Page:A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Confederacy, Including the Diplomatic Correspondence, 1861-1865, Volume I.djvu/668

 636 Messages and Papers of the Confederacy. Veto, Pocket, bill to provide and or- ganize general staff for armies, 457- Vice President, Confederate States. (See Stephens, Alexander H.) Vicksburg, Miss.: Capitulation of, referred to, 345. Expedition to, repulsed referred to, 276. Siege of, referred to, 386. Vicksburg, Miss., Siege and Capture of. Vicksburg- is on the Mississippi River, and is the largest city in Mississippi. It was of great strategic importance in the early part of the war. It was held by the Confederates, under Gen. Johnston, Dec. 28, 29, 1S62, when it was attacked by the Federals, under Generals Grant and Sherman. They were unsuccessful May iS, 1S63, and the city was invested by Federals, 30,000, under Gen. Grant. The city was garrisoned by Confederates, about 24,000, under Gen. Pemberton. After the siege began, Gen. Grant was reSnforced until his forces amounted to about 70,000. May 22, the Federals as- saulted the Confederate lines, and were re- pulsed with a loss of over 3,000. Failing to capture the city by assault, the siege was continued until July 4, when the en- tire garrison, not being able to obtain sup- plies, surrendered. Federal loss from May 1 to July 4, killed, 1,500, wounded and missing, 9,400. Virginia: Admission of, into Confederacy re- ferred to, 77, 117. Confederate Constitution adopted by, 117. Conscript law in, enforcement of, referred to, 387. Conspiracy in, discussed and rec- ommendations regarding, 498. Impressment of slaves in, referred to, 501. Legislative action of, referred to, 347- Martial law in counties of, pro- claimed, and orders regarding, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 226. Military operations in, 448, 483. Virginia (Continued): Secession of, discussed, 77, 117. Treaty with Confederate States, 82 Commission for negotiating, 62. Referred to, 77. Discussed, 77. Proclaimed, 102. Troops of, resolutions of thanks ten- dered, 426, 427, 428, 429, 432. Virginia, The: (See also Hampton Roads, Battle of.) Engagement with the Monitor dis- cussed, 197, 210. Plans and construction of, referred to, 207. Volunteer Navy, act establishing, re- ferred to, 319, 378. Votes of Thanks. (See Resolutions of Thanks.) w Walker, L. P., Secretary of War, mentioned, 96. Walker, Richard W., mentioned, 29. War between the States. A four years' war, 1S61-1S65, between the United States and the Southern States which seceded from the Union in Decem- ber, i860, and the early months of 1S61, and formed a government which they called the Confederate States of America. It is also called the Civil War and the War of the Rebellion. The one leading cause of the war was slavery, the imme- diate cause being the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency by the anti- slavery party in the United States, in No- vember, 1S60. His election was effected solely by votes from the Northern States of the Union and by those who were hos- tile to slavery. The Southern States, be- lieving that the institution of slavery was in danger, began to secede or withdraw from the Union, it States in rapid suc- cession passed ordinances of secession. South Carolina was the first to take this action, Dec. So, 1S60, and Tennessee the last of the 11, June 8, 1861. The United States Government strenuously resisted the right of a State to secede. The result was the war, the first engagement occur- ring at Fort Sumter, S. C, Apr. 12, 1861, when the United States attempt- ed to send supplies, etc., to the gar-