The Union Army, now within a few miles of its long-sought objective,
had, in the 18 days since it crossed the Mississippi, completed one of
the most noteworthy campaigns of the war. Marching deep into enemy
territory, the Army of the Tennessee had successfully lived off the
country while fighting and winning five engagements and inflicting
critical losses in men and equipment, had prevented Johnston and
Pemberton from joining forces, and had driven the Army of Vicksburg into
the defenses of the city.
[Illustration: _"Whistling Dick." This Confederate cannon which
guarded Vicksburg gained widespread fame among Union soldiers and
sailors because of the peculiar whistle of its projectiles._ From
_Photographic History of the Civil War_.]
[Illustration: _The terrain of the siege of Vicksburg--looking from
the Confederate line to the Union position on the far ridge._]
By noon of May 18, with Grant's advance expected momentarily, Pemberton
believed the defenses of Vicksburg strong enough to stand off the Union
Army until Johnston received sufficient reinforcements to raise the
expected siege and prevent loss of the Mississippi River. There, while
inspecting his defenses, Pemberton received a dispatch from Johnston
advising the evacuation of Vicksburg which, Johnston felt, was already
doomed. Military necessity demanded that "instead of losing both troops
and place, we must, if possible, save the troops. If it is not too late,
evacuate Vicksburg and its dependencies and march to the northeast."
Unwilling to yield the city without a fight, Pemberton placed the order
before his senior officers. They were of unanimous opinion that it would
be "impossible to withdraw the army from this position with such
_morale_ as to be of further service to the Confederacy." As the council
of war reached its decision to remain and fight, Union guns opened on
the works. The siege of Vicksburg had begun.
_The Siege of Vicksburg_