Due to Ulysses S. Grant‘s leadership and determination, the Union gaining control of the Mississippi River, and social consequences, the Siege of Vicksburg is considered a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. Before the Siege of Vicksburg, there was the Battle of Vicksburg which ended in failure for the Union as they weren't able to take control of the city as planned. As spring of 1863 arrived, the still determined Ulysses S. Grant decided to lay siege to Vicksburg and this began on May 18th of 1863 and wouldn’t end until July 4th of 1863. The siege lasted 47 days and ended with a Confederate surrender. After the surrender, the Union gained the city of Vicksburg and most importantly control of the Mississippi River. Ulysses S. Grant’s …show more content…
It was reported that over 4000 people were trapped in the city of Vicksburg along with the 30,000 trapped Confederate soldiers. As General Grant wanted the surrender of the city; he would continue to bomb the town every day for 7 weeks straight (Franklin). This is just one example of how life was for the civilians of Vicksburg. It would even get worse for the civilians as “Unable to flee, civilians along with nearly 30,000 Confederate soldiers faced shortages of food, water, medicine, and comforts” (Backus). As civilians were locked in the city, some of the civilians sought shelter in caves surrounding the city. Life in caves were described as “ just large enough for a single family, while others were large caverns with enough room for multiple families” (Championhillz). After the surrender, many were deeply disappointed and it went even as far as “The next 81 years would pass with no official acknowledgement of Independence Day by the city. It would not be until 1945, amid the patriotic fervor that surrounded the nation’s victory in World War II, that Vicksburg would finally once again celebrate the 4th of July” (Franklin). The Siege of Vicksburg was not only detrimental to the soldiers, but also to the civilians of Vicksburg as they would endure 47 long days of bombardment and having little to none supplies like