Jackson to Vicksburg Campaign – Legends of America
The Jackson to Vicksburg Campaign, a pivotal series of maneuvers in the American Civil War, unfolded in the spring and summer of 1863. This campaign, orchestrated by Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant, aimed to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi, a Confederate stronghold that controlled a vital stretch of the Mississippi River. The campaign’s success would effectively split the Confederacy in two, granting the Union control over the river and crippling Confederate supply lines.
Strategic Context: The Importance of Vicksburg
Vicksburg’s strategic importance cannot be overstated. Perched high on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, the city served as a crucial link connecting the eastern and western halves of the Confederacy. Confederate forces used Vicksburg to control river traffic, hindering Union efforts to navigate and utilize the Mississippi for transportation and supply. Capturing Vicksburg was essential for the Union to restore uninterrupted commerce and communication along the river, a key objective in their overall war strategy.
Initial Maneuvers and Confederate Plans
Following the Union occupation of Jackson, Mississippi, both Union and Confederate forces began formulating plans for future operations. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, with the majority of his army, retreated along the Canton Road. He directed Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, commanding approximately 23,000 men, to move from Edwards Station, about 27 miles west of Jackson, and engage Union troops stationed near Clinton, roughly ten miles northwest of Jackson.
Pemberton, however, harbored doubts about Johnston’s plan. He and his generals believed it was too risky and instead proposed attacking Union supply trains moving from Grand Gulf to Raymond. Before this plan could be executed, Pemberton received another order from Johnston, reiterating the original instructions.
Caught in a dilemma, Pemberton had already begun his pursuit of the supply trains, positioning his rear guard near the crossroads south of Champion Hill’s crest. When he ordered a countermarch, his rear, laden with supply wagons, inadvertently became the advance of his force, creating a logistical challenge and vulnerability.
The Battle of Champion Hill: A Decisive Clash
On May 16, 1863, Major General Ulysses S. Grant received intelligence indicating Confederate preparations for an eastward march. Early that morning, he ordered his columns to advance westward from Bolton and Raymond. Around 7:00 a.m., the southernmost Union column encountered Confederate pickets near the Davis Plantation, igniting the Battle of Champion Hill.
Champion Hill, also known as the Battle of Baker’s Creek, proved to be the most decisive engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign. Pemberton’s forces formed a defensive line along a ridge crest overlooking Jackson Creek. Unbeknownst to Pemberton, a Union column was advancing along the Jackson Road, threatening his unprotected left flank.
Brigadier General Stephen D. Lee’s men were stationed atop Champion Hill to monitor the reported Union column approaching the crossroads. Lee’s troops spotted the Union forces almost simultaneously as they were spotted, realizing the imminent threat of being cut off from their Vicksburg base. Pemberton, alerted to the Union movement, dispatched troops to reinforce his left flank. Union forces at the Champion House also mobilized, setting up artillery to commence firing.
Grant arrived at Champion Hill around 10:00 a.m. and promptly ordered an attack. By 11:30 a.m., Union forces had reached the Confederate main line. Around 1:00 p.m., they captured the crest, forcing the Confederates into a disorganized retreat. The Federals surged forward, seizing the crossroads and severing the Jackson Road escape route.
A Confederate division launched a counterattack, briefly pushing the Federals back beyond the Champion Hill crest before their advance stalled. Grant responded with a counterattack, committing fresh troops arriving from Clinton through Bolton. Pemberton’s men were unable to withstand the renewed assault and retreated from the field, utilizing the only remaining escape route: the Raymond-Edwards Road crossing of Bakers Creek.
Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman’s brigade formed the rearguard, holding their position at all costs, including Tilghman’s own life. By late afternoon, Union troops had seized the Bakers Creek Bridge, and by midnight, they occupied Edwards Station. The Confederates were in full retreat toward Vicksburg.
The Union victory at Champion Hill resulted in an estimated 2,457 Union casualties and 4,300 Confederate casualties. The area east of Vicksburg was devastated, with depots, railroads, ferries, road bridges, and private homes burned.
Big Black River Bridge: A Desperate Stand
Following their defeat at Champion Hill, the Confederates retreated to the Big Black River Bridge on the night of May 16-17. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton ordered Brigadier General John S. Bowen, with three brigades, to fortify the river’s east bank and impede any Union pursuit.
On the morning of May 17, three divisions of Union Major General John A. McClernand’s XIII Army Corps advanced from Edwards Station. The Union troops encountered the Confederates behind breastworks and took cover as enemy artillery opened fire. Union Brigadier General Michael K. Lawler formed his 2nd Brigade, Carr’s Division, and launched a surge across the Confederate front, breaching the enemy’s breastworks held by Vaughn’s East Tennessee Brigade.
Confused and panicked, the Rebels began retreating across the Big Black River via the railroad bridge and a steamboat dock moored across the river. After crossing, the Confederates set fire to the bridges, preventing close Union pursuit.
The fleeing Confederates arrived in Vicksburg later that day in a state of disarray. The Union forces captured approximately 1,800 troops at the Big Black River, a loss that the Confederates could ill afford. The battle resulted in an estimated 273 Union casualties and 2,000 Confederate casualties.
The Siege of Vicksburg: A Turning Point
On May 18, Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee converged on Vicksburg. Through a series of maneuvers, they drove Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton’s Confederate army into defensive lines surrounding the city. Two major assaults on May 19 and May 22 against the Confederate fortifications were repulsed with heavy casualties.
On May 25, Grant initiated a siege of the city. With no reinforcements and dwindling supplies, the Confederates held out for over 40 days. Finally, on July 4, 1863, they were forced to surrender. This victory, combined with the capture of Port Hudson, Louisiana, five days later, gave the Union control of the Mississippi River for the remainder of the Civil War.
The Battle of Vicksburg was the culmination of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of Pemberton’s army and this vital stronghold on the Mississippi River, the Confederacy was effectively split in half. Grant’s successes in the West boosted his reputation, leading to his appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies.
The siege and surrender of Vicksburg had a profound impact on the city. Vicksburg did not celebrate Independence Day for about 80 years after the surrender. The battle losses were significant, with an estimated 4,825 Union casualties and 32,697 Confederate casualties, including 29,495 who surrendered. In addition to the surrendered men, Pemberton turned over 172 cannons and 50,000 rifles to Grant.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Victory
The Jackson to Vicksburg Campaign was a decisive turning point in the American Civil War. Union control of the Mississippi River severed the Confederacy, crippled its supply lines, and boosted Union morale. The campaign showcased Ulysses S. Grant’s military genius and paved the way for his eventual command of the entire Union army.
While the Siege of Vicksburg was ongoing, three other lesser battles of the campaign occurred: Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana, on June 7; Goodrich’s Landing, Louisiana, on June 29-30; and Helena, Arkansas, on July 4. Following Vicksburg’s surrender, President Abraham Lincoln famously declared, “The Father of Waters again goes unvexed to the sea.” Grant’s entire campaign from March through July 1863 resulted in 10,142 Union and 9,091 Confederate killed and wounded.