When Grant was given the assignment to capture Vicksburg, he started with a normal assault of the fortified city but realized that it was too well defended. Instead, he came up with a plan that showed he had the ability to strategize as well as anyone in the war. He split up his army while in enemy territory and sent Sherman to attack Vicksburg, but really just keep them busy. He sent his cavalry under Benjamin Grierson south to make a lot of noise and try to convince the South that he was retreating down to New Orleans. Finally, himself and of the bulk of his army swung east and took out Johnson’s Army at Jackson and them came back and laid siege to Vicksburg.
Historically Speaking 