Union Army doctrine: The role of the artillery during the campaign for Vicksburg

The campaign to take control of Vicksburg was a long and difficult challenge for the Union Army during the Civil War. Vicksburg eventually fell to Union forces under the tactics employed by Major General Ulysses S. Grant in 1863. Historians of the campaign agree that the Union artillery played a key role in their victory at Champion Hill, prior to the siege of Vicksburg. However, the histories of these units have not been analyzed in detail. This research concludes that the Union Army achieved success by working under a common doctrine throughout this campaign. It analyzes various instructional manuals written for the army in the mid-nineteenth century, including manuals written specifically for the artillery. According to the evidence presented by the events of the battle, the Union artillery followed proper doctrine and were able to operate under a flexible command. This meant that the artillery were responsible for making critical decisions without the approval of their commanding officer. This research proves that the artillery played a much larger role in this victory than is currently published.