The Campaigns for Vicksburg, 1862-63: Leadership Lessons

Long relegated to a secondary position behind Gettysburg, Vicksburg has more recently earned consideration by historians as the truly decisive battle of the Civil War. Indeed, Vicksburg is fascinating on many levels. A focal point of both western armies, the Federal campaign of maneuver that finally isolated the Confederates in the city was masterful. The Navy’s contribution to the Federal victory was significant. The science of the fortifications and siege tactics are rich in detail. The human drama of Vicksburg’s beleaguered civilian population is compelling, and the Confederate cavalry dashes that first denied the Union victory were thrilling. But perhaps more than any other factor, the key to the Federal victory at Vicksburg was simply better leadership. It is this aspect of the campaign that Leadership Lessons: The Campaigns for Vicksburg, 1862–1863 seeks to explore.

The first section of this book familiarizes the reader with the challenges, characteristics, and styles associated with leadership during the Civil War in general. It also outlines the Vicksburg Campaign by explaining the strategic significance of the Mississippi River and Vicksburg, detailing the opposing forces and the terrain, discussing the failed attempts to capture Vicksburg over the winter of 1862–63, and tracing the brilliant campaign of maneuver and logistics that allowed Grant to ultimately lay siege and win a Federal victory. The second section of the book contains 30 “leadership vignettes” that span the actions of the most senior leaders down to those of individual soldiers. Each vignette focuses the campaign overview to the specific situation in order to provide appropriate context, explains the action in terms of leadership lessons learned, and concludes with a short list of “take-aways” to crystallize the lessons for the reader.

The human drama of Vicksburg involved such traits as daring, persistence, hesitation, raw courage, vascillation, self-confidence, and over-reliance—all with a great prize at stake. This study of many of the Civil War’s most famous commanders who vied for the Rebel “Gibraltar on the Mississippi” reveals combat on a wide scale, but more importantly lessons on decision-making that still apply to this day.

Kevin Dougherty, a career Army officer and more recently a university history instructor and tactical officer at the Citadel, is the author of six previous books on the Civil War.

Table of Contents

Introduction

PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING VICKSBURG
Leadership During the Civil War
Vicksburg Campaign Overview

PART TWO: LEADERSHIP VIGNETTES
1 — The Mighty Mississippi: Winfield Scott and Strategic Vision
2 — The Battle of Corinth: Ulysses Grant and Creating the Necessary Conditions
3 — Set Up to Fail: The Confederate Departmental System and Strategic Organization
4 — The Wrong Man for the Job: John Pemberton and the Peter Principle
5 — The Confederate Conflict: John Pemberton and Poor Relations with Subordinates
6 — The Federal Team: Ulysses Grant and Positive Relations with Subordinates
7 — Chickasaw Bayou: William Sherman and Knowing When to Quit
8 — The Self-Made Man and the Reinvented Man: The Raids of Forrest and Van Dorn
9 — Other Failed Attempts: Ulysses Grant and Perseverance
10 — A Close Call for the Federals: Charles Dana and Dealing with Weakness
11 — Asymmetric Warfare: Zedekiah McDaniel, Francis Ewing, and Innovation
12 — Running the Gauntlet: Ulysses Grant, David Porter, and Unity of Effort
13 — Helping Run the Gauntlet: William Sherman and Playing a Supporting Role
14 — The Battle of Port Gibson: John Bowen and Technical Competence
15 — “Cutting Loose”: Ulysses Grant and Taking Risk
16 — Confederate Confusion: John Pemberton and Frame of Reference
17 — Grant Heads Northeast: Ulysses Grant and Clear Communication
18 — The Battle of Raymond: John Gregg and Understanding the Situation
19 — The Battle of Jackson: Joseph Johnston and Pessimism
20 — The Battle of Champion Hill: Ulysses Grant and Personal Presence
21 — Retreat from Champion Hill: Lloyd Tilghman and Personal Sacrifice
22 — Assault on Vicksburg: Thomas Higgins and Heroic Leadership
23 — Problem Removed: John McClernand and Destructive Ambition
24 — Siege Warfare: Henry Foster and Problem Solving
25 — The Federal Mine: John Logan and Initiative
26 — Surrender and Parole: Ulysses Grant and Pragmatism
27 — Little Help from Above: Jefferson Davis and Strategic Direction
28 — A Decisive Victory: Abraham Lincoln and Admitting When You’re Wrong
29 — The Meridian Campaign: William Sherman and Creating Opportunity
30 — A Tragic Hero: John Pemberton and Selfless Service

Conclusions about Leadership During the Vicksburg Campaign
Appendix: Vicksburg Campaign Order of Battle
Bibliography