The Siege of Vicksburg

Timothy B. Smith teaches history at the University of Tennessee at Martin. His many books include, most recently, The Union Assaults at Vicksburg: Grant Attacks Pemberton, May 17-22, 1863; Grant Invades Tennessee: The 1862 Battles for Forts Henry and Donelson; Corinth 1862: Siege, Battle, Occupation; and Shiloh: Conquer or Perish, all published by Kansas.

"With this volume on the siege itself, [Smith] cements his dominance over this significant slice of Civil War history."--Parameters "Those with an interest in Civil War military history will find the book easy to read and hard to put down. It is also hard to imagine that a more thorough and insightful account of the Vicksburg siege will emerge for a generation at least."--Journal of Southern History "In his engrossing new study of the Siege of Vicksburg, Timothy Smith offers a fascinating overview of how U.S. Grant, his generals, and his soldiers, captured the Gibraltar of the Confederacy."--Michigan War Studies Review "Smith describes the strategic and tactical complexity of the siege, but just as importantly, he devotes considerable attention and detail tot he plight of the common soldier and the suffering and deprivations of Vicksburg's citizens. . . . An important book and it contributes significantly to the body of Civil War scholarship."--Civil War Book Review "Specific operations and events, from those of the Federal Navy to the detonation of a great bomb, the attempted relief of the town by Confederate General Joseph Johnston, negotiations for the final surrender, and other events occasionally addressed in stand-alone books or periodical articles, are insightfully reviewed here. Highly recommended."--Choice "Well illustrated and with many excellent maps, The Siege of Vicksburg is a thorough account that explains how the Union gained Vicksburg and split the Confederacy in two. Rooted in excellent research, with many first hand accounts, this is detailed, engaging, very readable, and is highly recommended."--New York Military Affairs Symposium Review "Will unquestionably come to be regarded as the standard history of the concluding phase of the campaign."--Civil War Books and Authors "Following up on his highly acclaimed work on the May 19 and 22, 1863, Union assaults on Vicksburg, author Timothy B. Smith continues his tour de force of the Vicksburg campaign with The Siege of Vicksburg: Climax of the Campaign to Open the Mississippi River, May 23-July 4, 1863. Smith again demonstrates his mastery of what has been termed 'the most decisive campaign ever waged on American soil.' His talented pen details the siege with intimacy and clarity, and he chronicles the complex operations through the personal experiences of the men in blue and gray in a manner that is sure to captivate the reader. His work is smooth, comprehensive, insightful, and written with a passion that makes it a delight to read. This is the one-volume work on the siege of Vicksburg that will appeal to readers across the spectrum from novice to expert on the campaign."--Terrence J. Winschel, historian (ret.), Vicksburg National Military Park