While the probing operation of the 19th had failed, Grant further
considered the important results which a successful assault would
achieve. Such a move, however costly, would save a long siege. In the
end, fewer men might be lost, and a growing threat to the Union
rear--General Johnston raising troops near Jackson for the relief of
Vicksburg--could be eliminated by quickly capturing Vicksburg and
throwing the entire Union strength against Johnston. In addition, the
Federal troops, spirited by recent victories and impatient to seize the
prize for which they had campaigned so long, would not work so zealously
in the trenches with pick and shovel unless assault had failed. On the
21st, Grant issued orders for a general assault against Vicksburg the
following day.
[Illustration: _The heavy guns of this Union siege battery were
borrowed from the Federal gunboats and used against the Confederate
siege defenses._ From _Photographic History of the Civil War_.]
The Union assault of May 22 was delivered against the center of the
Confederate siege line along a 3-mile front from Stockade Redan to Fort
Garrott. The felled trees and thick undergrowth, as well as the
precipitous faces of the ravines, restricted the scope of Union
maneuver. Only a portion of Grant's full strength could be brought into
action, reserves being posted to exploit a breakthrough. Careful
preparations preceded the attack: field batteries were run forward and
emplaced to provide a covering fire for the infantry, and troops were
advanced into concealed positions--in places, within 200 yards of their
objective. Watches of all Union commanders were synchronized, the attack
to begin simultaneously at 10 a. m. in order to prevent Pemberton from
shifting his forces from one threatened point to another.
[Illustration: THE SIEGE OF
VICKSBURG
_MAY 18-JULY 4, 1863_]
[Illustration: _This hospital ship provided medical care for the
sick and wounded of Grant's Army during the Vicksburg operations._
From _Photographic History of the Civil War_.]
Of the six forts in the area of the grand assault, the Stockade Redan,
under attack by Maj. Gen. Frank Blair's Division of Sherman's Corps,
exemplified the day's action in method and result. Blair's men were
faced with two formidable obstacles: the fort could be reached only by
way of the Graveyard Road because of the deep ravines bordering the
road, and the road was completely covered by the guns of the fort. In
front of the fort was a deep ditch which protected it from attempts to
climb the wall and enter the works. The night before, Sherman had
decided that a bridge would be needed by his men to span the ditch. Only
one source of lumber could be found--a frame house in which General
Grant was sleeping. Informed of the need, Grant dressed and watched the
house quickly torn down for bridging materials.
At the stroke of 10, the artillery bombardment of the fort ceased and
the "Forlorn Hope"--a volunteer company of 150 men--raced from their
position over the Graveyard Road toward the Stockade Redan, carrying the
planks to bridge the ditch for the regiments to follow. Until the
Federal troops almost reached the Confederate line, there was no sign of
its defenders. Then the Southern soldiers "rose from their reclining
position behind the works, and gave them such a terrible volley of
musketry" that the road soon was nearly obstructed by the bodies of the
killed and wounded, "the very sticks and chips, scattered over the
ground jumping under the hot shower of Rebel bullets."
Although two color-bearers climbed the wall of the fort and planted
their flags near the crest, the remnants of regiments which reached the
ditch were unable to storm the walls and enter the redan. Attempting to
prevent the fort garrison from firing down into the ditch, the Federal
infantry swept the top of the wall with rifle fire. The toll was costly
among the Confederate defenders, who fought back, using artillery shells
as hand grenades and rolling them down among the Union troops in the
ditch. After 4 hours of fighting, the attack was stalemated at Stockade
Redan.
Union flags were placed also on the walls of the Great Redoubt and
Second Texas Lunette, but it was at the Railroad Redoubt that a
momentary breach was made in the Confederate defenses. Here,
McClernand's men reached the fort in force, and Sgt. Joseph E. Griffith
and several comrades of the 22nd Iowa crawled through a gap in the wall,
which had been blasted by Union artillery, and entered the outer works.
All were shot down but Griffith. He was able to back out through the
opening, bringing a dozen prisoners with him. When the Union assault
threatened to engulf the fort, there was a call for Confederate
volunteers to regain the lost ground. A volunteer company from the Texas
Legion counterattacked and drove the Union troops from the outer
defenses.
[Illustration: _Union Battery Hickenlooper during the siege, within
100 yards of the Confederate line._ From a wartime sketch.]
Encouraged by his partial success, McClernand asked Grant for
reinforcements and a renewal of the attack which, he felt, would enable
his men to break the Confederate line. Grant ordered Sherman and
McPherson to commit their reserves and create a diversion in
McClernand's favor. The renewed assault was shattered by the resolute
Confederate defense. It served only to increase Union losses and to
intensify an already bitter controversy over McClernand's military
ability, which eventually resulted in his removal from command and the
appointment of Maj. Gen. Edward Ord to head the XIII Corps. More than
3,000 Union soldiers lay dead or wounded in the ditches and on the
slopes of the ridge. It was the last assault against Vicksburg.