An article in the Montgomery Advertiser on May 25, 2013 noted that even 150 years later, Vicksburg is still overshadowed by Gettysburg, so much so that the Mississippi city had its Civil War (I mean War Between the States) celebration a few weeks early, rather than compete with Pennsylvania for tourist dollars around July 4.
History buffs have been traveling to battlegrounds to mark the Sesquicentennial of the War starting in 2011. The folks in Vicksburg decided to set their commemoration to coincide with the beginning of the siege, rather than the end, specifically so travelers wouldn't have to choose between Vicksburg and Gettysburg, if they wanted to visit both places.
Vicksburg was a prolonged battle. The attack began on May 18 and eight days later the siege began. Confederate forces surrendered the city on July 4. Gettysburg was fought July 1-3rd.
Vicksburg had 19,233 either dead, wounded or missing. 10,142 Union and 9,091 Confederates. Gettysburg numbers were higher, 23,000 Union and 28,000 Confederates
Vicksburg, though remote, was strategically important. Once it fell, the Union controlled the Miss. river and the Confederacy was split. Looking back, one might say that the two events, Vicksburg's fall and the defeat at Gettysburg, marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.
No comments:
Post a Comment