• Part of Smiths Brigade did make it to the top,
  dodging hand grenades and artillery shells the
  Confederates rolled down on them from the redan
• At nightfall they withdrew back to Federal lines
• By then their flagstaff was in three pieces and
  the flag itself had 56 holes in it

The 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry lost 43 of its
men in the May 19 assault, but by planting its
colors, for however briefly, on the top of the
slope, it was authorized to claim honors as
First at Vicksburg.
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May 19 Assault

• Shermans corps losses 134 killed, 571 wounded,
  and 8 missing
• McPhersons and McClernands corps conducted only
  limited attacks and lost 23 killed and 206
  wounded
• Confederate casualties probably were less than
  200
• The failed attack showed the Confederate defenses
  would not be easily taken, so Grant began
  planning a larger attack
• Wants to try to secure Vicksburg before Johnston
  can organize a relief force

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May 22 Assault

• This time Grant proceeded the attack with a
  four-hour artillery bombardment
• Grants plan is for all three of his corps to
  attack in force
• McClernand, however, is the only commander to
  attack with his entire corps

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May 22 Assault

• McClernand has success at the Railroad Redoubt
  and threatens South Fort and Square Fort
• McClernand needs help from Sherman and McPherson
  to exploit these opportunities, but he doesnt
  get it
• Shermans own attack fails and he calls it off,
  reportedly saying, This is murder. Stop those
  men.
• McPherson also makes no headway

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May 22 Assault

• Grant halts the attack after losing 3,200 men
• Pemberton lost less than 500
• With this defeat, Grant gives up the idea of
  taking Vicksburg by assault and begins siege
  tactics

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May 22 Assault McClernands Relief

• McClernand tries to blame Grant, Sherman, and
  McPherson for the failed attack and issues a
  congratulatory order to his troops implying that
  the other corps had failed to do their part and
  left McClernands men to fend for themselves
• The order is really a thinly disguised press
  release and when it makes its way into several
  Northern papers, Grant has the excuse he needs to
  relieve McClernand
• Standing orders required corps commanders to
  clear press releases through Grants headquarters
  and McClernand had not done so
• On June 18, Grant relieves McClernand, sends him
  back to Illinois, and appoints Edward O. C. Ord
  to replace him

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Thayers Approach

• John Thayers brigade had taken part in the
  unsuccessful assaults on May 19 and 22 advancing
  up the hill only to be driven back by
  Confederates positioned at the top.
• After the second failure, he began digging a six
  foot deep trench up the hill.
• Near the top of the hill, the Federal soldiers
  began digging a mine under the Confederates.
• Vicksburg surrendered before it could be
  completed.

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Thayers Approach
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OAKOC

• Observation
• Avenues of Approach
• Key Terrain
• Observation and fields of fire
• Cover and concealment

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• Siege