The successes of Union operations during the Vicksburg Campaign were a direct result of the strength of their command and control, and the unprecedented cooperation of the Union Army and Navy.  This was in stark contrast to the failure of Confederate operations which were a direct result of their weaknesses in command and control. 

At the onset of the Civil War, President Lincoln clarified what war meant and why it was worth the cost. Operations on the northern and southern portions of the river, as well as, operations along the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers set the stage for an advance on Vicksburg.  These successful Union operations provided a classroom and testing ground for the commanders and the roles they would play at Vicksburg.  In January 1863, Ulysses S. Grant took command of the 60,000 man Army of the Tennessee.  He began preparations for the capture of Vicksburg and control of the Mississippi River. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, Commander of the Confederate troops at Vicksburg, also began preparations for the impending battle.  They had built a line of defensive earthworks nine miles long surrounding Vicksburg.

Once the Vicksburg Campaign began, Union Commanders realized that Vicksburg was easier taken in strategy meetings than in actuality, due to the geography of the land. Both sides made mistakes. Lives were lost and families torn apart.  Between February and April 1863, there were four unsuccessful bayou expeditions.  In an unparalleled bold maneuver Grant marched his army overland through Louisiana, while the Navy slipped past the Confederate defenses.  They established a river crossing and beachhead south of Vicksburg.  Cut off from direct support, the Union forces maneuvered the Confederates into Vicksburg using bold strategy and desperate battles.  After several attempts, Grant determined that Vicksburg could not be taken by storm. He began siege operations. More...

For 47 days Vicksburg and her people were entangled in a siege that changed the course of our nation’s history. Enduring the hardships of sweltering heat, mosquitoes, exhaustion, hunger from reduced rations, sickness, depression and a longing for home, soldiers and civilians survived the best that they knew how. On July 3, Pemberton concluded that his troops and the city could not last much longer. That afternoon, Pemberton and Grant met between the lines to discuss surrender terms. Initially the two were unable to reach an agreement because Grant demanded unconditional surrender and Pemberton would not agree. The following day, on July 4, 1863, surrender terms were reached that allowed the Confederates to sign paroles not to fight again until exchanged. Union forces then marched into the city.