The American Civil War began in April of 1861 and ended in May of 1865. Many Americans lost their lives over the span of four years during that war. Historians have considered the Battle of Gettysburg to be the major decisive battle of the war, but was it? A period of 43 days in 1863, fighting for complete control of the Mississippi River is what I believe to be the most decisive battle of the war. The Siege of Vicksburg is the name of the battle and it is possibly a more decisive battle than even Gettysburg. The Old Northwest considered the Mississippi River to be theirs as much as anybody else consider and viewed the river and Gulf of Mexico as an inexpensive, economic lifeline to the east. The country built waterways and railroads …show more content…
“Vicksburg is the nail head that holds the South’s two halves together,” is a quote from Davis. President Lincoln said of its importance, “See what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket. We can take all the northern ports of the Confederacy, and they can defy us from Vicksburg." The importance of Vicksburg to both the north and south could not be overstated and would inevitably become a decisive part of the civil war for both …show more content…
Pemberton’s forces following these defeats withdrew and tried to salvage anything his forces could eat along the way. Trying to stall the northern advance while withdrawing, Pemberton burned bridges along the way to Vicksburg. Northern morale was high following their string of victories. Confederate forces’ morale suffered from the defeat and seeming retreat and was nearly nonexistent at the beginning of the attack on Vicksburg. Grant’s forces repaired the bridges enough for them to use and on May 18, 1863, the north began the assault on
It also damaged the Southern moral horrendously. The Siege of Vicksburg was a very bloody day in American History and will not be forgotten. It will forever be in our hearts, mind, and
c) It all began when Union forces under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant began to enter Mississippi to strike against the crucial city of Vicksburg and trapping the Confederate army under Lieutenant General John Pemberton. As President Abraham Lincoln indicated, “Vicksburg is the key. The
An American civil war which was one of the most bloodiest and intense it had happened on May 12th. A war that had given the nickname 'Bloody love angel' because of its 24hours hand to hand fighting on the Western edge. May 18th, a final attack led by Hancock and Grants men, but had made no progress. The second day had come, heavy days of rain followed grant changed his army and looked for weak points on the confederate line. May 19 confederate changed plans with an attack on union right at Harris farm.
Solutions to The Wounded Angels The Battle of Gettysburg fought on July 1863. This was a war between the Union Army and The Confederates. The Union Army won the battle that stopped the second invasion of the North. The Battle of Gettysburg was known as one of the bloodiest battles ever, which is crazy to think how many people got injured or even killed.
The people who lived in Vicksburg hid out in caves because the Union troops were firing at the town every day. During the siege, the people and the soldiers were hungry and were forced to eat animals like horses, cats, dogs, and even rats. The siege went on for forty seven days before Pemberton surrendered on July 4,
The Confederate Army ultimately forced the Union Army to withdraw from the Chancellorsville region despite having less than half men. There are several reasons why the Confederates were able to win at Chancellorsville. The factor that contributed the most to the Union defeat is General Hooker’s failure to execute mission
The Confederacy city of Vicksburg, was a major position on the Mississippi River. If it could be captured, the Confederacy would be split into east and west. But, Vicksburg was protected by the Mississippi and its steep bluffs. The Union’s commander General Grant came up with a plan, he prepared to sweep south and then cross the Mississippi to attack the city from the rear. This plan was dangerous but it was a huge benefit to the Union cause.
While the other part of his army would take on longstreet at marye's heights. the union's army main attack was a success, but the counter attack of Jackson’s lead in the end to have a total of 9,000 either dead missing or wounded. This didn't change anything for their strategy. While that was happening Burnside's taking on the confederate soldiers as they were behind a stone wall, but the confederate soldiers were too strong for the federal soldiers trying to attack but with all their rifle and artillery there was no match to their impenetrable spot. a quote from Edward Porter Alexander’s states that “a chicken could not live on that
During the Siege of Vicksburg there were generals from the Confederacy and the Union planning how to successfully defend or seize the city. General John A. McClerand was one of those generals on the side of the Union. Vicksburg was a crucial city to control for the Union so that they might secure the Mississippi River. Without Vicksburg it would be difficult to
for both armies. This wasn’t like a one day battle where someone would wake up and go to sleep in the amount of peace they could find. No, they slept and ate through this while hearing their friends dying in the distance. 51,112 men physically suffered that day(Battle of Gettysburg), many more suffered mentally, this is why Gettysburg was far more important than Vicksburg, because it tested their mental strength, not only physical. Vicksburg only had 37,402 casualties(Vicksburg) and didn’t last nearly as long.
The American Civil War had several turning points and pivotal battles that influenced the outcome of the war. Out of these engagements, the Battle of Vicksburg had the most lasting impact on the course of the war. Ulysses Grant implemented a battle plan that was fraught with danger, but his gamble paid off when the Confederate garrison at Vicksburg surrendered on July 4th of 1863. The Battle of Vicksburg was the turning point for the Union in the war. This victory had several effects, including propelling the fame of Grant, effectively dividing the Confederacy in two, boosting Union morale, and laying the groundwork for Sherman’s march to the sea.
The most important battle during the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a battle that took place over three days in the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. This battle was the turning point of the civil war which successfully stopped the Southern Confederate Armies led by General Robert E. Lee from taking over the north. The Battle of Gettysburg was the most important battle of the Civil War because it was the largest of the civil war battles, successfully pushing back southern armies away from the north, and was the major defeat of the south. The battle of Gettysburg is still considered to historians to not only be the most important battle of the Civil war but the deciding factor towards victory.
Losses because the South lost more soldiers than the north. For these reasons Gettysburg was a major turning point in the Civil
Why was The Battle of Gettysburg a Turning Point of the War? The Civil War had many battles and out of all of those battles, The Battle of Gettysburg was the most important. This was because it was the turning point for the whole war. The Battle of Gettysburg was important because of many different reasons.
What led to this battle, was General Robert. E. Lee, was leading his army to Pennsylvania, to try to gain a food advantage over the North. Unbeknownst to both sides, this would be the first battle in the North. Lee had hoped that with a northern victory, external countries would view the south as an organized country, and not a group of “rag tag bandits”, as some northerner’s called the south. He also hoped that a northern victory would finally make the Union allow the South to become its own country.