Vicksburg, Mississippi

Warren County, Mississippi
May 18 - July 4, 1863
 

At the time of the Civil War, the Mississippi River was the single most important economic feature of the continent; the very lifeblood of America. Upon the secession of the southern states, Confederate forces closed the river to navigation, which threatened to strangle northern commercial interests.  President Abraham Lincoln told his civil and military leaders, "See what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.... We can take all the northern ports of the Confederacy, and they can defy us from Vicksburg." Lincoln assured his listeners that "I am acquainted with that region and know what I am talking about, and as valuable as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so."  It was imperative for the administration in Washington to regain control of the lower Mississippi River, thereby opening that important avenue of commerce enabling the rich agricultural produce of the Northwest to reach world markets.  It would also split the South in two, sever a vital Confederate supply line, achieve a major objective of the Anaconda Plan, and effectively seal the doom of Richmond.

In the spring of 1863, Major General Ulysses S. Grant launched his Union Army of the Tennessee on a campaign to pocket Vicksburg and provide Mr. Lincoln with the key to victory.  After a series of river gunboat and land battles including: 1) The passing of Rear Admiral David D. Porter's fleet past the Vicksburg batteries, 2) the bombardment of Grand Gulf, 3) The Battle of Port Gibson, 4) The Battle of Raymond, 5) The Battle of Jackson, 6) The Battle of Champion Hill, and 7) The Battle of Big Black River Bridge, the Union Army of the Tennessee found itself on the outskirts of the Fortress of Vicksburg.

On May 19th, anxious for a quick victory, Grant made a hasty reconnaissance of the Vicksburg defenses and ordered an assault. Of his three corps, however, only one was in proper position to make the attack--Sherman's corps astride the Graveyard Road northeast of Vicksburg. Early in the morning Union artillery opened fire and bombarded the Confederate works with solid shot and shell.  With lines neatly dressed and their battle flags blowing in the breeze above them, Sherman's troops surged across the fields at 2:00 p.m. and through the abatis toward Stockade Redan. Although the men of the 1st Battalion, 13th United States Infantry, planted their colors on the exterior slope of Stockade Redan, the attack was repulsed with Federal losses numbering 1,000 men.

Undaunted by his failure on the 19th and realizing that he had been too hasty, Grant made a more thorough reconnaissance then ordered another assault. Early on the morning of May 22, Union artillery opened fire and for four hours bombarded the city's defenses. At 10:00 the guns fell silent and Union infantry was thrown forward along a three-mile front. Sherman attacked once again down the Graveyard Road, McPherson in the center along the Jackson Road, and McClernand on the south along the Baldwin Ferry Road and astride the Southern Railroad of Mississippi. Flags of all three corps were planted at different points along the exterior slope of Confederate fortifications. McClernand's men even made a short-lived penetration at Railroad Redoubt. But the Federals were again driven back with a loss in excess of 3,000 men while the Confederates suffered fewer the 500 losses.

Following the failure of the May 22 assault, Grant realized that Vicksburg could not be taken by storm and decided to lay siege to the city. Slowly his army established a line of works around the beleaguered city and cut Vicksburg off from supply and communications with the outside world. Commencing on May 26, Union forces constructed thirteen approaches along their front aimed at different points along the Confederate defense line. The object was to dig up to the Confederate works then tunnel underneath them, plant charges of black powder, and destroy the fortifications. Union troops would then surge through the breach and gain entrance to Vicksburg.

 Throughout the month of June, Union troops advanced their approaches slowly toward the Confederate defenses. Protected by the fire of sharpshooters and artillery, Grant's fatigue parties neared their objectives by late June. Along the Jackson Road, a mine was detonated beneath the Third Louisiana Redan on June 25, and Federal soldiers swarmed into the crater attempting to exploit the breach in the city's defenses. The struggle raged for 26 hours during which time clubbed muskets and bayonets were freely used as the Confederates fought with grim determination to deny their enemy access to Vicksburg. The troops in blue were finally driven back at the point of bayonet and the breach sealed. On July 1, a second mine was detonated but not followed by an infantry assault.

