Hey everyone, welcome to the 295th episode of our Civil War Podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracey, hello y'all, thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As the calendar rolled over from June to July 1863, the siege of Vicksburg entered its

seventh week.

Burton and his men dispaired of rescue and a feeling of gloom hung over the beleaguered

garrison like a shroud.

Federal saps had reached the outer ditch at several points along the eight mile line

of crumbling earthworks.

In some places, the Confederate soldiers could hear the ominous sound of mining operations

beneath their feet.

In other spots, the rebel and union soldiers were separated only by the battered parapet

itself.

By July 3rd, everyone knew that time was about to run out for the fortress city and its

defenders.

For the civilians and soldiers who had endured so much for so long, the events of May 17th

must have seemed like a distant memory.

Back on that day, when the Confederates poured into Vicksburg following the debacle

at the Big Black River, Alex S. Abrams, a newspaper correspondent from Georgia, had

observed, quote,

A feeling of despondence could be observed among the troops and curses, loud and deep,

were hurled at Lieutenant General Pemberton for his mismanagement of the army.

...