Confederate General John Pemberton remains one of the most controversial figures in Confederate history. A Pennsylvania-born West Point graduate, he chose to side with the South—the home of his wife—despite having two brothers who fought for the Union. Pemberton’s legacy is defined by his 1863 defense of Vicksburg, the "Gibraltar of the Confederacy". As commander of the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, he was tasked by Jefferson Davis with holding the city at all costs to protect the Mississippi River. However, after a series of defeats at Champion Hill and Big Black River Bridge, he was besieged by Ulysses S. Grant. After 47 days of starvation and shelling, Pemberton surrendered on July 4, 1863, effectively splitting the Confederacy. Back marked C.D. Fredricks & Co., New York.