General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign

By Henry Cabot Lodge

What flag is this you carry
Along the sea and shore?
The same our grandsires lifted up—
Along the sea and shore?
In many a battle’s tempest
It shed the crimson rain—
What God has woven in his loom
Let no man rend in twain.
To Canaan, to Canaan,
The Lord has led us forth,
To plant upon the rebel towers
The banners of the North.

— Holmes.

On January 29, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant assumed command of the Union army tasked with capturing Vicksburg, Mississippi. This strategic city represented the Confederacy’s last stronghold on the Mississippi River, serving as the critical link for communication and supply lines between their eastern and southwestern territories. Situated on the first significant high ground south of Memphis, Tennessee, Vicksburg was heavily fortified and defended by a substantial Confederate force under Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton. The Union’s objective was clear: to gain complete control of the Mississippi River, effectively bisecting the Confederacy and dealing a decisive blow to the rebellion.

The conventional military approach to seizing a fortified position like Vicksburg would have involved a methodical siege, establishing a secure base at Memphis and gradually advancing with fortified supply lines and strong points. However, this strategy would have necessitated withdrawing Union troops from their existing positions near Vicksburg, a move perceived by the public as a retreat and detrimental to morale.

The political climate of the North at the time was fraught with challenges. The elections of 1862 had favored the opposition, leading to widespread discouragement. Voluntary enlistments had dwindled, prompting the implementation of a draft, and the peace movement was gaining traction. Recognizing the delicate political landscape, General Grant made a bold decision: he would not retreat. Instead, he resolved to relentlessly pursue a decisive victory, understanding the profound impact it would have on the war effort and the nation’s spirit. This determination fueled his actions throughout the arduous five-month campaign that culminated in the fall of the seemingly impregnable Mississippi stronghold. The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign was a pivotal moment in the Civil War.

Early efforts to bypass Vicksburg through canals and the Mississippi River’s complex network of bayous proved unsuccessful. Grant, anticipating these failures, devised an alternative strategy: crossing the river south of Vicksburg. With the support of the Union fleet, which successfully navigated the Confederate batteries, Grant moved his army down the western bank to a suitable crossing point. Simultaneously, a diversionary attack led by Major General William T. Sherman at Haines’ Bluff, north of Vicksburg, kept Pemberton’s forces pinned within their fortifications.

On April 26, Grant initiated the river crossing, landing his troops at Bruinsburg. He later expressed the immense relief he felt at this accomplishment. Despite being deep within enemy territory, separated from his supply base by the vast river and the formidable Vicksburg fortress, Grant had successfully positioned his army on the same side of the river as the enemy.

The strategic situation was complex. The Confederate forces, numbering approximately 60,000, were dispersed among Vicksburg, Haines’ Bluff, and Jackson, Mississippi, located roughly 50 miles east of Vicksburg. Grant’s initial force consisted of around 33,000 men. To achieve success, Grant needed to defeat the Confederate detachments individually, preventing them from uniting with Pemberton’s main army at Vicksburg. His strategy was audacious: to overcome a numerically superior enemy through a series of decisive, separate engagements. The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign aimed at the heart of the Confederacy.

Grant swiftly put his plan into action. He marched towards Port Gibson, where he engaged and defeated a Confederate detachment. He then advanced to Grand Gulf on the Mississippi River, intending to establish a new supply base. However, he realized that securing reinforcements from General Nathaniel P. Banks at Port Hudson would delay his advance by a month.

Grant made a daring decision. He abandoned the idea of Grand Gulf as a base and, with Sherman’s corps now joining him, struck inland. He minimized his baggage, carrying only ammunition to maximize his army’s mobility. This decision, while unconventional, was crucial for the campaign’s success. Grant’s willingness to deviate from established military doctrine demonstrated his strategic brilliance. The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign was a testament to his unorthodox thinking.

Pressing forward, Grant encountered a Confederate force of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 men at Raymond and decisively defeated them. He continued his march towards Jackson, engaging the enemy again at Clinton. At Jackson, he faced General Joseph Johnston, who had arrived to assume command of all Confederate forces in the area. Johnston’s force of around 11,000 men stood their ground, resulting in a fierce battle. However, Grant prevailed, capturing the strategically important city of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi and a vital military supply base. He destroyed Confederate factories and seized control of the railroad line connecting Jackson to Vicksburg. The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign achieved a significant strategic victory with the capture of Jackson.

