For months Grant shot at the city, forcing residents into sellars and caves. Finally it came crumbling down on July 4th. Troops under Grant made the confederate surrender Vicksburg, a key point on the Mississippi (O'Connell 34). The capture of a Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, silenced cristism to his name for a little while (Simon 195). Grant capturing Vicksburg had several vital consequences. It eliminated the entire Confederate army and opened up the whole mississippi, would to the unions control. Grants success was rewarded with a promotion to major general of the regular army. ( McPherson