May 22, 1863

The siege of Vicksburg began with the repulse of the May 22nd assault and lasted until July 4, 1863. As the siege progressed, Pemberton's 20,000 man garrison was reduced by disease and starvation, and the city's residents were forced to seek refuge in caves and bomb proofs in the surrounding hillsides. Hunger and daily bombardments by Grant's forces and Porter's gunboats compelled Pemberton to ask for surrender terms July 3rd. Grant offered none, but on the garrison's capitulation immediately paroled the bulk of the force. Many of these same men would later oppose him at Chattanooga. Pemberton's surrender ended the Vicksburg Campaign. But during the siege, to the east Johnston had raised a 31,000 man force in the Jackson area. On July 4th, as Confederates were being paroled, Sherman moved his forces to oppose this new threat. Sherman's march would result in the siege of Jackson.