Date: December 1862 – July 4, 1863
Location: Mississippi, United States
Result: Decisive Union victory
Combatants:
- United States (Union)
- Confederate States of America
Union Commanders:
- Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
- Rear Adm. David D. Porter
- Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman
Confederate Commanders:
- Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton
- Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn (until May 1863)
- Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (limited role)
Key Events:
- Holly Springs Raid (December 20, 1862) – Confederate victory
- Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) – Union victory
Background[]
The Vicksburg Campaign was a pivotal series of battles and maneuvers in the American Civil War, aimed at securing Union control over the Mississippi River. The capture of Vicksburg was crucial for the Anaconda Plan, the Union strategy to divide and strangle the Confederacy by cutting off its western states.
The campaign can be divided into two major phases:
- The first phase (late 1862) saw Union General Ulysses S. Grant attempt to take Vicksburg but suffer a major setback due to Confederate General Earl Van Dorn’s cavalry raid on Holly Springs.
- The second phase (spring–summer 1863) took place after Van Dorn’s murder, allowing Grant to renew his offensive unopposed by Confederate cavalry raids, eventually capturing Vicksburg.
Van Dorn’s Holly Springs Raid (December 20, 1862)[]
In the winter of 1862, Grant launched his first attempt to capture Vicksburg by advancing through Mississippi, relying on Holly Springs as a forward supply depot. However, Major General Earl Van Dorn, a skilled Confederate cavalry commander, recognized this vulnerability and led a bold raid deep behind Union lines.
On December 20, 1862, Van Dorn's cavalry struck Holly Springs, catching the Union garrison off guard and destroying an estimated $1.5 million in supplies. The loss crippled Grant’s logistical support, forcing him to abort his first campaign against Vicksburg. This made Earl Van Dorn the first and only Confederate general to force Ulysses S. Grant to abandon a campaign in defeat.
This Confederate success delayed the Union’s Vicksburg strategy by several months and showcased Van Dorn’s ability to disrupt Union operations. Some historians speculate that if similar raids had continued, Grant might have been unable to resume his campaign as quickly.
Van Dorn’s Murder (May 7, 1863) and Its Impact[]
Despite his military success, Van Dorn’s career ended suddenly on May 7, 1863, when he was murdered in Spring Hill, Tennessee, by Dr. George Peters, who claimed Van Dorn had been having an affair with his wife.
The loss of Van Dorn came at a critical time for the Confederacy. His aggressive cavalry tactics had proven effective in delaying Union advances, and with his death, the Confederates lost one of their best raiders just as Grant was about to launch his renewed campaign against Vicksburg.
Without Van Dorn, the Confederate cavalry was less effective in disrupting Union supply lines. As a result, Grant was able to move more freely through Mississippi, setting the stage for the final push toward Vicksburg.
Grant’s Renewed Vicksburg Campaign (April – July 1863)[]
With Van Dorn gone, Grant launched a new and aggressive offensive. He bypassed Confederate defenses by marching his army south of Vicksburg, crossing the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, and then moving inland to attack the city from the rear.
Key battles in this phase included:
- Battle of Port Gibson (May 1, 1863) – Union victory
- Battle of Raymond (May 12, 1863) – Union victory
- Battle of Champion Hill (May 16, 1863) – Union victory
After securing these victories, Grant's forces surrounded Vicksburg, trapping Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton’s Confederate army inside the city.
Siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863)[]
After two failed assaults, Grant laid siege to Vicksburg, bombarding it continuously while cutting off all supplies. Civilians and soldiers inside the city suffered extreme shortages of food and medicine.
On July 4, 1863, after 47 days of siege, Pemberton surrendered Vicksburg to Grant. The victory gave the Union full control of the Mississippi River, effectively cutting the Confederacy in half and fulfilling a major goal of the Anaconda Plan.
Aftermath and Significance[]
The capture of Vicksburg, combined with the Union victory at Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), marked a turning point in the war.
Union Gains:[]
- Secured full control of the Mississippi River
- Cut off Confederate states west of the river, including Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas
- Boosted Grant’s reputation, leading to his promotion as General-in-Chief of the Union Army
Confederate Setbacks:[]
- Major loss of men and resources (30,000 Confederate troops surrendered)
- Morale plummeted in the South, as many saw Vicksburg’s fall as the beginning of the end
- Van Dorn’s absence left the Confederate cavalry less effective in countering Union advances
The “What If” Question: Could Van Dorn Have Changed History?[]
Some historians speculate that if Van Dorn had lived, he might have continued launching disruptive raids against Grant’s supply lines, forcing Grant to abandon or delay his campaign once again. His Holly Springs Raid had already proven how vulnerable Grant’s logistics were.
If Van Dorn had been present in the critical April–June 1863 period, his cavalry might have:
- Destroyed Union supply depots supporting Grant’s march toward Vicksburg
- Intercepted Union reinforcements moving into Mississippi
- Created confusion and forced Grant to divert troops, delaying or weakening the siege
While the Confederacy’s overall situation was deteriorating, Van Dorn’s tactics had already bought time once before. His sudden death meant the South lost a commander capable of waging effective guerrilla-style resistance.
Conclusion[]
The Vicksburg Campaign was one of the most decisive Union victories of the Civil War. It secured Union control of the Mississippi River, split the Confederacy, and positioned Grant as the Union’s leading general.
However, the story of Vicksburg is incomplete without acknowledging Earl Van Dorn’s role in delaying the Union’s initial campaign. His success at Holly Springs forced Grant to retreat in December 1862, and his murder in May 1863 removed a key Confederate leader who might have once again derailed the Union’s plans.
Van Dorn’s death remains a historical "what-if" moment, raising the question of whether the Confederacy could have prolonged or even altered the campaign’s outcome had he survived.