I Feel Sad but Not Discouraged

The Federals concluded from the attack of May 22 that it had been a mistake. They were more than ready to accept the time and labor involved in conducting siege approaches. Some of them were bitter over what they considered the useless sacrifice of life but few of Grant’s men were despondent. They knew they could take Vicksburg by siege and retained their respect for and confidence in Grant. Few blamed him for the losses of May 22. For the Confederates, the successful defence of Vicksburg on May 19 and 22 greatly repaired their shattered morale. They felt capable of withstanding a siege long enough to allow Joseph E. Johnston to assemble a relief force and rescue them. Reports of the repulse spread rapidly, with exaggerated estimates of Federal losses filtering through the Confederacy. In the North, exaggerated reports of success in the attacks were succeeded by more sober and realistic reports of their repulse. Grant’s troubled relationship with Thirteenth Corps commander John A. McClernand suffered irreparable harm because of the latter’s unreliable report of success on May 22, which led Grant to authorize further attacks. It would not be long before Grant acted to remove McClernand from the army.