Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 293 of our Civil War Podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

The failure of the bloody assaults of May 19th and 22nd convinced you Lissie Sesskrant

that the Confederates, Vicksburg defenses couldn't be taken by storm, at least not yet.

To avoid another bloodbath, he decided to, as he put it, quote, out camp the enemy.

Of his decision to lay siege to Vicksburg, Grant wrote in his memoirs, quote, with the

Navy holding the river, the investment of Vicksburg was complete.

As long as we could hold our position, the enemy was limited in supplies of food, men,

and munitions of war to what they had on hand.

These could not always last.

In other words, as long as no outside forces intervened, the clock was ticking for Confederate

Commander John Pemberton and the Vicksburg garrison.

Once Grant laid siege to the place, it was only a matter of time until the rebel stronghold

fell and the Federals could claim their victory.

And so on May 25th, 1863, following the belated brief truce to bury the dead and remove

the wounded, Grant issued the appropriate orders, saying, quote,

Core commanders will immediately commence the work of reducing the enemy works by regular

approaches.

It is desirable that no more loss of life shall be sustained in the reduction of Vicksburg

...