The Vicksburg Campaign

The Union victory at Gettysburg is widely considered the turning point of the Civil War but many scholars consider the capture of Vicksburg the decisive action. Building on a well-established body of literature—including the author’s previous work—this book provides a comprehensive narrative and single-volume reference work on the Vicksburg Campaign.
The action is traced from Farragut’s failed navy-only efforts to bypass the city, through Grant’s botched series of canal schemes, to his brilliant series of maneuvers that left Pemberton and his garrison besieged for more than 40 days. Key Union and Confederate players are identified and the strategic circumstances that made Vicksburg the lynchpin of the Western Theater are described. Appendices include information about Vicksburg National Military Park, the Federal and Confederate Orders of Battle and the Medal of Honor at Vicksburg.

Kevin Dougherty, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is the assistant commandant for leadership programs and an adjunct professor at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Kevin Dougherty
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 224
Bibliographic Info: 26 photos and illustrations, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2015
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9797-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1993-4
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Introduction 1

1. The Key Federals 5

2. The Key Confederates 20

3. The Strategic Setting 34

4. Early Attempts 57

5. Grant Marches South 78

6. Grant Moves Inland 96

7. The Battles of Jackson and Champion Hill 107

8. Siege and Surrender 125

Conclusion and Aftermath 144

Appendices:

A. Vicksburg National Military Park 153

B. Vicksburg Campaign Order of Battle 160

C. The Medal of Honor at Vicksburg 187

Chapter Notes 196

Bibliography 204

Index 211

“an in-depth look at the Vicksburg campaign”—ProtoView; “insightful…this is useful reading for even the most well-read student of the campaign”—Strategy Page.