Joint Operations at Vicksburg: The Decisive Force

Abstract

The joint operations employed in the Civil War provide valuable lessons to all military leaders involved in planning and executing future campaigns. This paper analyzes the extent and results of the joint operations developed and implemented by the Union leadership during the Civil War and, in particular, their use at Vicksburg. Union forces successfully captured the city of Vicksburg in 1863. The mutual support the Union Army and Navy gave one another as well as the cooperation cultivated by the senior commanders in theatre played a vital role in this victory. While acknowledging there are a multitude of reasons for operational success, the most critical of these factors are: leadership, communications, synergy, balance, agility and coordination. Forces employing these rudiments can be confident in their ability to conduct successful joint operations. Although the joint operations conducted at Vicksburg do not look like those of today, the key defining principles were clearly present.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 12, 2002
Accession Number
ADA404871

Entities

People

  • Charles A. Hazard

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ammunition
  • Amphibious Operations
  • Civil War
  • Command And Control
  • Fire Support
  • Force Protection
  • Logistics
  • Maneuvers
  • Marine Corps
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Mississippi River
  • New York
  • Situational Awareness
  • Teamwork
  • Transportation
  • United States

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design