Vicksburg is the Key

Author: William L. Shea and Terrence J. Winschel
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press, 2005
Pages: 242
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: The struggle for control of the Mississippi River was the longest and most complex campaign of the Civil War. It was marked by an extraordinary diversity of military and naval operations, including fleet engagements, cavalry raids, amphibious landings, pitched battles, and the two longest sieges in American history. Every existing type of naval vessel, from sailing ship to armored ram, played a role, and military engineers practiced their art on a scale never before witnessed in modern warfare. Union commanders such as Grant, Sherman, Farragut, and Porter demonstrated the skills that would take them to the highest levels of command. When the immense contest finally reached its climax at Vicksburg and Port Hudson in the summer of 1863, the Confederacy suffered a blow from which it never recovered. Here was the true turning point of the Civil War. This fast-paced, gripping narrative of the Civil War struggle for the Mississippi River is the first comprehensive single-volume account to appear in over a century. Vicksburg Is the Key: The Struggle for the Mississippi River tells the story of the series of campaigns the Union conducted on land and water to conquer Vicksburg and of the many efforts by the Confederates to break the siege of the fortress. William L. Shea and Terrence J. Winschel present the unfolding drama of the campaign in a clear and readable style, correct historic myths along the way, and examine the profound strategic effects of the eventual Union victory.

Review: Growing up so close to Gettysburg one can forget that not all battles were as exciting. The battle for control of the Mississippi River was key, but the battle of Vicksburg as one part of it, was anticlimatic. Grant lay seige to the city for weeks and wore the Confederates down until they had no choice but to surrender.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the "battle" were the missteps by both sides. Poor decisions were made a various times by the commanders. The South was also hampered by rampant indecision.

When one studies the civil war it's easy to see that at no point did the South truly have the upper hand.

Overall this was a tough read. Military strategy and ever-changing names made the first 100 pages or so a real challenge. However, I'm glad I stuck with it. I'd like to learn more about the civil war in the South.