The significance of the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg
...arved them out. The Southern troops resorted to making their own coffee, using potato rinds and chicory. They ate worms and corn meal. They chopped down trees and burned furniture for warmth. The Northern troops, who had supply line access through the River, had it a little better; they made hard liquor from a variety of ingredients, including turpentine. It was truly a waiting game on the part of the North. 3,500 Confederate troops surrendered because of the cruelty of the battle. The battle ended on July 4th, but that day would not be celebrated for another 80+ years. While all this was going on in Mississippi, more Confederate troops were marching north, hoping to not only reach Washington DC, but in hopes to force Grant’s troops out of Vicksburg to defend DC. The Southern troops heard there was a surplus of shoes in Gettysburg and headed there. Upon arrival, they met up with the Union cavalry and ran them out of town. This was a terrible move on the part of the South. The Northern troops were able to take great position on Little Round Top. Little Round Top was a strategic position that allowed troops to defend it against forces that were 10 times their troop size. Cemetery Ridge was Lee’s final assault. His troop leaders were not unified in their support of his decisions. Long street failed to comply with orders to position his troops to assist Pickett’s. Of ...