Under Siege!
Three Children at the Civil War Battle for Vicksburg
From the beginning of the Civil War, the Union vowed to take control of the stretch of the Mississippi River that flowed through major Confederate states. This would allow their armies to use the river to invade the South.
Standing in the way was Vicksburg, Mississippi, a small city perched high on steep bluffs above the river. Cannons lined the heights to prevent the passage of Northern ships. General Ulysses Grant was sent to silence them. His army surrounded the city, beginning a siege that would last 47 days.
Inside Vicksburg were not only soldiers, civilians, and slaves, but also a thousand children and their families. With shells screaming overhead, townspeople dug caves into the hillsides, and everyone crowded into them for safety, regardless of race or social status. Food grew scarce, hospitals filled, and fear was everyone’s constant companion.
My book unfolds through the eyes of three young eyewitnesses. Lucy, 10, and Willie, 11, lived in Vicksburg with their families and faced hunger and terror. Grant’s son Frederick, 12, was with him during the siege and Frederick not only saw the harsh cost of war firsthand but was also seriously wounded in battle.
When Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863, the Union at last controlled the river, helping to ensure that the North would win the Civil War. Lucy, Willie, and Frederick’s stories help us understand what it was like to be a child caught up in that terrible time and place.
Reviews
“Vivid, informative history.”
-- Booklist, starred review
“Excellent use of primary-source documents, maps, diagrams, and period reproductions adds depth and interest to what is almost a day-by-day recounting of this crucial siege. This volume is not only an excellent source for reports but is riveting historical reading as well.”
“This powerful book will leave lasting lessons and impressions.”
-- Rutgers University Project on Economics & Children
Awards
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Junior Literary Guild Selection
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ALA Notable Book
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Starred review, Kirkus
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Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Finalist Award
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Kansas Notable Book
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Winner! Best Book, General Nonfiction, The American Society of Journalists & Authors
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International Reading Association Teachers Choice Award
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Society of School Librarians International, Best Book, Social Studies