Number of casualties at the Siege of Vicksburg 1863

The Siege of Vicksburg was one of the most tactically important victories for the Union in the American Civil War. Victory helped give the Union control of the Mississippi River, while cutting off a major supply line for the Union forces. When Major General Ulysses S. Grant's Union troops tried taking the fortress by force, in mid-May 1863, they were twice pushed back with heavy casualties. Instead of sending his men to try a third time, Grant then used artillery to besiege the city on a daily basis and cut off all supply networks into the city. The inhabitants survived for another forty days before running out of provisions, (many reports claim the starving inhabitants had to resort to eating dogs and rats to survive) and surrendered on July 4. Interestingly, the legacy of the siege meant Independence Day was not celebrated in Vicksburg again until after the Second World War, 81 years later.