Also known as: siege of Vicksburg.
| Location | Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the Mississippi River |
|---|---|
| Role | Confederate river fortress commanding the Mississippi |
| Siege | 1863; surrendered July 4, 1863 |
| Notable gun | The Widow Blakely, a heavy Blakely rifle |
The river fortress
Vicksburg's bluffs carried Confederate river batteries that closed the Mississippi to Federal traffic, making the town a central objective of the western campaigns. Its heavy guns dueled with the Union river fleet and covered the approaches by water.
During the 1863 siege the town's defenses included the well-known Widow Blakely, a heavy imported Blakely rifle, among a mix of columbiads, rifles, and field pieces. The fortress surrendered on July 4, 1863, opening the Mississippi to Federal control.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- U.S. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: GPO, 1880-1901.
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: fort and battlefield references, manuals, and reports.