Vicksburg - Part 5

Raymond to Jackson

Port Gibson was taken by Grant on May 1^st. Vicksburg surrendered on July 4^th. This meant that Vicksburg was able to obstruct the Mississippi for just nine more weeks. The cost was all of Pemberton's remaining army as 29,495 surrendered along with their artillery, small arms, and ammunition. Unlike at Fort Donaldson many of these troops were too shattered by near starvation to ever again be of front line use and many did not survive long enough to be exchanged. Throughout the campaign Pemberton exhibited an inability to adjust his strategy keeping him in a reactive mode the time. While on its face at least Grant's actions were remarkably fluid and kept Pemberton vainly guessing what would happen next.

In hindsight when did Pemberton lose sight of the big picture? What clue does the abandonment of Grand Gulf give us into Pemberton's state of mind? Any theories about why Pemberton did not form a new strategy during the first week of May?

Explain Grant's rationale for not proceeding south as originally planned after Grand Gulf was evacuated on May 3rd. What were his two other options? Was Grant actually fluid with his strategy or did he simply proceed in the direction he wished to follow and it just appeared proactive because things continued to break his way?

There were a surreal number of similarities and connections between the Gettysburg and the Vicksburg campaigns. Besides the shared dates what are some of these connections?

Did Pemberton receive any reinforcements after May 1^st?

On May 9^th Joseph Johnston was directed to “proceed at once to Mississippi and take chief command of the forces in the field. Where was he at the time and how many troops did he bring with him to Mississippi? When did they arrive?

What was the significance of the Battle of Raymond (May 12^th) to Grant's future plans?

What day did Grant's army interdict the Southern Railroad of Mississippi? Why was this second in importance to only the landing at Bruinsburg in the campaign?

Why were there so few casualties (286 Union & 850 CSA) at the Battle of Jackson? How long did the Union army occupy Jackson and why did they leave? What was the significance of the Battle of Jackson to the Vicksburg campaign?