Vicksburg

In the Battle of Vicksburg, which was fought from March 29 to July 4, 1863, the Union army, under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant, laid siege to the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, hoping to gain control of the Mississippi River. The Confederate army, led by General John C. Pemberton, was determined to stop them. For 47 days, the two armies fought a grinding battle of attrition, with neither side able to gain an advantage. In the end, the Union army prevailed and the city of Vicksburg surrendered. Today, the site of the battle is preserved at Vicksburg National Military Park. Visitors can see the reconstructed fortifications and trenches that were so important to the outcome of the battle.