Mississippi Fortress

By the sping of 1863, Grant was ready with another plan to seize Vicksburg. He would march down the west side of the Mississippi and rely on the Union naval forces being able to run the batteries and meet him south of Vicksburg. The ships would then allow the Union army to cross the Mississippi and interpose itself between the two Confederate armies of Johnston and Pemberton. Finally, Vicksburg would be attacked from the south and east.

By April 25rd, the better part of Grant's army had crossed the Mississippi at Briarfield, with a small force moving south at Port Gibson. The Confederates shuffled their troops around, trying to guess Grant's next move.

On April 28th, Grant's concentration of forces at Briarfield was nearly complete and a Union cavalry probe on Yokena resulted in a breakout. Union cavalry moved up to Warrenton catching the battery there by surprise and destroyed it, despite the intervention of the Confederate cavalry.

The Union advance from their landing results in the battle of Yokena. 

The Confederates begin to regroup in Vicksburg. 

In early May the Confederates at Yokena shadow the Union advance on Vicksburg, resulting in the battle of Warrenton.

By May 8th, Vicksburg is completely surrounded. Pemberton and his army are waiting for Johnston and his army slowly arriving at Jackson. 

A week later, Johnston is nearing Vicksburg and the confederate relief force splits up in an attempt to spread out the besiegers. 

In the night of the 19th to 20th of May, Pemberton breaks out of Vicksburg. At the crack of dawn he faces the Union force standing between him and Johnston's relief column. It would be a bitter fight, as the Union pours in all the reinforcements they can find to annihilate Pemberton's battered army.

Despite the Union's best efforts, Pemberton reaches the safety of Johnston's fresh army. The Union army regroups to face the combined force. Neither side feels strong enough to commit to battle, resulting in a stalemate.

In the end, the Union had acheived its goal of capturing Vicksburg, but at too high of a cost in blood. (Union 87 VP - Confederate 144 VP)