140 The American Civil WarAs Grant moved his forces from Milliken's
Bend to below Vicksburg, Admiral David
Dixon Porter, the naval commander
accompanying the land expedition, sent his
fleet of 12 vessels past the city on the night
of 16 April. In dramatic fashion, all but one
vessel managed to run past Confederate
batteries and grouped together near Hard
Times on the west bank of the Mississippi,
where Grant's troops were concentrated. Five
nights later, six Federal transports and
12 barges loaded with supplies attempted to
run past the city. Although Confederate
batteries sunk one transport and six barges,
the operation was a success. Grant could
now get his men across the river to the
eastern shore.
Fifty miles (80km) south of Vicksburg,
Bruinsburg, Mississippi, provided Grant with
the ideal place to ferry his army across the
river. Although the Confederates frustrated
the initial crossing, on 30 April Grant had
his army hack in Mississippi poised to strike.
To divert attention from his main force and
to destroy Confederate supplies, Grant would
need some help. Rosecrans kept Bragg
sufficiently busy in Tennessee, so he could
not send reinforcements to Pemberton's aid.
'Old Rosy' accomplished this by setting out
on what became the Tullahoma campaign.
Sherman was ordered to demonstrate against
the high bluffs north of Vicksburg and
would then catch up to the main force
Grant also ordered raids against the
Confederates' logistics bases. One of the
most successful raids was undertaken by
Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson, a professional
bandmaster before the war. Beginning on
17 April, Grierson's 1,700 cavalrymen started
from La Grange, Mississippi, and in a few
short weeks wreaked havoc all the way south
to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Jackson, the state capital of Mississippi,
was more important to Grant because four
railroads intersected the city, the most
Soldiers and residents alike dug into the hillsides around
Vicksburg during the siege on the city. The bombproof
shelters in this picture were carved out by the soldiers
of the 45th Illinois. (Hulton Getty)
important of which went to Vicksburg.
Jackson provided the lifeline to the river
fortress and to destroy it meant that
Vicksburg would wither on the vine. Still,
Pemberton commanded 52,000 soldiers and
if Grant attempted to supply his 41,000-man
army from Bruinsburg 40 miles (64km) away,
the Confederates could easily put up a stern
defense while possibly cutting the Union