>> attack the yankees and crush them for good. >> who will follow me?! [ indistinct shouting ] >> but the west, it's a different story, thanks to the anaconda plan, as well as the emergence of the man who will on to be the greatest civil war general, ulysses s. grant. >> the union now controls most of the mississippi river valley, but the city of vicksburg is the last confederate holdout. a vital river port and railroad hub, vicksburg connects the eastern confederate states with crucial supplies from louisiana, arkansas, and texas. >> whoever controls vicksburg controls the mississippi. the fall of vicksburg would be the fall of vicksburg would be the beginning of the end of the south even if lee wins in gettysburg. >> on three! one, two, heave! >> previous union attempts to assault the heavily fortified city have ended in failure.