After two attacks on Vicksburg failed, General Grant used siege
warfare to compel the city to surrender. From May 25, the
inhabitants endured constant bombardment from Union positions
around the city and from gun boats on the Mississippi. With supplies
cut off and rations reduced, starvation began to take its toll until, on
July 4, Confederate commander John Pemberton surrendered.
Surrender at Vicksburg
EYEWITNESS July 4, 1863
“Every day further progress was made in digging and mining, and
at length a point was reached where the batteries could send their
screaming shells directly to the heart of the city. A reign of terror
took possession of the town, and its inhabitants dug themselves
caves in the earth, seeking protection against the missiles of
destruction which daily and nightly dropped in their midst. Such
cannonading and shelling has perhaps scarcely been equaled. It
was not safe from behind or before, and every part of the city was
alike within range of the Federal guns ... For six weeks our
batteries never ceased dropping their shot and shell on the
doomed city. Food became scarce, and the inhabitants grew wan
and thin in their narrow dens. At last, despairing of Johnston’s aid
in raising the siege, and believing that Grant was ready for
another assault on his works, they hung out the white flag in front
of Gen. A. J. Smith’s Division.
”
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE 48 OHIO VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY BY MAJOR JOHN
A. BERING AND CAPTAIN THOMAS MONTGOMERY, PUBLISHED 1880
“How sad was the spectacle that met our gaze: arms stacked in
the center of the streets, men with tearful eyes and downcast
faces walking here and there; men sitting in groups feeling that
they would gladly have given their life-blood on the battlefield
rather than hand over the guns and sabers so dear to them! ...
Men looked so forlorn, some without shoes, some with tattered
garments, yet they would have fought on.
While this gloom hung over the Confederate forces a glance
over the hills to the north and east of the city brought into
view the bright shining bayonets and sabers of a mighty host
approaching the city ...
”
LUCY MRAE, AN INHABITANT OF VICKSBURG, FROM HER DIARY ENTRY FOR THE DAY OF
THE SURRENDER, JULY 4, 1863
Arrival of the Union fleet
With the Confederate shore batteries along the
Mississippi River silenced, Admiral David Dixon Porter’s
fleet steamed into Vicksburg on the day of the surrender.
The flag-bedecked steamers are greeted by a crowd of
jubilant slaves on the quayside.