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![<b>He surrendered Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 4, 1863, to General Ulysses S. Grant!</b>
(1814-81) He graduated in the West Point class of 1837, and was commissioned an officer in the 4th U.S. Artillery. His roommate and closest friend at the Military Academy was future Union General George G. Meade, who defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg, July 1,2,3, 1863.
During Pemberton's antebellum military career he served in the 2nd Seminole War in Florida, and aided in the campaigns against the Cherokees in the west before serving under General Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War where he earned two brevets for gallantry; at Monterey, and Molino del Rey.
A native of Pennsylvania, he married a Norfolk, Virginia gal, Martha Thompson, which resulted in his resignation from the U.S. Army, on April 24, 1861.
Soon afterwards he was commissioned a brigadier general in the Confederate Army, and appointed commander of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. He was promoted to major general to rank from January 14, 1862, and lieutenant general to rank from October 10, 1862. He was then assigned to command the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana, an area which included the extremely important Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, which he was ordered to hold at all costs. Pemberton diligently expended a great deal of energy in revamping the city's defenses, as well as improving the defenses along the Mississippi River, but in spite of these laborious efforts, and after his troops put up a very stubborn defense of the city, his efforts ultimately were unsuccessful. After two failed attempts by General Grant's army to take the city by direct assault which demonstrated the strength of Vicksburg's defenses, Grant decided to lay siege to the city which lasted for 46 days with a steady Federal bombardment forcing the citizens and soldiers to dig caves to live in. Completely surrounded, Pemberton's army now totally lacked supplies, and starvation eventually took a heavy toll forcing him to surrender the garrison with 2,166 officers, 27,230 men, 172 cannon, and almost 60,000 muskets and rifles.
He surrendered on Independence Day, July 4, 1863, to his old army acquaintance, General U.S. Grant, whom he had served with in the Mexican War. When the two commanders met on the Jackson Road on the afternoon of July 3rd, to discuss the surrender terms, Grant remembered his old comrade with a warm greeting. Grant, ever the conciliator, out of respect for the Vicksburg defenders who had fought so long and valiantly, allowed them to march out of their defenses and stack their arms and regimental colors in a formal ceremony. The Northern troops looked on with admiration at their defeated Southern foes, and there was no exulting or cheering heard from the Union lines, but instead there was an almost reverential silence that hung over the battlefield. General Grant would not have had it any other way! After the surrender of Vicksburg, the city refused to celebrate Independence Day, July 4th, for 81 years!
General Pemberton's Confederate military reputation never fully recovered after the surrender of Vicksburg. Fairly, or unfairly, the blame for the loss of Vicksburg was laid at his feet. What also must be considered though is the part played by Pemberton's superior, General Joseph E. Johnston, who reassigned General Pemberton's cavalry forces to the Army of Tennessee in May 1863. Thus, during a crucial phase of the campaign, Pemberton's Vicksburg's defenders were deprived of their cavalry's eyes and ears, and vital intelligence about the whereabouts of General Grant's army was not forthcoming. Poor communications, and a lack of coordination with General Johnston, also contributed, and despite the constant pleas to Johnston for aid, Pemberton was left completely isolated in a hopeless situation.
Pemberton finished out the Civil War serving as commander of the Confederate Artillery that defended Richmond, Virginia.
<u>War Period Signature With Closing and Rank</u>: 4 3/4 x 1 1/2, I am very respty., Yr. obd. svt., J.C. Pemberton, Maj. Genl., C.[ommanding]. Excellent bold signature on blue paper circa 1862. Very desirable Confederate autograph that is essential for any Vicksburg collection, and one I haven't had for quite some time!](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/auto5072a.jpg){kind=small}
