The Battle of Vicksburg By liz At the time of the Civil War, the Mississippi River was the most important economic feature of the continent. When the Southern States succeeded, Confederate forces closed the river, which threatened to block northern commercial benefit. President Abraham Lincoln told his civil and military leaders, "See what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key. The war can never be brought to a close …showed first 75 words of 1369 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1369 total…in the battle of Gettysburg fought on July 1-3, marked the turning point of the Civil War. In summery, At the Battle of Vicksburg a Confederate army under General John C. Pemberton surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant after a campaign that had begun on March 29. The South lost 8000 killed and wounded; and more then 29,000 surrendered. Union casualties were 8910. This loss and control of the Mississippi River, and the loss at Gettysburg, ruined the Confederacy.