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