For the civilian population of Vicksburg, the siege was a grim and
harrowing experience. Ordered to evacuate the city or prepare to face
siege, many of the townspeople preferred to remain and share the fate of
the army. They were joined by refugees accompanying the Confederate
retreat into the city. Vicksburg had been subjected to periodic naval
bombardment during the year of preliminary action and continuously
during the siege. For relief and protection against shellfire, many of
the townspeople occupied caves dug into the city's plentiful hillsides.
To the civilians, as to the Confederate soldiers, there seemed only
three intervals during the day when the shelling ceased--8 a. m., noon,
and 8 p. m.--when the Union artillerymen ate their meals. However, much
of the accustomed social life of the town continued. Men and women
passed along the streets despite frequent shell explosions, and the
town's newspaper continued to appear--finally printed on wallpaper.
Despite the artillery fire, few civilians were killed, although many
dwellings were destroyed or badly damaged. Over more and more buildings,
as the siege progressed, the yellow hospital flags floated. Thousands of
Confederate sick and wounded were brought into the city, many being
cared for by the women of Vicksburg. In the latter stages of the siege
the food stores of the city were badly depleted, placing the people of
Vicksburg on extremely short rations.