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00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.

This Week in the Civil War - 572

On Monday, May 18, 1863 Ulysses Grant’s Federal army, triumphant at Champion Hill and the Big Black River, began to envelope Vicksburg.  John Pemberton was ordered by General Joseph Johnston to evacuate Vicksburg, but knowing that President Jefferson Davis wished to have the city defended, Pemberton with the concurrence of his subordinate officers decided to stay. 

Given his prior actions and both the complexity and potential human cost of having thousands of troops attempt to break out of the growing, Union envelopment, Pemberton had little choice but to remain in Vicksburg and hope that Joseph Johnston’s Confederates could come to Vicksburg’s assistance.

In fact, Jefferson Davis was appealing for Mississippi civilians and militia to join Johnston in order to increase his forces so as to relieve beleaguered Vicksburg.