Battle of Vicksburg
1863 CE · Mississippi, USA
The Battle of Vicksburg was fought in 1863 CE in Mississippi, USA between United States (Union) vs the Confederate States; decisive Union victory; the Confederacy was split along the Mississippi.
Battle of Vicksburg: quick facts
- Date
- 1863 CE
- Location
- Mississippi, USA
- Belligerents
- United States (Union) vs the Confederate States
- Commanders
- Ulysses S. Grant vs John C. Pemberton
- Result
- decisive Union victory; the Confederacy was split along the Mississippi.
- Era
- 🦅 American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of Vicksburg?
After a brilliant campaign of maneuver, General Grant besieged the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, perched on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. For 47 days, Union forces bombarded the city while its defenders and civilians endured starvation. The garrison surrendered on July 4, 1863, the day after Gettysburg. The fall of Vicksburg gave the Union control of the entire Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two.
Did you know?
During the siege of Vicksburg, civilians dug caves into the hillsides to escape the constant Union bombardment. The city became known as 'Prairie Dog Village' for its network of underground shelters.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Vicksburg on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.