The Surrender of Vicksburg on the 160th Anniversary

Our Vicksburg 160 coverage comes to a close for a full tour of the 3rd Louisiana Redan area with Garry Adelman, Kris White and Dr. Chris Mackowski.
This video is part of our commemoration of the 160th Anniversary of the Vicksburg Campaign. Videos will be added from now until the beginning of July. To view the full set of tours, visit: • Vicksburg Campaign: 16...
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@JMCAragorn]

I am OBSESSED with The American Battlefield Trust! I can't stop watching all the videos....!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thanks for the support!

[@lannyfaulkner6697]

I have lived in Illinois for 36 years. Years ago my wife and I toured the Vicksburg Battlefield and seeing the Illinois memorial was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I continue to be stunned at the sacrifice of so many brave men to fight and die "to set other men free." Thanks for these videos!

[@pamelaoliver8442]

I'm loving the coverage this year (it's always good) ...the eyewitness and civilian perspectives are awesome

[@markhines2583]

I had 2 Uncles that were in the 34th Georgia Infantry when the surrender happened.

[@TheGravitywerks]

Me too,....Mississippi Volunteers/Water Valley Rifles :)

[@eds7033]

Grant must have studied Caesar at the battle of Alesia where the Romans laid siege to Versingetorix to end the Gallic campaigns then take his troops across the Rubicon into hIstory. Alesia might prove interesting to your viewers. (I’ve been there x 3 and can’t get enough) 🙃

[@ShootingStarMS39208]

I'm a Mississippi native, now retired. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your videos about The Siege of Vicksburg. Your videos are very educational and the editing is outstanding. You guys are doing a great job! Just one thing I would like to share with you about the Illinois Monument. When I was a boy growing up in Jackson, my parents used to enjoy taking all of us kids to the Vicksburg National Military Park. Our favorite place to stop was the Illinois Monument. We actually had a name for it, we called it "the echo house" because it has an echo inside. We really liked that and it made the trip to Vicksburg enjoyable. You guys noticed the echo too. Anyway, I never realized just how much it cost to build it nor did I realize that the names of all the soldiers were on the wall. Now that I'm retired, I will make a trip to Vicksburg and tour the park as it's been many years since I've been there. I will make some videos over there too. Thank you again for the amazing videos! Keep up the excellent work!

[@terryeustice5399]

Thank you Garry,Kris and Chris. For this wrap up of Vicksburg. All three of you have done great. 💯👊👍

[@bryanfields5563]

Sad but true - that truck's horn is the exact same size as the one in any other Dodge truck! LOL😆 THANK YOU for that view from the front of that fabulous Illinois memorial!

[@NjK601]

I love that The Texans, put up an obelisk to celebrate San Jacinto, and put a big star on top, just so that it is technically taller then The Washington Monument.

[@charlayned]

That's because we're special. As a native Texan who now lives about 20 miles from San Jacinto, it's an interesting history.

[@NjK601]

@@charlayned It's a great monument for sure! I just wish, it wasn't surrounded by oil refineries.

[@donaldmoore4412]

Fantastic job. God Bless America!

[@mikealtan739]

As usual, Garry and Chris do a fantastic and thorough job informing and entertaining us. Thanks guys. Keep up the great work.

[@jeffreyg4626]

Interesting story on why the Shirley home still exists. I can't explain why history stimulates me so much... but it does. Never been to Vicksburg but will get there soon.

[@bryanfields5563]

THANKS for view of the gulley by the Shirley House - pretty dang cool even if it IS full of shebang trees!

[@kennethcook2518]

This is the most I think you guys laughed. It's good to lighten up every now and then

[@Paul-yq5ym]

Thank you, American Battlefield Trust, for commemorating this anniversary. I'm a descendent of a soldier from the 30th Iowa Infantry.

[@jorgemartinpaez4376]

The story of Vicksburg battles and siege is very intriguing! Great job General Grant destroying the trenches afterward! To prevent a reverse of fortunes!

[@abrahamturany9962]

I work here at Vicksburg NMP. I'm from n.e. Ohio. The 3rd Ohio Battery monument is off to Kris's left at Battery De Golyer. They were mustered in in Stark County, Ohio. Andrew Hickenlooper was born in my county in Ohio (as well as an officer in the 120th Ohio Infantry-Elias Fraunfelter) and Orion Howe was born in Portage County, Ohio.

[@jimmyjames9752]

SAVE OUR BATTLEFIELDS AMERICA 🇺🇸

[@kevindecoteau3186]

Thank you Forrest.

[@michaellaverty1844]

Thanks you so much for this and for all of your efforts.

