Vicksburg

     A major Union victory that took place in the west, thanks to General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union. For the longest time, he had been attempting to position his forces appropriately enough to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi, a Confederate stronghold that was so conveniently located so that it was nearly inaccessible, as it stood between the North and controlled the Mississippi River.
     Fortunately, in March of 1863 Grant crossed to the west bank north of the city and positioned his forces south of it, whereupon he then joined up with naval forces that ran the Confederate's heavily fortified guns located atop their giant walls. Grant then acted most boldly in crossing the river (causing him to be cut off from his resources and supplies), and marching into the heart of the Mississippi. Living off only the fat of the land, he and his men won a series of victories over two Confederate armies and fell upon Vicksburg from the east. However, after multiple failed attempts at penetrating the city's defenses, Grant contented himself with simply holding Vicksburg at siege (May 22).