Grant moves farther south in search of a more favorable crossing point and eventually finds one in Bruinsburg. The Union fleet bombards Confederate defenses for five hours, but GrantвЂ™s troops are repulsed. On April 29, Union troops attempt to cross the Mississippi at Grand Gulf. Porter's fleet successfully fights its way past the Confederate batteries and meets up with Grant. Although each vessel is hit by Confederate fire. As the boats round De Soto Point, they are spotted by Confederate lookouts who spread the alarm. David Dixon Porter sneaks his Union fleet past the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg to meet up with Grant. The troops must rendezvous with the Union navy, which will provide transport for the river crossing into Confederate territory. In the spring of 1863, Grant marches the Army of the Tennessee down the west side of the Mississippi River.

GrantвЂ™s victory led to his continued command in eastern Tennessee and his eventual appointment as general-in-chief of the Union armies. PembertonвЂ™s army after the siege at Vicksburg and a Union victory at Port Hudson five days later, the Union controlled the entire Mississippi River and the Confederacy was split in half. With the loss of Confederate general John C. To Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Vicksburg was the 'nailhead that holds the South's two halves together.' President Abraham Lincoln remarked, вЂњVicksburg is the key! The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.вЂќ The Vicksburg Campaign began in 1862 and ended with the Confederate surrender on July 4, 1863. The Mississippi River was the primary conduit for supplies and communication through the south as well as a vital lifeline for goods going north. Together with the Union victory at Gettysburg just a day before, Vicksburg marked a turning point in the fortunes of the Union army. PembertonвЂ™s Confederate troops surrendered to Gen. The Confederate surrender there ensured Union control of the Mississippi River and cleaved the South in two. VicksburgвЂ™s strategic location on the Mississippi River made it a critical win for both the Union and the Confederacy. Saved Land Browse Interactive Map View active campaigns.Help Tell African American Stories of Valor.Save 150 Endangered Acres at GainesвЂ™ Mill and Cold Harbor.Help Enrich Battle Understanding Through Archaeology.Virtual Tours View All See Antietam now!.National Teacher Institute July 21 - 24, 2022 Learn More.

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