The Siege of Vicksburg, a 47-day military campaign led by Union General Ulysses S. Grant, concluded with Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863, marking a decisive turning point in the American Civil War by securing Union control of the Mississippi River.

The Siege of Vicksburg stands as one of the most pivotal campaigns of the American Civil War, culminating in a decisive Union victory on July 4, 1863. This crucial battle marked a turning point in the conflict by securing Union control of the Mississippi River and effectively splitting the Confederacy in two.

Under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Union forces conducted a relentless 47-day siege of the Confederate stronghold. The city's strategic location on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River made it a vital target for both sides. As Confederate forces led by Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton desperately held their ground, the citizens of Vicksburg endured intense bombardment and severe food shortages that would ultimately contribute to their surrender.

The Confederate forces in Vicksburg experienced severe deterioration in their defensive capabilities by late June 1863. Food supplies dwindled to critical levels while Union artillery maintained constant bombardment of the city's fortifications.

On Independence Day 1863, Confederate General Pemberton marched from Vicksburg to meet Union General Grant at Oak Grove to formalize the surrender. The timing coincided with the Union victory at Gettysburg creating a decisive turning point for the Civil War. Union forces recorded the capture of:

Category	Number
Confederate Troops	29,495
Artillery Pieces	172
Small Arms	50,000

The surrender terms established between Grant and Pemberton included specific provisions:

• Parole of Confederate soldiers with signed agreements not to fight until properly exchanged
• Officers retained their side arms personal baggage
• Enlisted men kept their clothing private property
• Confederate soldiers received food rations from Union supplies
• Transportation assistance for wounded Confederate soldiers

The terms earned praise for their leniency compared to standard military surrender protocols. Grant's approach focused on expediting the Confederate evacuation while maintaining dignity for the surrendering forces.

The capture of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, marked a decisive strategic victory for the Union forces, fundamentally altering the course of the American Civil War. The fall of this Confederate stronghold delivered two crucial advantages to the Union army.

The Union's victory at Vicksburg secured complete control of the Mississippi River's commercial traffic. This control eliminated Confederate shipping along the entire 1,000-mile length of the waterway from Minnesota to New Orleans. The Union navy established 5 key control points along the river, preventing Confederate forces from transporting supplies across its waters. Port cities including New Orleans, Memphis, Baton Rouge came under direct Union control, enabling the establishment of military supply lines that supported further campaigns into the Confederate heartland.

Vicksburg's fall physically split the Confederate states into two separate regions, isolating Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the eastern Confederate states. This separation prevented the transfer of:

• Military supplies from western manufactories to eastern armies
• Food resources from Texas cattle ranches to Confederate troops
• Reinforcements between the divided Confederate territories
• Communications between Confederate military commanders
• Cotton exports through Mexican trade routes

The isolation created by this division severely impacted Confederate logistics, reducing their ability to coordinate military operations across the separated territories. Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi region operated independently for the remainder of the war, effectively reducing the Confederacy's fighting capacity by 20%.

The final phase of the Siege of Vicksburg unfolded through a series of strategic military actions between May-July 1863, culminating in Confederate surrender. Key developments in both Union advances and Confederate setbacks shaped the siege's conclusion.

Union forces under General Grant executed a masterful encirclement of Vicksburg through three decisive actions:

• Established 15 miles of siege lines with 220 artillery pieces targeting Confederate defenses
• Conducted two major assaults on May 19 and May 22, weakening Confederate positions
• Implemented a systematic bombardment schedule, firing 525 rounds daily into Vicksburg
• Created an elaborate network of trenches stretching 12 miles, enabling closer infantry positions

Union naval operations complemented the land campaign:

• Admiral Porter's gunboats maintained constant Mississippi River bombardment
• Naval forces prevented Confederate supply boats from reaching Vicksburg
• Union gunboats fired 22,000 shells into Vicksburg during the siege period

Pemberton's troops faced severe resource depletion by June 1863:

• Food rations decreased to 4 ounces of rice per soldier daily

• Ammunition supplies fell to 40% of initial capacity

• Medical supplies became depleted, leaving 8,000 sick or wounded soldiers untreated

• Soldiers showed signs of malnutrition with 12,000 unfit for combat duty

• Temperatures reached 100°F inside defensive positions

• Clean water sources became contaminated due to Union artillery damage

• Disease spread through cramped quarters affecting 63% of troops

• Cave shelters collapsed under continuous bombardment, causing 500 casualties

The fall of Vicksburg marked a decisive turning point in the American Civil War, fundamentally altering the balance of power between Union and Confederate forces. The victory created significant strategic advantages for the Union while delivering devastating blows to Confederate military capabilities.

