Here are the key elements of the strategy:
1. Crossing the Mississippi River:
- Grant's initial plan involved crossing the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg, cutting off the city from supplies and reinforcements from the east.
2. Bruinsburg Landing:
- On April 30, 1863, Grant's army crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Vicksburg.
3. Battle of Port Gibson:
- On May 1, Grant's forces defeated the Confederates at the Battle of Port Gibson, securing a foothold on the eastern side of the river.
4. Advance Towards Vicksburg:
- Grant's army advanced inland, defeating Confederate forces at Raymond and Jackson, Mississippi, to cut off Vicksburg's rail connections and isolate the city.
5. Siege of Vicksburg:
- By mid-May, Grant's forces had surrounded Vicksburg, laying siege to the city. The siege lasted for 47 days, with Union forces gradually tightening their grip on the city.
6. Mine and Bombardment:
- Grant ordered the digging of a tunnel under Confederate fortifications, which was packed with explosives. On June 25, the mine was detonated, creating a crater that allowed Union forces to breach the defenses.
- Simultaneously, Union gunboats on the Mississippi River bombarded the city.
7. Surrender:
- After weeks of siege and bombardment, the Confederate commander, General John C. Pemberton, surrendered on July 4, 1863, handing over the city of Vicksburg to Grant.
Significance:
The capture of Vicksburg was a major turning point in the Civil War. It gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two and securing a vital supply route. Vicksburg's fall also boosted the morale of the Union and paved the way for further Union victories in the western theater of the war.