Educator's Guide: Social Studies: A Question of Time

Background:

The Campaign to control the Mississippi River, began immediately after the firing at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. The construction of the City Class ironclads, the appointment of General Grant to the western front and the construction of the fortifications at Vicksburg set into motion a series of events that led to the Siege of Vicksburg.

Method:

Students will research, draw and identify on a timeline the major military operations of the Vicksburg Campaign. Use the key as a guide to events that occurred or affected the campaign of the Mississippi River.

Alternatives:

The students can construct venous timelines, such as: Civil War battles in Mississippi, major Civil War battles, major battles in the Western Theater, major events leading up to the Civil War. KEY Battle of Island # 10 Battles of Forts Henry & Donelson Big Black Bombardment of Grand Gulf Chickasaw Bayou Construction of the river ironclads Corinth Crossing at Bruinsburg CSS ARKANSAS construction CSS ARKANSAS running the Union Fleet Edward's Station (Champion Hill) Farragut's shelling of Vicksburg First assault on Vicksburg Grant assumes command Grant's canal Grierson's Raid Holly Springs Jackson Lake Providence operations Naval battle at Memphis Pemberton assumes command Port Gibson Raymond Surrender Shiloh Second assault on Vicksburg Sinking the USS CINCINNATI Sinking USS CAIRO Steele's Bayou operations Union fleet running the Vicksburg Union march through Louisiana Williams' Canal Yazoo Pass

Classroom Activities:

• Language Arts
• Social Studies

Grades:

• 5 - 12

Objectives:

The student will arrange in chronological order events that occurred leading up to and during the Siege of Vicksburg.

Materials:

The Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861-1865, by E.B Long, construction paper or butcher paper, markers.

KEY Battle of Island # 10 Battles of Forts Henry & Donelson Big Black Bombardment of Grand Gulf Chickasaw Bayou Construction of the river ironclads Corinth Crossing at Bruinsburg CSS ARKANSAS construction CSS ARKANSAS running the Union Fleet Edward's Station (Champion Hill) Farragut's shelling of Vicksburg First assault on Vicksburg Grant assumes command Grant's canal Grierson's Raid Holly Springs Jackson Lake Providence operations Naval battle at Memphis Pemberton assumes command Port Gibson Raymond Surrender Shiloh Second assault on Vicksburg Sinking the USS CINCINNATI Sinking USS CAIRO Steele's Bayou operations Union fleet running the Vicksburg Union march through Louisiana Williams' Canal Yazoo Pass