Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to episode 294 of our Civil War Podcast.

I'm Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Welcome to the podcast.

As y'all recall, when we left off last time, it was June 30th, 1863, and Elyseez's

grant received the welcome news that all of the saps would reach Confederate lines within

a few days.

When that happened, up to 13 mines could be exploded more or less simultaneously under

the rebel positions.

This was the goal Grant and his army had been working toward throughout the siege.

Grant decided that the final federal assault on the Confederate defenses would be tentatively

scheduled for July 6th.

And with that, the curtain was about to open on the final act in the great Vicksburg drama.

As the federal news around Vicksburg tightened, both civilians and soldiers trapped within

Confederate lines found themselves caught up in a desperate quest for survival.

For many people in the beleaguered city, life under siege soon translated into life underground.

Those who could fled to caves that were dug into the hills to escape the reign of shells

from union guns and mortars that dropped down upon Vicksburg.

One woman wrote, the caves were plainly becoming a necessity as some persons had been killed

on the streets by fragments of shell.

Another resident remarked, caves were fashion, the rage over besieged Vicksburg.

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