Confederate President Jefferson Davis was under heavy political pressure to come to the aid of the besieged Pemberton and his 40,000 troops, bottled up in Vicksburg by Grant's 60,000 troops.
Den konfødererede præsident Jefferson Davis var under kraftigt politisk pres for at sende hjælp til den belejrede Pemberton og hans 40.000 tropper, som var indesluttet i Vicksburg af Grants 60.000 tropper.