July 4th brought an end of what had been among the bloodiest confrontations fought by this nation’s war on itself. On Independence Day back in 1863, head confederate John Pemberton surrendered Vicksburg to Union Commander Ulysses S. Grant after a long siege to keep the port city open for Deep South expatriate use. Many cite this event as momentous, since it came after slow defeat but led to swift retreat by rebels the same day when Union forces got control of rebels’ last stronghold. Vicksburg’s location along Miss Lou made it a vital nail head that held confederates together by serving as their supply and transportation hub. Beside a big morale boost for Union troops, victory at Vicksburg won first-time GOP good ole boy Abe widespread favor that virtually guaranteed reelection by a landslide. Indeed, when war first began, he waved one hand at a map and said, “Vicksburg is key” and failure to take it meant “hog and hominy without limit, fresh troops from all states in the far south.”
Thus, Union victory at Vicksburg is last major battle fought and gets credit for what brought fast end to US civil war within less than 2 years. Some historians believe it was de facto defeat of rebels who began deserting by unprecedented high numbers. So, can it show that even die-hard denialists know when they have no hope whatsoever and give up a fight with some slight dignity of bowing out in grace to save forever lost face? Or, prove the exact opposite, given 2 more years of struggle?
Thus, Union victory at Vicksburg is last major battle fought and gets credit for what brought fast end to US civil war within less than 2 years. Some historians believe it was de facto defeat of rebels who began deserting by unprecedented high numbers. So, can it show that even die-hard denialists know when they have no hope whatsoever and give up a fight with some slight dignity of bowing out in grace to save forever lost face? Or, prove the exact opposite, given 2 more years of struggle?
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