Acccording to President Abraham Lincoln, one of the keys to win the war was control over Vicksburg. In fact, by 1862, the only things keeping the Union from controlling the oh-so-important Mississippi River were Vicksburg and Port Hudson.
The Siege had many failed attempts before success. The first included Union generals Ulysses Grant and William Sherman in December of 1862. Grant had a strategy to attack by marching through central Mississippi while Sherman began his attack through the river with the use of steamboats. Unfortunately, both of the ideas failed as they were both destroyed.
In April of 1863, Admiral Porter went down the Mississippi River in an attempt to overwhelm the Confederates. They succeeded, with only one steamboat down while the rest continued on. They held the river and denied to allow supplies to go through until Vicksburg was surrendered to them. The South continued without supplies and food for a long time before finally surrendering to the terms set by the general. As soon as they did, Grant sent supplies to the nearly starving soldiers.
Soon after that, Port Hudson was captured, and the steamboat Imperial arrived at New Orleans after a difficult 1,200 mile journey. The boat was left completely unharmed. The return of the steamboat marked the end of the struggle to get Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Because of these steamboats, one of the most important keys to the victory of the Civil War was gained by the North.
The Siege had many failed attempts before success. The first included Union generals Ulysses Grant and William Sherman in December of 1862. Grant had a strategy to attack by marching through central Mississippi while Sherman began his attack through the river with the use of steamboats. Unfortunately, both of the ideas failed as they were both destroyed.
In April of 1863, Admiral Porter went down the Mississippi River in an attempt to overwhelm the Confederates. They succeeded, with only one steamboat down while the rest continued on. They held the river and denied to allow supplies to go through until Vicksburg was surrendered to them. The South continued without supplies and food for a long time before finally surrendering to the terms set by the general. As soon as they did, Grant sent supplies to the nearly starving soldiers.
Soon after that, Port Hudson was captured, and the steamboat Imperial arrived at New Orleans after a difficult 1,200 mile journey. The boat was left completely unharmed. The return of the steamboat marked the end of the struggle to get Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Because of these steamboats, one of the most important keys to the victory of the Civil War was gained by the North.
The Siege of Vicksburg