I just finished Vicksburg: Grant’s Campaign that Broke the Confederacy by Donald L. Miller. Miller argues convincingly that Vicksburg was a more important victory than Gettysburg, though he doesn’t do a real comparison. I came up with some thoughts as to why Gettysburg is the battle everyone knows about and Vicksburg has been nearly forgotten.
Why was/is Gettysburg more celebrated than Vicksburg, despite Vicksburg being the more significant/important victory?
A East vs. West
More “important” civilian populations were affected by Gettysburg.
B North vs. South
Gettysburg was the only significant battle fought in the north (Winners) and brought the war more immediately to the northern civilians. (Who cares about the losers getting torn up?)
C Lee vs. Grant – Can you say “élan”?
- Lee was dashing and loved by his men. (Sexy!)
- Grant was seemingly unimaginative and workmanlike. (Dull.)
- Lee became a traitor to support his home state’s rebellion. (Sexy!)
- Grant remained loyal to his oath and did his job because it was his job and needed doing. (Dull.)
D Lee vs. Grant – Success vs. failure.
- Until Gettysburg, Lee rode a nearly unbroken string of successes.
- Until Vicksburg, Grant’s successes were unheralded and uninteresting.
- Gettysburg was the “high water mark” of the confederacy, the battle that marked the beginning of the end of the rebellion.
- While Vicksburg was among the low points of the confederacy, it was just one of the many victories necessary for the ultimate victory of the Union.
E Abraham Lincoln – The Gettysburg Address
I don’t know enough about the cost in gold or lives to compare the two, but neither would seem sufficient reason for Gettysburg to be more celebrated than Vicksburg.
nomadmu 