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In the winter of 1862-1863, Grant proposed to capture Vicksburg. At first, Grant tried to take Vicksburg from above, with naval support from Captain David. D. Porter. But the ground north of Vicksburg was low and marshy, and the army couldn't move. Grant's army tried several times to approach the city. Engineers even tried to dig a canal to divert the waters of the Mississippi so that the forces moving down the river could sidestep the city.
In April 1863, Grant tried a new plan. Union gunboats and supply ships slipped past the Confederate batteries in the middle of the night, and established a base on the river below the city. The army then marched down the west side of the river and crossed over by ship to the eastern side. Grant and his troops reached dry ground below the city. In a campaign, he scattered Confederate troops in the field and drove toward Vicksburg. After many direct attacks failed, Grant started to blockade the city in mid-May. The Confederate garrison held out for six weeks. People hid in caves during the constant bombardment, and ate mule meat. Vicksburg finally surrendered on July 4.
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