Significance Of Gettysburg And Vicksburg

Significance of Gettysburg and Vicksburg

By Joseph Parish 

            The American Civil War, which begun in 1861 and continued until 1865 was one of the bloodiest wars our nation has ever endured. It was brother against brother, father against son and the resulting death count were unheard of in our nation’s history.  In the end the Union had lost 23,000 troops and the south had experienced 28,000 deaths. Many people frequently question why the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were significant.

            The battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were significant turning points in the American Civil War. Gettysburg proved to be strategically important as Lee’s final defeat in his efforts to invade the north. This defeat eventually crippled the Confederate army and allowed the union forces to gain and ultimately keep essential eastern strongholds. Not only were there horrific loss of men on both sides, but the Army of Northern Virginia suffered the loss of too many of their military officers. These figures included several generals being killed, captured, or severely wounded. This was not good for the Confederate military.

            Since the three-day battle of Gettysburg was viewed as a major battle, the morale of the union soldiers was boosted considerably, giving them the motivation and confidence to continue the war with the idea that they could win. Vicksburg on the other hand provided the union military a firm control of the complete length of the Mississippi river. The military advantage of this was that the Confederacy was split into two geographical regions. They were thus effectively cut off from supplies of beef coming to them from the Texas ranchers, as well as an inability to receive valuable salt from Louisiana. They were also prevented from obtaining manufactured products from the west and imports from foreign markets. Militarily strategic reinforcements in troop movements were made more difficult.

            With these developments, the ability to negotiate and create diplomatic treaties with possible European allies appeared impossible after these victories in the north. The Confederacy had now lost completely its ability to win any major battles on northern held soil at Gettysburg was the last attempt to win and gain support from the European powers. The war was almost over now with Lee's northern defeat and retreat from Gettysburg. Its military threat to the north was now over.

            As we briefly mentioned above the battle of Gettysburg and Vicksburg was essentially the beginning of the end for the Southern Confederacy. The loss experienced by the confederates in these two battles took place at about the same time, thus compounding the value of the wins for the north. Gettysburg was fought on the 1st to the 3rd of July while Vicksburg began on the 4th. By taking place around the same time they weaken the resolve from the southern military while bolstering the confidence of the northern soldiers. Gettysburg was especially demoralizing for the south since Lee had ordered upward of 60,000 military troops to descend upon the location while the north had only mere 3,000 troops mustered. These two battles marked the initial victories for the union since the war had begun. With northern victories we see the breaking up of the Confederate hope towards winning the war.

            Strategically by capturing Vicksburg the union controlled all of the Mississippi. This proved useful towards staging future campaigns along the river area. The battle resulted in choking off the Confederate army from access to the Mississippi thus preventing them from receiving supplies and moving troops.

            To add to this unfortunate turn of events, Lee had lost Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan ‘Stonewall’ Jackson several months prior to the engagement at Gettysburg. That fact alone had a devastating effect upon the southern army. Here they were about to fight a major battle without the leadership of their most competent and respected commanding general. General Lee’s negative attitude towards the replacement officers from other states resulted in them being treated rather poorly by the general. With such actions it is no wonder that they did not put forth their best efforts.

            The south had hopes of establishing diplomatic recognition from Great Britain by dispatching the Army of Northern Virginia towards the Gettysburg Campaign. It was at first expected that the battle would sway in favor of the south since they had just completed two large victories in Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. If they could conjure up a third victory, it was hoped that it would ensure the needed diplomatic consideration.

            Any thoughts of such diplomacy ended when the south lost these two major battles. No longer would strong European nations foster any thoughts towards aiding the Confederate military against the northern states. In foreign eyes there was no longer any possibility of a victory and thus no potential profit for the European allies.

            As mentioned in the above paragraphs the American Civil War affected both sides psychologically. Naturally, the vast number of deaths taking place had a demoralizing effect upon the troops. This was especially true in view of the officer, deaths within the southern forces ranks. Both sides entered the battlefield in Gettysburg with the confidence that they would win the war for their respective side. Here the south was confident they would be the victor, while the north was motivated to win more so than ever before. In the final conclusion of Gettysburg, the north was the ones who gained a boost in military prowess. As the improbability came closer to the south to admit defeat the psychological effect was tremendous. With the possibility of diplomatic ties severed with the powerful European nations, the south admitted to themselves that defeat was inevitable.

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