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

just got my map bundle a week ago. awesome stuff.

[@ryanwiersema7251]

The interplay between y'all is great!! I enjoy the information you share with so many details, but I also enjoy the repartee!

[@y00h0011]

Another outstanding presentation. You guys are the very best.

[@cola81374]

Love All 3 of you guys and these videos thanks1 hopefully someday i can go on a tour you give. thanks again for all you do!

[@joemabry9643]

Thank you.

[@bryanfields5563]

LOGAN CIRCLE in Washington DC has a terrific monument to John Logan (and some beautiful houses around it!).

[@frankofva8803]

So very interesting. Thanks, guys, for braving the fire ants.

[@davegoodridge8352]

Thank you

[@joeritchie4554]

Thank you for these very informative videos. I have learned so much about the Vicksburg seige from your videos. It was not very well covered in history classes that I have had, or in the books that I have read about the Civil War.

[@kravin74]

I was born in Pike County Mississippi and been here most of my life. I've been to the Vicksburg Battle Park around 10 times and it's an amazing place. I've taken several people there for their first time and they were amazed by the place. Don't hear or see as much about this battle as you do some of the others so thank you guys for doing this.

[@francishasuly3510]

Again what a great presentation 😊

[@Johnson48ize]

I actually remember being inside that monument in 8th grade in 1997

[@davidlavin3492]

How are you in Gettysburg and Vicksburg in the same day? Lol. This is really helpful for those of us who aren’t likely to be able to visit

[@ChrisWeil]

man I want to go to Vicksburg!

[@jeffreyg4626]

Thanks!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thank you!

[@timschulze5789]

I have been watching your Gettysburg videos all Sat. Sun, and Mon. Wonderful Job!!!! I too like other commenters have an ancestor at Vicksburg. Cornelius Saxbury Co. I 45TH PVI. IX Corps. They were in position facing east waiting for Johnson. 160 years ago today They went after Johnson and found him at Jackson. Were they surrounded him until he ran away across the river.. Thank you for all for your great work. You are true educators. PS I'm from Rochester NY and I loved the Patrick O"Rouke impression.

[@inthedarkwoods2022]

The park should consider putting QR codes that links to videos where a person can learn about the area they are standing on.

[@csm9105]

I need to travel to the Western Theater, have never been.

[@davidwilhelm3431]

Great video, guys! Entertaining and informatiive at the same time. Vicksburg is a fascinating place.

[@MrBradleyDavid]

Fascinating! I almost did a walking tour when I was a combat engineer but our command couldn’t get funding. Of the two battles that ended in July of 1863 which would you consider more monumental? One, Gettysburg was a meeting engagement that stopped an invasion of a northern state cold and turned an army 180 degrees. The other, Vicksburg, culminated in an army that surrendered and marched off unarmed, and cut the confederacy in two.

[@donaldvandergriff2196]

Great coverage. Thank you Chris, Khris and Gary (and any others I missed). You guys have a great job. Oh, by the way, great choice in rental car (I am a RAM truck fanatic).

[@jameskilcoyne1955]

I am a member of the 3rd Louisiana Infantry reenactment group, which we formed at Vicksburg in 1993.

[@jeff_underscore9244]

Crazy the 3rd went from fighting in southwest Missouri to Vicksburg

[@jameskilcoyne1955]

@@jeff_underscore9244 Not too crazy as it was all in the western theater.

[@jeff_underscore9244]

@@jameskilcoyne1955 well just the series of events to transpire for that to happen

[@michaelhoffman5348]

Thanks guys for another wonderful video!

[@richardglady3009]

Thanks for creating and posting this video. I had never seen a photo of the wood mortars before. Neat.

[@racingwithj7808]

The 97 car is Shane Van Gisbergen that won in Chicago last weekend

[@jwhite146]

one time I was warned off of the Illione monument due to a whole school bus full of school kids and all of them had to see if there were echos which we could hear in the southern lines

[@mattshirley3883]

@AmericanBattlefieldTrust ! My ancestor owned the Shirley House still on the Battlefield

[@mattshirley3883]

The house was built in the 1830s and was purchased by James and Adeline Shirley in 1851. When the fighting at Vicksburg began in May 1863, James and his daughter were stranded in Clinton, Mississippi, after the Union cut rail service to Vicksburg. Adeline and her son Quincy were the only ones at the house. The Confederates tried to burn it down so the Union could not use it, but the soldier who was sent to do the task was shot dead by Union troops that arrived at the same time. With the Union Army now positioned all around the house, it took constant fire from Confederate artillery and was heavily damaged during the fighting. Adeline and Quincy had to move to a safer place and eventually settled into one of their slave cabins. Despite owning slaves, the Shirleys and most of the Vicksburg residents supported the Union because their main source of income was selling products to the northern states. It is from this location that the Union soldiers began digging trenches towards the Third Louisiana Redan, which is located a very short distance down the road.. When you get to the redan (a triangular fort), you can see just how close the Union and Confederate lines were to each other, as the Shirley House is in plain view.

