Siege of Vicksburg

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Siege of Vicksburg

• Cadet Greco, Michael

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Definitions

• Siege Blocking the supply lines and escape
  routes of a city to force it to surrender. A
  siege usually meant one army trapped in a city,
  slowly running out of food and fresh water, with
  the opposing army camped outside.
• Siegelines Lines of works and fortifications
  that are built by both armies during a siege. The
  defenders build earthworks to strengthen their
  position inside a fort or city against assault
  while the besieging army constructs
  fortifications to protect siege guns and soldiers
  from sharpshooters inside the city.

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Civil War Sieges

• Yorktown
• Harpers Ferry
• Vicksburg
• Port Hudson
• Petersburg

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Decision to Lay Siege

• Following the failure of the May 22 assault,
  Grant realized that Vicksburg could not be taken
  by storm and decided to lay siege to the city.
• Slowly his army established a line of works
  around the city and cut Vicksburg off from supply
  and communications with the outside world.

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Siege Lines

• At Vicksburg, engineers dug a series of trenches
  measuring almost 15 miles

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Hoveys Approach
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Siege lines

• Siege lines were built in zig-zag patterns to
  minimize the effects of enfilading fire

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Siege Artillery

• 12-pounder iron siege gun, Model of 1840. Total
  length, 116 inches weight, 3550 pounds

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Siege Artillery

• 12-pounder iron siege gun, Model of 1845. Total
  length, 116 inches weight, 3583 pounds.

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Siege Artillery

• 24-pounder iron siege gun, Model of 1819. Total
  length, 123.95 inches weight, specified as 5790
  pounds but actual weights averaged close to 5500
  pounds

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Mines

• Mines were dug under Confederate lines and packed
  with black powder
• First mine was detonated on 25 June
• 2 regiments charged into the breach but were
  repulsed by Confederates
• Second mine detonated 01 July
• Confederate counter-mines were unsuccessful

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Third Louisiana RedanSite of 25 June Detonation
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Union Defense

• Grant expects Confederate counter-attack
• Sherman deploys 34,000 men about 15 miles east of
  Vicksburg
• Cavalry guards fords on Big Black River and
  monitor Johnstons movements
• Union now facing east and west to besiege
  Vicksburg and defend from counter-attack

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Confederate Conditions

• Limited food, water and ammunition
• Live in caves to escape artillery
• Movement difficult due to artillery and
  sharpshooters

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Summary

• Confederate supply lines cut
• Prepared to defend counter attack
• Unlimited artillery and ammunition
• Constricting trenches move Union forces closer
• Pemberton surrenders on 4 July after a 47 day
  siege

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Question

• The siege of Vicksburg is what we remember, but
  how did Grants maneuver warfare make it
  possible?