The Confederates, retreating before the Union advances, retreated into Vicksburg. They were a ragged, tired depressed army. The Union started to surround them on land while Porter covered the Mississippi. The Union hoped to assault and take the city by force, but they didn’t know how strong and complete the fortifications were.
During the assault, which McClernand led, 3,200 Union soldiers fell compared to the Confederate’s 500 men. Grant then decided to attack another point in the line, hoping it was less well guarded, but the same thing happened. Then Grant decided on a regular siege. The siege lasted 49 days.
The Confederates were running out of food and kept putting all of their hopes on General Johnston coming to their rescue. Finally hunger overcame them and General Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 4, 1863. Johnston had been afraid to attack, but had finally decided to attack on July 7 but Pemberton did not know this.
Vicksburg was lost to the Confederacy. The battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg gave the North enough hope to keep fighting. Also after Vicksburg, the Union started using black soldiers who gave then fresh, courageous soldiers while the south’s soldier supply dwindled.