Under Siege!: Three Children at the Civil War Battle for Vicksburg

by Andrea Warren

Meet Lucy McRae and two other young people, Willie Lord and Frederick Grant, all survivors of the Civil War's Battle for Vicksburg. In 1863, Union troops intend to silence the cannons guarding the Mississippi River at Vicksburg – even if they have to take the city by siege. To hasten surrender, they are shelling Vicksburg night and day. Terrified townspeople, including Lucy and Willie, take shelter in caves – enduring heat, snakes, and near suffocation. On the Union side, twelve-year-old Frederick Grant has come to visit his father, General Ulysses S. Grant, only to find himself in the midst of battle, experiencing firsthand the horrors of war.

"Living in a cave under the ground for six weeks . . . I do not think a child could have passed through what I did and have forgotten it." – Lucy McRae, age 10, 1863

Period photographs, engravings, and maps extend this dramatic story as award-winning author Andrea Warren re-creates one of the most important Civil War battles through the eyes of ordinary townspeople, officers and enlisted men from both sides, and, above all, three brave children who were there.

Genres: Nonfiction, Civil War, Middle Grade, History, War, Historical, American History

176 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2009

Reviews

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic nonfiction book by Andrea Warren. I didn't realize how little I knew about the battle of Vicksburg until I read this book. It's one of the many battles that gets glossed over in textbooks, and is described in such a tediously boring way, that you wouldn't remember a thing anyway. Authors like Andrea Warren are trying to remedy that.

Vicksburg was a flourishing southern city on the Mississippi River at the start of the Civil War. Control of the Mississippi River was considered essential to winning the war and the Union Army would stop at nothing to get it. Vicksburg had the advantage over any army hoping to take the city from the river. After several attempts, General Grant decided they needed to come at the city from the land. He circled around to Jackson then pushed the Confederate Army back to Vicksburg. With General Sherman positioned on the river, Vicksburg was surrounded. For 47 days, the Union Army barraged the city with constant cannon fire. Families abandoned their mansions and dug makeshift homes into the hillside. Supplies and food were cut off and surrender was inevitable. Confederate General Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 4th, 1863, one day after the disastrous southern loss at Gettysburg.

Andrea Warren writes in a non-textbook way. She researches real people and lays out the events from their perspectives. She provides the details that textbooks leave out. I have now read three of her books, all excellent, and can say with certainty that you can't go wrong with any of her books.

[Children's Literature Centre at FSU · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting comparison of view points from the North's and South's experiences during the battle of Vicksburg, with an emphasis on 3 children's views from the different sides. Andrea does a great job at bringing the book to life, stating interesting, little known facts and making you wonder what comes next.

[Anthony Bracciante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, brief overview for young adult readers of the siege of Vicksburg as seen primarily through the eyes of three children that were present during the long campaign including Frederick Grant, the son of U.S. Grant, who turned 13 during the siege and was wounded in the leg by a Confederate sharpshooter. The book details the privations that the citizens of Vicksburg long endured and discusses the aftermath of the July 4th surrender including the fact that it wasn't until 84 years later in 1947 spurred by a visit from General Dwight Eisenhower that Independence Day was celebrated in Vicksburg for the first time since the Civil War.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good information about what life was like during Union army's siege of Vicksburg, the last stronghold of Confederates' on the Mississippi River. After reading, one can get an idea of how southerner's still have animosity towards Northerners. One tidbit that was noteworthy: Vicksburg did not celebrate the 4th of July for a long time afterwards.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written. clear accounts. good details even for kids on the seige and its after-effects. I like how it was written with perspectives of children and complemented with others accounts.

[Jackie Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

true story of civil war in Vicksburg. three different children during the war with their version of what they experienced and saw.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

We hope to take an October road trip down the Mississippi River stopping in Vicksburg, Natchez, and Baton Rouge. I thought it would be good to prepare for our visits by reading some books on the area and this one was perfect. It was an easy read, written for Young Adults, with photos--all good! It featured three children, two Confederate sympathizers who lived in Vicksburg through the 47 days of siege and then also Frederick Grant, son of US Grant, who stayed with his father in the Union camps. The book is based on their reminiscences written years later.

Warren certainly presents the horrors of war. She is pretty even handed about both sides. She mentions the slaves who want to be free but are loyal to their masters. She mentions the cruel and wasteful destruction of the Union troops--smashing good china, destroying books, burning crops--but also their giving food to the starving Vicksburg residents and defeated Rebel troops.

My picture of a gracious, antebellum city may be changed by the picture Warren presents but our visit will be enriched by my reading this book.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interesting, especially for a person who was born 74 miles from Vicksburg and has moved less than 40 miles away.

This story of the siege of Vicksburg, is told with particular attention to the points of view of three children: Lucy McRae, a girl from a wealthy Vicksburg, Willie Lord, the son of a minister in Vicksburg, and Fred Grant,the son of General Grant.

The siege itself lasted 47 days. During the time discussed by book, Fred is shot in a battle, Lucy is nearly buried alive by exploding ordnance, and Willie loses most of his possessions to looting. Those are not even the most important events of this book.

When the city was under siege, people sought shelter from the minie balls and shells by digging caves in the hillsides of the town. They spent hours at a time hiding in the caves listening to explosions overhead.