 Throughout the weary month of June the gallant defenders of Vicksburg suffered under the constant bombardment of enemy guns from reduced rations and exposure to the elements. Reduced in number by sickness and battle casualties, the garrison of Vicksburg was spread dangerously thin. Soldiers and citizens alike began to despair that relief would ever come. At Jackson and Canton General Johnston gathered a relief force which took up the line of march toward Vicksburg on July 1. By then it was too late as the sands of time had expired for the fortress city on the Mississippi River.  On July 4, 1863 the beleaguered fortress of Vicksburg succumbed to surrender.

Result(s): Union victory

Location: Warren County

Campaign: Grant's Operations against Vicksburg (1863)

Date(s): May 18 - July 4, 1863

Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant [US]; Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton [CS]

Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee [US] 35,000; Army of Vicksburg [CS] 20,000

Estimated Casualties: 35,825 total (US 4,550; CS 31,275 most of whom surrendered)

Links:

The Vicksburg National Military Park - http://www.nps.gov/vick/home.htm

Designers:  David Kerns & Luciano Bassotti

This game is designed for BGBR engine (Talonsoft Battleground Bull Run); this package simply adds a new module, and not affect the scenarios provided with the original game. 

The BGBRUnits file is compatible with the original and other BGBR mods.

SET UP

- Copy Units.bitmap file into BGBR main directory;

- Create a new folder into BGBR main directory and name it Vicksburg;

- Copy all others files (except Units.bitmap file) into the Vicksburg folder.

Rules:

1. CSA forces may not voluntarily leave the bounder of the fortress.  If they rout out of the fortress they must make making their way back in a priority.

2. CSA emplaced artillery may not move.  If they rout this implies that the crew routed and it must return to its original hex before it can unlimber and resume firing.  Emplaced units are those with the picture as such:

See Scenario notes below.

 May 19th Assault Historical - PBM

May 19, 1863 15 Turns [Historical]

On May 19th, anxious for a quick victory, Grant made a hasty reconnaissance of the Vicksburg defenses and ordered an assault. Of his three corps, however, only one was in proper position to make the attack--Sherman's corps astride the Graveyard Road northeast of Vicksburg. Early in the morning Union artillery opened fire and bombarded the Confederate works with solid shot and shell.  With lines neatly dressed and their battle flags blowing in the breeze above them, Sherman's troops surged across the fields at 2:00 p.m. and through the abatis toward Stockade Redan. Although the men of the 1st Battalion, 13th United States Infantry, planted their colors on the exterior slope of Stockade Redan, the attack was repulsed with Federal losses numbering 1,000 men.

 May 22nd Assault Historical - PBM (under development)

May 22, 1863 ?? Turns [Historical]

Undaunted by his failure on the 19th and realizing that he had been too hasty, Grant made a more thorough reconnaissance then ordered another assault. Early on the morning of May 22, Union artillery opened fire and for four hours bombarded the city's defenses. At 10:00 the guns fell silent and Union infantry was thrown forward along a three-mile front. Sherman attacked once again down the Graveyard Road, McPherson in the center along the Jackson Road, and McClernand on the south along the Baldwin Ferry Road and astride the Southern Railroad of Mississippi. Flags of all three corps were planted at different points along the exterior slope of Confederate fortifications. McClernand's men even made a short-lived penetration at Railroad Redoubt. But the Federals were again driven back with a loss in excess of 3,000 men while the Confederates suffered fewer the 500 losses.

Map Files

  Note:  Last updated November 2,  2004
  VBMain0.zip (604 Kb)
  VBMain1.zip (2,207 Kb)
  VBMain2.zip (8,566 Kb)
  VBMain3.zip (2,406 Kb)

 Other files

 VBOthers.zip (1,005 Kb)

Scenario Files
 VBScen.zip (13 Kb)   

Unit File (update November 2, 2004)
 BGBRUnits.zip (1,219 Kb)