Vicksburg

Grant's Campaign That Broke the Confederacy

De: Donald L. Miller

Narrado por: Rick Adamson

Winner of the Civil War Round Table of New York’s Fletcher Pratt Literary Award
Winner of the Austin Civil War Round Table’s Daniel M. & Marilyn W. Laney Book Prize
Winner of an Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award

“A superb account” (The Wall Street Journal) of the longest and most decisive military campaign of the Civil War in Vicksburg, Mississippi, which opened the Mississippi River, split the Confederacy, freed tens of thousands of slaves, and made Ulysses S. Grant the most important general of the war.

Vicksburg, Mississippi, was the last stronghold of the Confederacy on the Mississippi River. It prevented the Union from using the river for shipping between the Union-controlled Midwest and New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. The Union navy tried to take Vicksburg, which sat on a high bluff overlooking the river, but couldn’t do it. It took Grant’s army and Admiral David Porter’s navy to successfully invade Mississippi and lay siege to Vicksburg, forcing the city to surrender.

In this “elegant…enlightening…well-researched and well-told” (Publishers Weekly) work, Donald L. Miller tells the full story of this year-long campaign to win the city “with probing intelligence and irresistible passion” (Booklist). He brings to life all the drama, characters, and significance of Vicksburg, a historic moment that rivals any war story in history. In the course of the campaign, tens of thousands of slaves fled to the Union lines, where more than twenty thousand became soldiers, while others seized the plantations they had been forced to work on, destroying the economy of a large part of Mississippi and creating a social revolution. With Vicksburg “Miller has produced a model work that ties together military and social history” (Civil War Times).

Vicksburg solidified Grant’s reputation as the Union’s most capable general. Today no general would ever be permitted to fail as often as Grant did, but ultimately he succeeded in what he himself called the most important battle of the war—the one that all but sealed the fate of the Confederacy.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Miller makes a strong case for the capture of Vicksburg being the turning point of the Civil War—more important than the almost simultaneous Battle of Gettysburg. . . . Narrator Rick Adamson keeps track of quotations with subtle shifts in tone and avoids a confusing multiplicity of accents. He gives us a saga of military brilliance and incompetence linked to the struggle of emancipation."

Wonderful coverage that isn’t afraid to state the facts

The book is incredibly dense in its knowledge and sometimes it can throw a lot at you, meaning that if you aren’t paying full attention you can miss some details. The information and structure presented however are fantastic, and it makes this one of the finest works on the American Civil War that’s been written.

Vicksburg!

Donald Miller has put together a great summation and story of Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign. Well written, well told. Lots of incredible details about this conflict. Well worth the time invested to read.

A superb account of the entire campaign

I disagree with the reviewer who thought there should have been more focus on the last few months before the surrender. The book recounts the entire campaign, putting in context the problems Grant faced and his various attempts (successful and unsuccessful) to solve them. The only flaw is that the author devotes a bit too much attention to the conflicting evidence about Grant’s drinking.

Be sure to download the PDF! It has a collection of excellent maps for the successive stages of the campaign. The maps are a great help in understanding how each part of the story fits into the overall picture.

Outstanding history

Not just the attempted storming of the city, but the whole story from the very first planning of the first campaign. Exceptionally well researched, informative and even handed history that is well presented.

A hometown kid learned a great deal.

I grew up in Vicksburg after being born in 1964. Chris many things that I learned a half an hour no really a fair differently. This is a great non-political history book.

Comprehensive Work on the Western Theatre

The author sites extensive research on the Western Theatre of the Civil War. From Fort Donaldson to Vicksburg, the author and narrator use riveting details of conquering the Mississippi River. Donald Miller doesn’t hold back on Grant’ mistakes and alcoholism, showing Grant was human, struggling to deny himself from addiction. Yes, Grant was driven and heroic, making mistakes along the way. Miller shows that Grant’s greatness was that he was relentless. Miller masterfully details the unforgiving nature of the Mississippi, the swamps, and the rawness of war. This a masterful work of history.

Understanding a Civil War campaign

I picked up the print edition of this book but was quickly overwhelmed by the length of the text. I decided to get the audiobook version to have someone tell me the story. I'm glad that I did because I've been able to dig into selective portions of the print edition to better understand the significance of specific parts of the campaign. This was important because I learned that I had Union ancestors that served in an Illinois regiment that was part of the ground action and service on the gunboats. I feel that I have a much more thorough understanding of this pivotal campaign. I highly recommend this book in either format.

Fantastic!

By far the most thorough analysis of the long and bloody approach to the taking of Vicksburg. A riveting narrative, with explanations of military and period-cultural terms and elements to allow lay readers a full understanding. The narration, like the writing and scholarship, is superb. A bravura performance all-round!

Good book for the uninitiated.

If you are unfamiliar with the Vicksburg story and Grant's role in the campaign, this is a good place to start but it is far from definative. The author, unlike others, spreads credit and blame around. Nobody escapes criticism or is overly praised. If Grant is your hero, prepare to have him tarnished. The narration could be better. The city in Alabama is alternately pronounced "Mobile" and "Mobil" casting doubt on pronunciations throughout. Footnotes are read as if part of the text, without explanation, causing confusion over whether all were read or just a select few. Do not let this be your only source on the Vicksburg campaign.

Objective history alert

Fantastic narration and explicit historical detail. The best narrative justice to the Mississippi River campaign, Cairo to New Orleans. Flaws and triumphs written with great care.