Vicksburg: The Campaign That Opened the Mississippi (Civil War America)

Rating:
Summary: an informative account of the vicksburg campaign
Review: Ballard has written an informative account of the Vicksburg campaign and believes that the Union won through superior generalship and naval power. According to Ballard Grant and his subordinates acted as a team while the Confederate side was hindered by constant infighting between Johnston and Pemberton. Moreover,Pemberton was unable to react to Grant's moves, but Grant was looking for new innovative moves to distract and outflank the Confederates. Naval power also played a key role in helping Grant transport troops and block reinforcements from entering Vicksburg. The only drawback to this book is that Ballard doesn't mention new research by Terrence Winschel,Timothy Smith, and others in his book. Otherwise this book is destined to be a classic account of the Vicksburg campaign.