The 1863 Vicksburg campaign was to prove decisive to the outcome of the American Civil War. Known as the 'Gibraltar of the West', Vicksburg was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. In a masterly campaign Grant used riverboats and steamers to land his army south of the city. He then defeated the armies of Generals 'Joe' Johnston and John C. Pemberton. Pemberton allowed his force to become bottled up in Vicksburg and after an epic 47-day siege he was forced to surrender the remnants of his force to Grant on 4 July 1863, one day after Lee's defeat at Gettysburg.

Includes maps of: Grant's Attempts to Approach Vicksburg, Dec 1862-March 1863; Crossing the Mississippi; Advance to Vicksburg; Battle of Champion Hill; Action at Big Black River; Vicksburg Defences; Siege of Vicksburg.

Introduction -- The opposing commanders -- The opposing armies -- The strategic situation, Autumn 1862 -- Grant's Winter problems -- The march begins -- Living off the land -- The battle of Champion Hill -- The siege of Vicksburg -- The consequences --- The battlefield today -- chronology.