Vicksburg National Military Park in Warren County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Siege Operations, May 23-July 4.

Campaign, Siege, and Defense of Vicksburg; 1863.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

1. Siege Operations, May 23-July 4. Marker

Inscription. At the beginning of siege operations, May 23, about 162 guns  were on the investment line, most of them in position in hastily  constructed batteries. These were enlarged and strengthened  and additional guns successively mounted in new batteries  at advantageous positions. Embrasures of batteries close to  Confederate line closed against rifle balls by plank  shutters or with bags of packed cotton. The first parallel  made almost continuous from the right on the river to the left  of the 13th Army Corps and, as the approaches were carried  forward, second and third parallels opened. Loop holes for  sharpshooters made either with sand bags or in a timber on  the parapet. 16 principal approaches begun and 11 carried close  to the Confederate line. They were loop-holed for sharpshooters wherever opportunity for fire was afforded. 9  galleries for mines started and 2 mines fired, both at the head  of Logan’s approach. At the end of the siege, July 4, about 220  guns, including all from the navy. Were on the investment line.  Largely in position: 89 batteries constructed but about 20  abandoned and their guns moved to the exterior line or to  advanced positions: aggregate length of Union trenches 12 miles. The Confederate line of defense, 8 miles long, mounted about  130 guns in 67 batteries. Works and connecting

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curtains loop- holed for sharpshooters. Damage done them by the Union batteries repaired at night. A number of guns disabled by the fire  of the Union batteries and, in most cases, new guns could not  be mounted in their places. Countermines against Union  approaches and mines prepared at 9 places and 4 fired. Retrenchments made in rear of some works but not used as the  line of defense was not anywhere broken. The defense largely  confined to sharpshooting and maintained for 47 days without  relief for the officers and men in the trenches. Part of the time  without sufficient rations. 
Reported casualties. May 23-July 4: Union, killed 94, wounded  25, missing 119, total 638, 19 officers killed or mortally wounded.  Confederate. Not separately reported. Reported casualties, May  18-July 4: Union, killed 766, wounded 3793, missing 276, total 4835, 107 officers killed or mortally wounded. Confederate, river  batteries not included, killed 873, wounded 2141, missing 158, total  3172, 83 officers killed or mortally wounded.

Erected by National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 23.

Location. 32° 22.623′ N, 90° 50.009′ W. Marker is in Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, in Warren County. It is on Grant

Siege Operations, May 23-July 4. marker next one down. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

2. Siege Operations, May 23-July 4. marker next one down.

Circle west of Grant Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Grant Circle, Vicksburg MS 39183, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Assault on the Confederate Line of Defense, May 22. (a few steps from this marker); Massachusetts Tribute to the 29th, 35th and 36th Regiments Volunteer Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Assault on the Confederate Line of Defense, May 19. (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant’s Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); U S Headquarters 16th Corps (Detachment) (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi, May 16. (within shouting distance of this marker); Engagement at Jackson, Mississippi, May 14. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ulysses S. Grant (about

General Summary of Casualties, March 29 - July 4. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

3. General Summary of Casualties, March 29 - July 4.

300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vicksburg National Military Park.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Siege of Vicksburg. (Submitted on November 18, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2017. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 381 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.