Thank God this accursed siege is finally over! We have spent over three months here in Mississippi. Our four attempts to bypass Vicksburg have yield unsuccessful results. General Grant irgnored McPherson's and my advice to fall back to Memphis and to advance over land. He sent me to attack Snyder's Bluff with gunboats and an infantry division.
General Grant sent me with the Army of Tennessee across the Mississippi River at Grand Gulf. McPherson and I managed to capture Jackson on the 14th of May. While McPherson was sent to intercept Pemberton's forces, I was ordered to destroy the railroads and industrial facilities of Jackson.
On the 18th of May my forces closed in on the city of Vicksburg. The next day at 2:00 PM, I tried overtaking the Confederates at Graveyard Road but this proved to be unsuccessful. I had my troops fall back under the cover of dark that night. For the next two months, we laid siege to Vicksburg. Pemberton finally surrendered to our forces on the 4th of July.
This has been a major blow to the Confederate forces. We plan on using this victory as a stepping stone towards end of this war and reuniting of this nation.
Source:
The Civil War Battlefield Guide edited by Frances H. Kennedy
Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman
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Yes, bring us together by destroying our lives and homes. You think defeat will make us any less bitter towards the union?
ReplyDeleteGreat work Sherman!
ReplyDeleteThe has truly been a wonderful Independence Day! I'm sure our Founding Fathers will be proud of the Union today for keeping strong and United!
~Father Abe
Congratulations and thank you for leading the Union army to another victory! Great leadership is what will lead us to a true victory.
ReplyDeleteIt is very appropriate that the rebels surrendered this battle on Independence Day. Our nation will soon be united, as it was meant to be.
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