The Union victory at Vicksburg established complete Federal control over the Mississippi River valley, creating a strategic springboard for future operations. Union forces gained control of key railroad junctions at Jackson, Mississippi enabling rapid troop movements across the western theater. The success strengthened the Union's ability to project power with 45,000 veteran troops becoming available for other campaigns. General Grant's reputation soared after this victory, leading to his promotion to Lieutenant General commanding all Union armies in March 1864.

The Confederate surrender at Vicksburg resulted in substantial military losses that crippled their war effort. Here's a breakdown of the Confederate losses:

Category	Numbers
Troops Captured	29,495
Artillery Pieces Lost	172
Small Arms Surrendered	50,000
Combat Deaths	3,202
Wounded	8,754
Supply Wagons Lost	2,000

The loss of Vicksburg eliminated Confederate access to critical supply routes from Texas Arkansas Louisiana to the eastern Confederate states. This isolation reduced Confederate fighting strength by 20% cutting off essential resources including cattle horses ammunition medical supplies from the Trans-Mississippi region. The Confederate army suffered a permanent reduction in its ability to coordinate military operations between its eastern western forces.

The Siege of Vicksburg created lasting impacts on American military strategy, historical preservation, and regional development. The National Military Park, established in 1899, preserves 1,800 acres of battlefield, featuring 1,350 monuments, tablets, and markers that commemorate both Union and Confederate forces.

The siege transformed American military doctrine in three key areas:

• Introduced combined arms operations integrating infantry, artillery and naval forces
• Established siege warfare tactics adopted by future military planners
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of cutting enemy supply lines through strategic control points

The battle influenced Vicksburg's economic development:

Economic Impact	Statistics
Population decline	45% decrease (1860-1865)
Business closures	72% reduction
Property damage	$2.5 million (1863 value)
Recovery period	25 years

The siege shaped the region's cultural identity through:

• Creation of the Vicksburg National Cemetery containing 17,000 Union soldiers
• Preservation of siege tunnels, trenches, and fortifications as historical landmarks
• Development of tourism focused on Civil War history and battlefield tours
• Establishment of museums dedicated to siege artifacts and military equipment

Modern military academies study the Siege of Vicksburg for:

• Strategic river control operations

• Urban siege tactics

• Logistical supply chain management

• Leadership principles in prolonged campaigns

• Integration of naval and land forces

• 4,500 artifacts recovered since 1990

• 37 previously unknown artillery positions

• 12 soldier campsites

• 8 field hospitals locations

• The Siege of Vicksburg ended on July 4, 1863, with Confederate General Pemberton's surrender to Union General Grant, coinciding with the Union victory at Gettysburg.
• The 47-day siege resulted in significant Confederate losses, including 29,495 troops captured, 172 artillery pieces, and 50,000 small arms surrendered to Union forces.
• The victory gave the Union complete control of the Mississippi River and effectively split the Confederacy in two, isolating Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the eastern Confederate states.
• Confederate forces suffered severe deterioration before surrender, with critical food shortages, depleted ammunition, and 8,000 sick or wounded soldiers left untreated.
• Grant's surrender terms were notably lenient, allowing Confederate soldiers to be paroled and retain personal property, while ensuring dignified evacuation procedures.

The Siege of Vicksburg ended on July 4 1863 leaving an indelible mark on American history. The Union victory under General Grant's leadership proved decisive in determining the Civil War's outcome. By securing control of the Mississippi River and splitting the Confederacy the siege's end marked a crucial turning point that accelerated the Union's path to victory.

The fall of Vicksburg demonstrated the effectiveness of combined military operations and siege warfare tactics that continue to influence military strategy today. Its legacy lives on through the Vicksburg National Military Park which stands as a testament to one of the most significant military campaigns in American history.