In the Trenches at Vicksburg on July 2, 1863

Union Siege Gun at Vicksburg, Mississippi

150 years ago today, as the 15th Alabama and 2nd Maine faced off on the slopes of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, the Confederate soldiers at Vicksburg, Mississippi, endured another day of bombardment and trench warfare.

The previous day, July 1, 1863, Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton - the Confederate commander at Vicksburg - firmly concluded that the city could not hold out much longer.. In a dispatch from headquarters that day, he polled his subordinate generals about the prospect of trying to break out of Vicksburg through the surrounding Union army of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant:

"Whistling Dick" - A Confederate Gun at Vicksburg

Unless the siege of Vicksburg is raised or problems are thrown in, it will become necessary very shortly to evacuate the place. I see no prospect of the former, and there are many great, if not insuperable, obstacles in the way of the latter. You are, therefore, requested to inform me with as little delay as possible as to the condition of your troops, and their ability to make marches and undergo the fatigues necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation. - Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton, CSA (July 1, 1863).

The generals commanding sections of the Confederate lines around the city responded on July 2, 1863, 150 years ago today:

Mississippi River at Vicksburg

...My men are very cheerful, but from long confinement (more than forty-five days) in the trenches on short rations, are necessarily much enfeebled, and a considerable number would be unable to make the marches and undergo the fatigues which would probably be necessary to a successful evacuation of this city. If pressed by the enemy, and it should be necessary to place the Big Black in our rear in one march, the chances are that a large number of them now in the trenches could not succeed. I believe, however, that most of them, rather than be captured, would exert themselves to the utmost to accomplish it. - Maj. Gen. C.L. Stevenson, CSA (July 2, 1863).

Union Siege Battery at Vicksburg

...I concur in the unanimous opinion of the brigade and regimental commanders, that the physical condition of our men are not sufficiently good to enable them to accomplish the evacuation. The spirit of the men is still, however, unshaken, and I am satisfied they will cheerfully continue to bear the fatigues and privations of the siege. - Maj. Gen. J.H. Forney, CSA (July 2, 1863).

...There are about 3,000 men in my division, including State troops, in a condition to undertake a march of 8 or 10 miles a day in this weather, if there is an opportunity of resting at intervals. Out of these 3,000, only about 2,000 are considered reliable in case we are strongly opposed and much harassed. A secret evacuation I consider almost impossible...I believe that General Johnston has or will fight Grant, and my hope has been that he would be successful and in time to relieve us. At present, however, I see no chance of timely relief from him, and his dispatches have never indicated a hope of being able to raise the siege. Under these circumstances, I deem it best to propose terms of capitulation before being forced to do so from want of provisions. - Maj. Gen. M.L. Smith, CSA (July 2, 1863).

Stockade Redan, Confederate fort at Vicksburg

...[M]y men are in as good, if not better spirits, than any others in the line, and able to stand as much fatigue, yet I do not consider them capable (physically) of enduring the hardships incident to such an undertaking. Forty-five days' incessant duty day and night, with short rations, the wear of both mind and body incident to our situation, has had a marked effect upon them, and I am satisfied they cannot give battle and march over 10 or 12 miles in the same day. In view of the fact that General Johnston has never held out the slightest hope to us that the siege could be raised; that his demonstration in our favor to relieve this exhausted garrison would of necessity be sufficient to raise it, I see no alternative but to endeavor to rescue the command by making terms with the enemy. - Maj. Gen. J.S. Bowen, CSA (July 2, 1863).

View of the battlefield from the Confederate trenches

The receipt of these opinions from his commanding generals, 150 years ago today, convinced Pemberton that he had no hope of fighting his way out of Vicksburg. While his army clearly could continue to hold out, the generals for the most part concurred in their belief that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston would not be able to help them.

Johnston was then trying to put an army together to save Vicksburg, but men and supplies were scarce and his task was simply impossible.

Looking down the Confederate lines at Vicksburg.

As Pemberton reviewed his situation, the outlook was bleak.  Throughout the day on July 2, 1863, soldiers huddled in their trenches and civilians - including many women and children - hid in caves they had dug beneath their homes - as Union artillery continued to bombard the city. As Chamberlain and the 2nd Maine fought gallantly against the Alabamians of the 15th on Little Round Top, at Vicksburg generals Grant and Sherman bombarded civilians.

The next day, July 3rd, would be the day on which Pemberton made his most important decision of the Battle of Vicksburg.

Please click here to read the next post in this series on the 150th anniversary of the surrender of Vicksburg.

