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TOUR STOP 5
Attack on Stockade Redan
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| Stockade Redan was a Confederate fort guarding the
Graveyard Road approach to Vicksburg. On May 19, Gen. Grant thought that Southern morale
was low after their defeats at Champion Hill and the Big Black River bridge, so he ordered
Gen. Francis P. Blair, Jr.'s division to attack the redan. Blair's three brigades advanced
over rough terrain obstructed by dozens of felled trees cut down by the Confederates to
impede any Federal attacks. Fresh Southern troops, however, defended the redan, and
Blair's attack was unsuccessful. |
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| A few of the federal soldiers got close to the fort, but
Confederate fire kept them pinned down. After darkness, the Union soldiers withdrew. Grant
still thought that his army could successfully storm the Vicksburg defenses, and three
days later, on May 22, he ordered an attack along the entire line. Sherman ordered his men
to attack straight down the Graveyard Road so as to avoid the difficult terrain and
Southern obstructions. Additionally, 150 volunteers, carrying wood planks to bridge the
ditch in front of the redan and ladders to climb the wall, went ahead of the Federal
infantry. |
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The Confederates held their fire until the assaulting wave was near the redan
and then opened with a devastating volley. Nevertheless, Union soldiers were able to
bridge the ditch and two color bearers planted flags on the exterior slope. But the
Southern fire was so intense that the Union soldiers retreated. Grant did not order any
more frontal assaults after the 22 May. |
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Aerial Photo, Tour Stop 5 (85k, jpeg)
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Last update: Monday, January 22, 2001
http://www.nps.gov/vick/ts_5/ts_5.htm
Editor: G. Zeman |
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