Battle of Vicksburg Timeline (June 24th, 1862 - July 4th, 1863)

The taking of Vicksburg was a long and bloody process but the city eventually fell to General Grant and his forces.

There are a total of (22) Battle of Vicksburg Timeline (June 24th, 1862 - July 4th, 1863) events in the CivilWarTimeline.net database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events are also included for perspective.

June 24, 1862

Construction on a canal is started by Union engineers along the Mississippi River near heavily-defended Vicksburg. General Thomas Williams directs.

June 28, 1862

Union Navy boats pass under the guns of Vicksburg to reach friendly forces up the Mississippi River.

July 15, 1862

Confederate warship CSS Arkansas engages Union ships north of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

December 25, 1862

Union forces destroy the railway network at Vicksburg, Mississippi accessing both Louisiana and Texas.

December 26, 1862

Union forces are beaten back at Chickasaw Bayou in Vicksburg, Mississippi. This two-day engagement marks the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou. Again, a much smaller Confederate force bests a larger Union army. The battle spans into December 29th.

January 30, 1863

General Ulysses S. Grant assumes command of Union forces near Vicksburg, Mississippi.

March 8, 1863

The under-construction Union canal at Vicksburg, Mississippi is flooded out due to a levee break.

March 14, 1863

Steele's Bayou Expedition is begun. The operation sees a combined Union force directed by General Grant and Rear Admiral Porter attempt to reach the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The expedition would last until March 27th.

March 27, 1863

Union forces attempting to reach Vickerburg's rear are repulsed as part of Steele's Bayou Expedition. Union leaders included General Grant and Admiral Porter.

April 17, 1863

Union Navy boats attempt to bypass the guns of Vicksburg through night time voyages.

May 1, 1863

Union troops are victorious at Port Gibson in Mississippi.

May 3, 1863

General Grant arrives at Grand Gulf, Mississippi near Vicksburg.

May 7, 1863

General Grant departs the Grand Gulf, Mississippi region.

May 17, 1863

Confederate forces are pushed back over Big Black River in Mississippi.

May 19, 1863

The Confederate defenders at Vicksburg (Mississippi) repel a Union push.

May 22, 1863

General Grant attempts, and fails, to take Vicksburg in a second offensive.

May 23, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi is besieged by Union forces.

May 27, 1863

The guns of Vicksburg aid in the sinking of USS Cincinnati.

June 25, 1863

Despite an attempt by Union engineers to destroy the Vicksburg defenses from below, Vicksburg remains under Confederate control.

July 1, 1863

Union engineers attempt a second demolition of Union defenses at Vicksburg, Mississippi. This attempt also fails to make progress.

July 4, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi finally surrenders to General Grant and his Union forces. Some 30,000 prisoners are granted release with the promise not to engage the Union militarily again.

March 5, 1864

With the Meridian Campaign completed, General Sherman makes his return to Union-held Vicksburg in Mississippi.