Definition

Proper noun: * A decisive military engagement in the American Civil War: The "Siege of Vicksburg" refers to a prolonged military campaign and blockade (May 18 – July 4, 1863) where Union forces, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, surrounded and besieged the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Confederate surrender on July 4th gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, a major strategic victory.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Siege of Vicksburg is considered one of the most brilliant campaigns of the American Civil War.
  • Historians study the tactics used during the Siege of Vicksburg.
  • A turning point in the war came with the fall of Vicksburg after the long siege.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used metonymically to represent the broader Vicksburg Campaign, which included battles leading up to the siege itself.
• It is frequently cited in military history as a classic example of a siege and its psychological impact on a civilian population trapped within the city.

Variants and Related Words

• Vicksburg Campaign (n): The broader series of maneuvers and battles in Mississippi that culminated in the siege.
• Siege (n): A military operation in which forces surround a town or building, cutting off supplies to compel surrender.
• Surrender of Vicksburg (n): The specific event concluding the siege.

Synonyms

• Vicksburg Campaign (in its broader sense)
• Fall of Vicksburg

Related Phrases

• To lay siege to: The action undertaken by General Grant's army.
  • General Grant's army moved to lay siege to the city of Vicksburg.

Noun

1. a decisive battle in the American Civil War (1863); after being besieged for nearly seven weeks the Confederates surrendered