Visitor Center, Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, MS
**Vicksburg National Military Park** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 66000100, date listed 1966-10-15
N and E of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, MS (Warren County)
Vicksburg National Military Park, established in 1899, includes 1,860 acres. The park, bordering the city of Vicksburg and its suburbs on the northern and eastern sides, includes the Confederate defense line and Union siege line. Three detached areas, Navy Circle, Louisiana Circle, and South Fort, approximately one acre each, are also part of the park. These areas are located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River just north of the bridge.
Vicksburg was the key to control of the Mississippi River. At the time of the Civil War the Mississippi was a vital artery of transportation. To protect this lifeline, the Confederacy had erected a series of fortifications at readily defensible locations along the river from which the Union advance could be cheeked. Pushing southward from Illinois by land and water, and northward from the Gulf of Mexico by river, Union army and naval units attacked the Confederate strong points. They captured strategic forts and cities until by June of 1862, Vicksburg alone barred complete Union possession of the Mississippi River.
When Union forces marched victoriously into the city on July 4, 1863, after a 47-day siege, it was one of the turning points of the Civil War. Tactically and strategically the results of the campaign were decisive. The Mississippi River was again open to Northern commerce. The vast resources of the trans-Mississippi were denied to the Confederates, as the Confederacy was cut in two. Victory brought to Grant and the Union army a major conquest of the war in the west. Abraham Lincoln, his cabinet and people in the North were enheartened after long months of defeat and discouragement. Coupled with the defeat of Lee at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, the Confederacy suffered a blow from which it would never recover. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/66000100.pdf
Visitor Center, Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, MS
**Vicksburg National Military Park** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 66000100, date listed 1966-10-15
N and E of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, MS (Warren County)
Vicksburg National Military Park, established in 1899, includes 1,860 acres. The park, bordering the city of Vicksburg and its suburbs on the northern and eastern sides, includes the Confederate defense line and Union siege line. Three detached areas, Navy Circle, Louisiana Circle, and South Fort, approximately one acre each, are also part of the park. These areas are located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River just north of the bridge.
Vicksburg was the key to control of the Mississippi River. At the time of the Civil War the Mississippi was a vital artery of transportation. To protect this lifeline, the Confederacy had erected a series of fortifications at readily defensible locations along the river from which the Union advance could be cheeked. Pushing southward from Illinois by land and water, and northward from the Gulf of Mexico by river, Union army and naval units attacked the Confederate strong points. They captured strategic forts and cities until by June of 1862, Vicksburg alone barred complete Union possession of the Mississippi River.
When Union forces marched victoriously into the city on July 4, 1863, after a 47-day siege, it was one of the turning points of the Civil War. Tactically and strategically the results of the campaign were decisive. The Mississippi River was again open to Northern commerce. The vast resources of the trans-Mississippi were denied to the Confederates, as the Confederacy was cut in two. Victory brought to Grant and the Union army a major conquest of the war in the west. Abraham Lincoln, his cabinet and people in the North were enheartened after long months of defeat and discouragement. Coupled with the defeat of Lee at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, the Confederacy suffered a blow from which it would never recover. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/66000100.pdf