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Birth
On this day, John C. Pemberton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the second child to John Pemberton and Rebecca Clifford. -
Military Acadamy
In 1833 (age 19), Pemberton entered the United States Military Academy at West Point -
Graduation
Standing 27th out of 50 cadets, Pemberton was commisioned a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery Regiment. -
Mexican War
From 1845 to 1846, Pemberton and the 4th Artillery were part of the U.S. Military Occupation of Texas. Thy were then sent to Mexico at the start of the Mexican-American War. He fought at the Battle of Palo Alto and at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma the next day. -
Enlistment to the Civil War
Pemberton chose to resign his commission and join the Confederate cause. His decision was due to the influence of his Virginia-born wife and many years of service in the southern states before the war. He was the lieutenant colonel of the Confederate army. He then became the brigadier general within a year -
Start of the Vicksburg Campaign
Pemberton, now a lieutenant general, was given just less than 50,000 men when he was assigned the position to defend Vicksburg. Pemberton and his Army of Mississippi went east to combine with ally forces gathering around Jackson, while remaining in contact and covering Vicksburg. An order from a higher in command changing their proposed meeting location caused Pemberton to turn around, and when he did he ran into Grant's army at the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16 and suffered a major defeat. -
The Retreat to Vicksburg
Pemberton retreated to the Big Black River, where he fought and suffered even more heavy losses. Pemberton resolved to defend Vicksburg and led his defeated men back into its defenses. Although advised by Johnston to escape with his army, sacrificing the city, Pemberton was stubborn and stayed for over six weeks, while soldiers and civilians were starved into submission. -
Pemberton Surrenders
When he could hold out no longer, Pemberton surrendered 2,166 officers and 27,230 men, 172 cannon, and almost 60,000 muskets and rifles to Grant. This, combined with the Siege of Port Hudson, gave the Union complete control over the Mississippi River. -
Returned Home
Pemberton was exchanged as a prisoner on October 13, 1863, and he returned to Richmond where he was not assigned an assignment for nearly eight months. -
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After the War
After the war, Pemberton lived on his farm near Warrenton, Virginia, from 1866 to 1876, and then returned to his true home, Pennsylvania. -
Death
He died in Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, five years later. He was burried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
