"Who Won & Lost the Civil Changed Over Time"
Citation:
Snow, Violet. "The Battles of Vicksburg." The New York Times. N.p., 20 May 2013.
Web. 7 May 2015. <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/
the-battles-of-vicksburg/?_r=0>.
How the New York Times Described the Battle:
"In his memoir, Grant justifies his decision to attack the city, despite the shrewdly placed defenses that proved virtually impregnable. But a much different perspective comes through in diaries and memoirs from soldiers on the front lines, on both sides."
Usually on request of the Battles of Vicksburg, it notes the victory of General Ulysses S. Grant and his admirable siege. It rarely talks about the view point of the soldiers from both sides, or how Grant made two disastrous mistakes.
"With his men arrayed in ravines and gullies facing the fortifications, Grant ordered an assault at 2 p.m. on May 19."
A ravine is a narrow gorge with deep sides, a gully is a water-worn ravine (that serves as a gutter or a drain. Why would Grant order an assault, knowing that a defensive wall lay ahead?
"Many were killed and wounded in the Brigade in crossing a ridge to the position and some owing to their eagerness to look over the hill on the columns struggling through the brush and falling timber and their withered branches toward the work … many of the Regt. succeeded in planting their Collors on the outer slope of the ramparts. Intervening ground which they have to traverse was broken and steep. All the timber had been cut down by the Rebels. These trees laying in every direction with their branches intermingling and a thick underbrush made it impossible for the troops to keep in line while the enemy poured grape and canister in showers on them," Described by Davies on the battle (Davies was among the troops of Sherman).
This statement goes on to prove the point of the assault that Grant order on May 19. This call was risky, and killed and wounded many; first mistake.
"The second assault began at 10 a.m. on May 22, and is believed to be the first battle ever initiated by reference to synchronized watches. In the din of a preliminary bombardment from ships on the river, the generals would not have been able to hear the usual starting signal, a series of cannon volleys."
Although this is partially about how, even they won, Grant's mistakes, it still gives other information like the "....First battle ever initiated by reference to synchronized watches." But the author gave a good point. Grant was so focused on trying again to gain victory that with the bombardment, neither of the generals were able to make out the signals that denoted the start. This was crucial information. This helped the Confederate side regain its position on its defensive walls.
"Davies, who was once again positioned away from the front line, remarked, “a diversion was made by Sherman in favour of General MacClernand who had gained some advantage. … This was a useless charge. Great many men killed and wounded … this day’s attempt ended similar to the 19th. The natural difficulties was too great and the Rebels stood to their post bravely.
After each of the assaults, the Yankees collected their dead and wounded under cover of darkness, but there were some men lying too close to the fortifications to be reached by their compatriots without getting shot. Grant, not wishing to appear weak, refused to request an armistice to gather in the bodies. Anderson blamed him for the suffering of a man lying near the parapet, who could be seen raising and lowering his arms and legs at intervals for two days, until he died. Anderson also wrote that some Union wounded were taken into the Rebel hospital “and treated with the care that we would give our own men.”
By May 25, the corpses were reeking, and the Confederate general John C. Pemberton demanded an armistice for the burial of the Union dead....Grant’s memoir does not mention the incident at all."
This information gives a good perspective and a different view point in character on Grant. Grant made clueless decisions that injured/killed many. When his valiant soldiers lay dying or wounded, Grant chose pride over his troops. Instead Anderson, Pemberton, and the rest of the Confederates took pity and took them in as their own. They took care of the Union men as if they were the Confederates own.
"Having incurred 4,141 casualties in four days, Grant now resigned himself to a siege and set his men to digging trenches and building breastworks that would allow them to fire on the fortifications at close range while protected by earth.
It took six weeks to starve out the Confederate soldiers and civilians inside Vicksburg. Pemberton surrendered the city on July 4, 1863."
The article represents a question; What would have happened if Grant did not make those careless decisions? There were so many casualties and unusual punishment for the South and its civilians. Grant carried out his troops until they reached exhaustion. There could have been less casualties and more respect within those involved in the battles.
The Outcome and Significance of the Battle Based On the Article:
<The article represents a question; What would have happened if Grant did not make those careless decisions?.... There could have been less casualties and more respect within those involved in the battles.>
(Based on my historical imagination) My Letter From the Battlefield:
Mother,
Things are crucial here. Grant is well known for winning battles, yes, and maybe that is why we soldiers keep going. But there is exhaustion among our faces. We are supposed to be brave soldiers, and I am trying to be mother, but I can't help but feel guilt as I see the South's civilians suffer. We are following the Generals word by the dot, but I can sometimes catch the questionable looks among our tired faces. This will turn out okay I hope. I saw Peter die yesterday, in front of my very eyes. I tried to reach him but they yelled at me to stay back. They promised me we would come back after our victory. I want to bring him home to his family. I told them I would. Mother, if you don't here from me make sure Peter returns to his family. I am a man of my word.
