Staff Ride Handbook for The Vicksburg Campaign, December 1862-July 1863

The Vicksburg campaign of 1862-63 is an effective vehicle for a
Staff Ride. It raises a variety of teaching points, at both the operational
and tactical levels, that are relevant to today's officers. Several
different types of combat occurred in the course of the campaign. In
addition, the campaign featured prominent participation by the Navy,
thus raising a joint dimension. It also offers examples of combat
support and combat service support activities, most notably military
engineering and logistics.
The Staff Ride Handbook for the Vicksburg Campaign, December
1862-July 1863, provides a systematic approach to the analysis of this
key Civil War campaign. Part I describes the organization of the Union
and Confederate Armies, detailing their weapons, tactics, and
logistical, engineer, communications, and medical support. It also
includes a description of the U.S. Navy elements that featured so
prominently in the campaign.
Part II consists of a campaign overview that establishes the context
for the individual actions to be studied in the field.
Part III consists of a suggested itinerary of sites to visit in order to
obtain a concrete view of the campaign in its several phases. For each
site, or "stand," there is a set of travel directions, a discussion of the
action that occurred there, and vignettes by participants in the
campaign that further explain the action and which also allow the
student to sense the human "face of battle."
Part IV provides practical information on conducting a Staff Ride in
the Vicksburg area, including sources of assistance and logistical
considerations. Appendix A outlines the order of battle for the
significant actions in the campaign. Appendix B provides biographical
sketches of key participants. Appendix C provides an overview of
Medal of Honor conferral in the campaign. An annotated bibliography
suggests sources for preliminary study.