Union soldier’s view of Confederate Fort Garrott

VICKSBURG BATTLEFIELD TOUR STOP 15: HOVEY’S APPROACH

The Hovey’s Approach stop on the Vicksburg National Military Park tour is the Union counterpoint to the Confederate’s Fort Garrott, the previous stop on the tour. At Fort Garrott you were able to look out at the Union lines. Well, here is what you were looking at, and you now have the Union’s point-of-view. The eroded terrain in between makes it seem like the two armies were on opposite sides of a canyon.

This section of the Union line was commanded by General Alvin Hovey. Hovey arrived too late to participate in the May 22, 1863, attack on Confederate positions, so his time during the siege was spent digging trenches towards Fort Garrott. At the time of the Confederate surrender, the trenches were within 50 feet of the fort. Markers on the field denote Union trench positions.