-Eric
Snow, Violet. "The Battles of Vicksburg." The New York Times. N.p., 20 May 2013.
Web. 7 May 2015. <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/
the-battles-of-vicksburg/?_r=0>.
How the New York Times Described the Battle:
"In his memoir, Grant justifies his decision to attack the city, despite the shrewdly placed defenses that proved virtually impregnable. But a much different perspective comes through in diaries and memoirs from soldiers on the front lines, on both sides."
Usually on request of the Battles of Vicksburg, it notes the victory of General Ulysses S. Grant and his admirable siege. It rarely talks about the view point of the soldiers from both sides, or how Grant made two disastrous mistakes.
"With his men arrayed in ravines and gullies facing the fortifications, Grant ordered an assault at 2 p.m. on May 19."
A ravine is a narrow gorge with deep sides, a gully is a water-worn ravine (that serves as a gutter or a drain. Why would Grant order an assault, knowing that a defensive wall lay ahead?
"Many were killed and wounded in the Brigade in crossing a ridge to the position and some owing to their eagerness to look over the hill on the columns struggling through the brush and falling timber and their withered branches toward the work … many of the Regt. succeeded in planting their Collors on the outer slope of the ramparts. Intervening ground which they have to traverse was broken and steep. All the timber had been cut down by the Rebels. These trees laying in every direction with their branches intermingling and a thick underbrush made it impossible for the troops to keep in line while the enemy poured grape and canister in showers on them," Described by Davies on the battle (Davies was among the troops of Sherman).
This statement goes on to prove the point of the assault that Grant order on May 19. This call was risky, and killed and wounded many; first mistake.
"The second assault began at 10 a.m. on May 22, and is believed to be the first battle ever initiated by reference to synchronized watches. In the din of a preliminary bombardment from ships on the river, the generals would not have been able to hear the usual starting signal, a series of cannon volleys."
Although this is partially about how, even they won, Grant's mistakes, it still gives other information like the "....First battle ever initiated by reference to synchronized watches." But the author gave a good point. Grant was so focused on trying again to gain victory that with the bombardment, neither of the generals were able to make out the signals that denoted the start. This was crucial information. This helped the Confederate side regain its position on its defensive walls.
"Davies, who was once again positioned away from the front line, remarked, “a diversion was made by Sherman in favour of General MacClernand who had gained some advantage. … This was a useless charge. Great many men killed and wounded … this day’s attempt ended similar to the 19th. The natural difficulties was too great and the Rebels stood to their post bravely.
After each of the assaults, the Yankees collected their dead and wounded under cover of darkness, but there were some men lying too close to the fortifications to be reached by their compatriots without getting shot. Grant, not wishing to appear weak, refused to request an armistice to gather in the bodies. Anderson blamed him for the suffering of a man lying near the parapet, who could be seen raising and lowering his arms and legs at intervals for two days, until he died. Anderson also wrote that some Union wounded were taken into the Rebel hospital “and treated with the care that we would give our own men.”
By May 25, the corpses were reeking, and the Confederate general John C. Pemberton demanded an armistice for the burial of the Union dead....Grant’s memoir does not mention the incident at all."
This information gives a good perspective and a different view point in character on Grant. Grant made clueless decisions that injured/killed many. When his valiant soldiers lay dying or wounded, Grant chose pride over his troops. Instead Anderson, Pemberton, and the rest of the Confederates took pity and took them in as their own. They took care of the Union men as if they were the Confederates own.
"Having incurred 4,141 casualties in four days, Grant now resigned himself to a siege and set his men to digging trenches and building breastworks that would allow them to fire on the fortifications at close range while protected by earth.
It took six weeks to starve out the Confederate soldiers and civilians inside Vicksburg. Pemberton surrendered the city on July 4, 1863."
The article represents a question; What would have happened if Grant did not make those careless decisions? There were so many casualties and unusual punishment for the South and its civilians. Grant carried out his troops until they reached exhaustion. There could have been less casualties and more respect within those involved in the battles.
The Outcome and Significance of the Battle Based On the Article:
<The article represents a question; What would have happened if Grant did not make those careless decisions?.... There could have been less casualties and more respect within those involved in the battles.>
(Based on my historical imagination) My Letter From the Battlefield:
Mother,
Things are crucial here. Grant is well known for winning battles, yes, and maybe that is why we soldiers keep going. But there is exhaustion among our faces. We are supposed to be brave soldiers, and I am trying to be mother, but I can't help but feel guilt as I see the South's civilians suffer. We are following the Generals word by the dot, but I can sometimes catch the questionable looks among our tired faces. This will turn out okay I hope. I saw Peter die yesterday, in front of my very eyes. I tried to reach him but they yelled at me to stay back. They promised me we would come back after our victory. I want to bring him home to his family. I told them I would. Mother, if you don't here from me make sure Peter returns to his family. I am a man of my word.
-Eric