[@mattshirley3883]

Funny thing is my part of the Shirley Family moved up North in Illinois after the war

[@mattshirley3883]

Had several Shirley Ancestors that fought for CSA throughout the South

[@charlayned]

I have been tracing my family lines and I have 4 Civil War soldiers. One was at Vicksburg, 41st Georgia Infantry (Artificer). He was captured on the 4th of July and paroled 7 July 1863. That's on my dad's mother's side (her grandfather). On my mom's mom's side, I had soldier from the 30th Illinois Infantry, Company g. They were in the Vicksburg Area but I'm not sure if he was at the actual battle or was off with Sherman going to Black River and Jackson. If he was at Vicksburg, one side of my family captured the other side. My 2nd great grandfather on Dad's father's side was with the 44th Alabama at Gettysburg (I think I'm right on that one). And Dad's grandmother's father was in the 41st Infantry Georgia, but spent two weeks in and decided to go home. As a historian, I find Civil War interesting, but having family ties to it makes it even more interesting.

[@csm9105]

Good stuff.

[@inthedarkwoods2022]

Great video. I always wanted to know the exact spot the picture was taken! Well done

[@scottbumpus4699]

May have already been mentioned. It was Confederate General Martin Green who said there wasn’t a bullet that could kill him, right before he was corrected.

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

Things like the continued bombardment or the sheer number of Mines, which would require thousands of pounds of explosives each bring up a question... HOW much gunpowder could northern factories produce each month? It cannot have been really sparse when they used it so generously in sieges... but it would have been a logistical nightmare to bring to all the armies spread out throughout the fighting zones around the sides of the Confederacy...

[@jorgemartinpaez4376]

mine warfare was in vicksburg and petersburg, oh my this is interesting even in WWI, in the napoleonics the mines was for the breach after it was created

[@kenanacampora]

Fue d’enfer. Hellfire. Aiming all of your cannons at one guy. Napoleonic tactics. Same with Gettysburg. General Lee even said those words to Longstreet in the movie.

[@johnportanova2583]

Thanks thanks can't wait to get to Vicksburg one year.? Whats the best written book on the Vicksburg campaign.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

We would have to recommend one of the options from our good friend Timothy B. Smith aka Tim Smith of the West.

[@madarab37]

I have Pembertons in the family tree. I don't think I'm a descendant of the John Pemberton who surrendered Vicksburg to Grant, but I read he lost the high ground to the Union and was advised to get out because of it.

[@paul-we2gf]

The trenches both here at Vicksburg and later at Petersburg are very loke the western front of WW I

[@davesessums9596]

Trust me, Gary sticks out like a sore thumb in the South. He’s not acclimated.

[@cyndiebill6631]

👍♥️

[@timothycampbell9762]

Heard you say Trans-Mississippi, so I expect Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, and Mine's Creek soon

[@model-man7802]

I can't tell one line from the other. Maps are very important

[@genes.3285]

Shooting the camel was inexcusable. He perhaps was a regimental mascot.

[@travisbayles870]

Vicksburg is the nail that holds the Souths two halves together President Jefferson Davis Confederate States of America

[@crippledcrow2384]

How can I find where any of the 1st Miss. Light Artillery was stationed at Vicksburg?

[@raynefarooq7728]

American Navy congratulations for the dew

[@ciarandoyle4349]

Why was Wexford Lodge given the name of County Wexford in the South-East of Ireland?

[@Bodiddley788]

I don't understand Gary's comment, "vote once," "vote often."

[@jamesorth6460]

the Kansas monument at Vicksburg is so embarrassing to me a Kansan, it's like some Kansas hippies back in the 1960s put it together

[@jorgemartinpaez4376]

The city of Vicksburg was anti sucession? this is very intriguing several southerners went North to join the Union Federal Army and Navy, some Northerners were pro-slavery succession, so they went South to the CSA to join the Confederate Rebel Navy and Army

[@jerroldbates355]

Dispatch the fire ants! Immediately! 😮

[@davidbowman4259]

Amazing place. Visited there years ago; I remember an owl sitting placidly on a solder's gravestone. A momentous event that was unfolding simultaneously with a certain epic battle many miles away in a small Pennsylvania farm town. The twin pincers that began the inexorable demise of the traitorous Slave Power.