This is really much more of a general history of s siege than a set of character studies.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very, very fascinating book about the siege of Vicksburg during the Civil War. It's told by focusing on three children who were involved in one way or another in the siege. One is Lucy, who is ten, and who comes from a rather rich family. Another is Willie, who is eleven, and whose father is a minister. The last one is Frederick who is twelve and is Ulysses S. Grant's son.

The book tells what the civilians in the city had to do in order to survive, which was basically dig holes in hillsides or the ground and try to avoid the shells falling into the city. There were also major problems with food running out and injuries to soldiers and civilians.

The book goes into the build-up to the siege, how the various armies involved maneuvered around, the fortifications that that city had, and how one Southern general failed to come to the aid of the city.

There are also lots of extra information in the book.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written telling of the heart-wrenching siege of Vicksburg, focusing on three youngsters: two children in the besieged city and General Grant's son. Ms. Warren effectively portrays the hardships of war on both sides in an age appropriate way. She adds little details and asides from primary sources that really make the account come to life. The facts are all there, but they are couched in such an interesting narrative that you learn without realizing it, while truly feeling for all those who are suffering. Lots of photographs of the people and town of Vicksburg, too.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly fascinating look at the Battle for Vicksburg during the Civil War. Warren takes the lives of three children two in Vicksburg and Grant's son with the Union Army and shows how the siege affected them. Lots of interesting details about the battle and the siege and lots of photographs and illustrations. The story isn't just about the three children though; there are details about others who lived in Vicksburg. Lots of great information about this pivotal battle during the Civil War. I also loved all the back end stuff...what happened to the people in the book, details about the War, and lots of references. Well researched and written book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, and the views of the three children are fascinating. Particularly interesting to me were the records of Fred - 12-year-old Frederick Grant, the son of the famous General Ulysses S. Grant - who accompanied his father through the battles in Mississippi. Although the book title makes it sound like the book will only be about these three children, it actually includes accounts of adults as well, to round out the story. This is a brilliant book and I would highly recommend it to teachers and children interested in teaching or learning about the Civil War.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using primary sources and moving narrative, Warren tells the story of Vicksburg from December 1862 through July 1863. Three children's lives are highlighted, two children living in Vicksburg and Fred Grant, the son of the general, who is campaigning with his father. (It's different times when a 12 year-old boy is off fighting a most bloody war with Dad. Actually Grant's wife and the younger children were frequently there as well.) This is compelling nonfiction, easy to read, more a story than a textbook.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend Katie sent me this book and I'm mighty glad she did! I can't wait to use the information from this book in my class during my Civil War unit! I'll be adding this book to my Civil War text set (be proud Seaver) and I'm looking forward to using many chapters in my lessons. This was a wonderfully informative look at the Battle of Vicksburg.

[Kate MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells the story of Lucy McRae and Willie Lord, survivors of the battle for Vicksburg in 1863, that describes how they lived in caves and underground bunkers as Union artillery bombarded the town for six week; and also tells of young Frederick Grant, son of Ulysses S. Grant, who witnessed the carnage of that battle. IL 5-8 Lexile 1110

[Christine Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea Warren did a good job of presenting the war from the memories of three children who survived the siege of Vicksburg. When you visit the battlefield memorials at Vicksburg, the experience is both incredibly beautiful and peaceful. It's good to be reminded of the long suffering out of which that peace came.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one in order to review it. Middle School level. Fascinating all the same. Did we know that General Grant allowed his 12-year-old son to travel with him? At the urging of his wife. Amazing what that kid witnessed and experienced. Period photographs accompany the text.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big history nerd and I love a good non-fiction book. This included the stories of three kids that were there during the siege. Andrea Warren gave a great talk at my library and knowing how much research and time she put into the book made it even more fun and interesting to read.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It helped me understand the Vicksburg Campaign and I was so inspired by all the vignettes, comments, and anecdotes of the people involved from both sides. It helped me give an interesting lecture to my Civil War class. How amazing is that?!

[Judy Desetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told story of Vicksburg as the most important battle of the Civil war. Paired nicely with My Last Skirt by Lynda Durrant. Lots of information. Tells from the point of view of three different children and their real life recollections.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I learned a lot about this battle, the town and the people living in Vicksburg during the Civil War. I seriously don't think I've ever understood the importance concerning this battle until reading this book.

[Gina Pecoraro]

Book Links 2009 "Lasting Connections"

[Sandybear76]

nice viewpoints of the Battle of Vicksburg. I can't imagine living in caves for days with near constant shelling.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I learned a lot reading this non-fiction book I found in the children's section! I found it to be a very interesting read.

[Christine Jensen]

RLL 595: Book Links 2009 "Lasting Connections" Title
Social Studies
Gr. 5-8

[Shayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to read it for an assignment.

[Andy Starowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a passion for American history, this book was dropped into my lap by a fellow teacher and I read it immediately. I was more interested in reading it because the author wrote one of my favorite non-fiction historical texts about the Holocaust called Surviving Hitler. Ms. Warren has a way for writing to a juvenile audience.

Although Under Siege is very well written, I do believe that Surviving Hitler, which is read and enjoyed by almost all sixth grade students, is written for a broader audience. Under Siege would be enjoyed by the student that is looking to read specifically about the Civil War and/or war history. The maps, pictures, and stories of the three children in Vicksburg are organized in a manner that make this a page turner for a young history buff.