During this period, an intercepted message revealed that Pemberton, acting on Johnston’s orders, had marched out of Vicksburg with 25,000 men and was advancing eastward to confront Grant. Pemberton initially moved south, attempting to sever Grant’s supply lines.

However, Grant, famously quipped that he had no supply lines to sever. Pemberton’s delay proved advantageous to Grant, allowing him to consolidate his position after defeating Johnston. After his feint to the south, Pemberton resumed his eastward march, but Grant was now prepared.

Grant didn’t wait for Pemberton. Upon learning of the Confederate advance, he left Jackson and marched rapidly westward, intercepting Pemberton at Champion Hill. The forces were nearly equal in size, and the ensuing battle lasted for four grueling hours. Grant emerged victorious, inflicting a crushing defeat on Pemberton’s army, nearly capturing the entire force. The remnants of Pemberton’s shattered army retreated back to Vicksburg.

Grant relentlessly pursued Pemberton, engaging his rear guard at Big Black River. The Confederates suffered another defeat, and Grant crossed the Big Black River, arriving before Vicksburg the following day, with the defeated Confederate forces trapped inside the city’s defenses.

After crossing the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, Grant was cut off from communication with Washington. He didn’t receive any orders until May 11, when an officer from Port Hudson delivered an order from General Henry W. Halleck instructing him to return to Grand Gulf and cooperate with Banks against Port Hudson. Grant dismissed the order as being too late. When the officer insisted on the importance of obeying the order, Grant’s attention was drawn to a Union charge led by General Michael Lawler. Grant immediately rode towards the action, effectively ending the conversation. By the time Grant reached Vicksburg on May 18, the authorities in Washington had recognized the success of his campaign and abandoned any plans to recall him. The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign demonstrated Grant’s independent thinking and decisive leadership.

The initial Union assault on Vicksburg was repulsed with heavy casualties. Grant then initiated a siege, and President Abraham Lincoln and General Halleck dispatched reinforcements. Grant’s success had silenced any doubts about his strategy, and he soon commanded an army of 70,000 men. The Union lines were strengthened, making any Confederate breakout impossible. Although Johnston regrouped Confederate forces to the east, an assault on the heavily reinforced Union army was out of the question. Grant tightened the siege, causing immense suffering within Vicksburg. On July 4, 1863, Vicksburg surrendered, granting the Union complete control of the Mississippi River. Coincidentally, on the same day, General Robert E. Lee was defeated at Gettysburg, marking a turning point in the war.

Grant’s campaign against Vicksburg has been compared to Napoleon’s Ulm campaign. It stands as one of the most brilliant campaigns of the Civil War. With a smaller force, abandoning traditional supply lines, and moving swiftly through challenging terrain, Grant confronted the Confederate forces between Jackson and Vicksburg. He defeated Johnston before Pemberton could reinforce him and then forced Pemberton back into Vicksburg before Johnston could recover. Grant demonstrated superior leadership and tactical acumen throughout the campaign, securing victory in every engagement. The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign remains a subject of study for military strategists.

The General Grant and The Vicksburg Campaign was a masterpiece of military strategy and execution. Measured by the skill displayed and the results achieved, the campaign deserves admiration and study.

By Henry Cabot Lodge, 1895. Compiled and edited, updated April 2024.

About the Article: This article was written by Henry Cabot Lodge and included in the book he wrote with Theodore Roosevelt called Hero Tales From American History, first published in 1895 by The Century Co, New York. Henry Cabot Lodge graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School and became a politician, lecturer, author, and friend to Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President. Lodge died in Cambridge, Massachusetts on November 9, 1924. However, the text as it appears here is not verbatim, as it has been edited for clarity and ease for the modern reader.

Also See:

• Ulysses S. Grant – Civil War Hero & 18th President
• Champion Hill
• Causes of the Civil War
• The Union in the Civil War
• The Civil War (main page)
• The Vicksburg Campaign – Vicksburg is Key!