Vicksburg, MS (approx. 1864) 35297
“Tis the opinion of all that Vicksburg is the strongest fortified place in the Confederacy”
Union soldier in letter to his sister
This photo of Vicksburg and the Mississippi River was taken from the Courthouse, located on one of the highest hills in Vicksburg. The tranquility of the scene is in a marked contrast to the bombardment Vicksburg endured during the war.
Capturing Vicksburg, was a key Union goal. By 1860, Vicksburg, had grown to become a major transportation hub for both steamboat and railroad services. Its rugged hills gave the city a natural defense point on the Mississippi River.
After its surrender on July 4, 1863, Jefferson Davis remarked, “The clouds are truly dark over us.”