To learn more about the Siege and Battle of Vicksburg, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vicksburg1.

Vicksburg 150th Anniversary Events Set for Memorial Day Weekend

Stockade Redan at Vicksburg

Memorial Day Weekend this year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Siege and Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi, one of the most critical battles of the Civil War.

The battle for Vicksburg actually began on May 19, 1863 - 150 years ago today - when Gen. Ulysses S. Grant hurled his army against the Confederate fortifications at the Stockade Redan in an attempt to break through the Southern lines and capture the city without resorting to a long siege. The Confederate Army of Gen. John C. Pemberton, however, hurled back the attack in bloody fashion. Pemberton lost only 8 men killed and 62 wounded, compared to 157 killed and 777 wounded for Grant.

Battery De Golyer at Vicksburg

A second, larger attack came three days later on May 21, 1863, after a horrible bombardment of both military and civilian targets in Vicksburg, but ended in an greater disaster for the Union army. Some 3,000 U.S. soldiers were killed or wounded, compared to around 500 Confederates.

The fighting would go on for more than six weeks, ending only after the Confederate defenders and civilians in Vicksburg had been reduced to eating rats, mules and boiled shoe-leather. Gen. Pemberton surrendered the city to Grant on July 4, 1863, the same day that Pickett's Charge failed at Gettysburg.

To learn more about the Battle of Vicksburg, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vicksburg1.

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the bloody siege and battle at Vicksburg, the National Park Service has planned numerous events that are now underway and will continue thorugh Memorial Day Weekend.  Here is a schedule:

Sunday, May 19

First Assault Programs:
10:00 a.m. - Confederate Perspective, Begins at Stockade Redan (Tour Stop 12)
1:00 p.m. - Union Perspective, Begins at Stockade Redan Attack Display (Tour Stop 5)

Wednesday, May 22

Memorial Day Event:
7:30 a.m. - Placement of flags on graves at Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Second Assault Programs:
10:00 a.m. - The Forlorn Hope, Begins at Stockade Redan Attack Display (Tour Stop 5)
10:00 a.m. - Second Texas Lunette Attack, Begins at Second Texas Lunette (Tour Stop 12)
10:00 a.m. - Assault on the Great Redoubt, Begins at the Great Redoubt (Tour Stop 11)
1:00 p.m. - Assault on Railroad Redoube, Begins at Railroad Redoubt (Tour Stop 13).

Thursday, May 23

Memorial Day Events:
10:00 a.m. - U.S. Postal Service Sesquicentennial Stamp National Event at USS Cairo Museum.
7:00 - 10:00 p.m. - Shadows of the Past walk at Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Friday, May 24

Memorial Day Event:
7:00 p.m. - U.S. Navy Band Concert at Park Visitor Center.

Saturday, May 25

Memorial Day Events:

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Soldiers Thru the Ages Display at USS Cairo Museum
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Programs held throughout the day at:

• Shirley House/Illinois Monument/Old Jackson Road 
• Pemberton's Headquarters (Crawford Street, downtown Vicksburg)
• Old Administration Building (Pemberton Ave., inside park) - U.S. Camel Corps program.
• Living History programs at various locations in the park.

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Book Signings at the Park Visitor Center featuring Jeff Shaara, Dr. John Marszalek, Tim Isbell, Jeff Biambrone and Rebecca Drake.

10:00 a.m. - Re-Dedication of the Iowa State Memorial.

7:00 p.m. - Concert featuring Mississippi Symphony Orchestra with guest appearance by Trace Adkins at Park Visitor Center.

Sunday, May 26

Memorial Day Events:

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Soldiers Thru the Ages Display at USS Cairo Museum
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Programs held throughout the day at:

• Shirley House/Illinois Monument/Old Jackson Road 
• Pemberton's Headquarters (Crawford Street, downtown Vicksburg)
• Old Administration Building (Pemberton Ave., inside park) - U.S. Camel Corps program.
• Living History programs at various locations in the park.

7:00 p.m. - Concert by Jackson Mass Community Choir at the Park Visitor Center.

Monday, May 27

Memorial Day Events:

10:00 a.m. - Vicksburg City Memorial Day Parade in Downtown Vicksburg.

11:00 a.m. - Vicksburg City Memorial Day Program at Vicksburg Civic Center.

12:00 noon - Wreath Laying at Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Wednesday, July 3

Luminary Commemoration:

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - 20,000 luminaries will be placed throughout the park and on Confederate Avenue in Vicksburg at every State Memorial to honor the casualties suffered by each state, North and South, during the Vicksburg Campaign.