battle of vicksburg
The Vicksburg Campaign was one of the most decisive campaigns of the Civil War and also one of the greatest campaigns in history. Vicksburg, Mississippi, perched upon a steep bluff along the east bank of the Mississippi River was of strategic importance to the north and south. The opening of the Mississippi River to Northern shipping was of prime importance to the Union. It would help them move troops from camp to camp, divide the confederacy down the middle, and commerce of old Northwest would once again have access to the sea. The capture of Fort Donelson had broken the first line of Confederate defense for the Mississippi River Valley. Vicksburg then remained the one serious obstacle to complete command of the Mississippi River by federal forces. It was a much needed and timely victory for the Union, the year of 1862 having been one of disasters caused by the Union and coinciding with the defeat of the Confederate leader General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, marked the turning point of the war. The first serious attempt to take control of Vicksburg was an expedition commanded by General W. T. Sherman who went down to Mississippi and attacked Confederacy positions immediately north of town, w
"At about 10:00 A.M., white flags appeared on a portion of the rebel works. Hostilities along that part of the line ceased at once. Soon two persons were seen coming toward our lines bearing a white flag . They proved to be General Bowen, a division commander, and Colonel Montgomery, aide-de-camp to Pemberton,bearing the following letter to me; "I have the honor to propose to ypu an armistice for --- hours with a view to arrange terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners to meet a like number, to be named by yourseld, at such a place and hour to-day as you may find convienient. I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. This communication will be handed you under flag of truce by Major-General John S. Bowen.....". The loss of Vicksburg, Mississippi was perhaps the Confederacy's costliest defeat in the western portion of the United States during the Civil War. There were also naval expeditions commanded by Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. The Union army appeared below the city. The next day ,
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 830
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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