Video Review: Great Campaigns of the American Civil War: Thunder On the Mississippi: Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, April-July, 1863 from Multi-Man Publishing

Thunder On the Mississippi is the latest volume in the Great Campaigns of the American Civil War Series and depicts Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s 1863 campaign to capture Vicksburg. The game is designed by Joe Balkoski (the original GCACW Series creator) and Chris Withers. The game map will adhere to the accuracy and high graphic standards of its predecessors, with map design executed by artist Charlie Kibler—whose work on the series dates to its creation in 1992. Two new terrain features unique to the Vicksburg region are also introduced: loess hills and coastal bluffs. The Advanced Game rules cover situations specifically applicable to this unique campaign starting with an amphibious invasion, followed by sweeping cross-country movement ending in siege warfare.

Thunder On the Mississippi has 11 Basic Game scenarios and one Advanced Game campaign, ranging from 1-turn learning scenarios to the full 70-turn campaign game.

-Grant

Hello Alexander,

I just bought this, in conjunction with the book “The Beleaguered City: the Vicksburg Campaign,” a standalone Modern Library book, excerpted (at 350 pages) from Shelby Foote’s “The Civil War: A Narrative.” They also did a one volume “Stars in their Courses,” about the Gettysburg Campaign.

I read, years ago, the whole three volume trilogy, but don’t think I ever came away with a clear understanding of the campaigns and battles. Also, reading it ultimately became a chore. Perhaps, akin, to Grant’s experience of aspects of the GCACW game mechanics!

I am commenting; however, as I would like to recommend to you two other books that I’m reading now: “Lee’s Lieutenants” by Douglas Southall Freeman, also in three volumes, but in my opinion, older, but better researched and written, albeit with an at times uncommon diction e.g. “Little food the men found and no camps except sodden fields by the roadside, but rest of a sort the vanguard had during the late morning.” which I must say I enjoy and prevents monotony in the prose.

If you want a much deeper, cogent, and for me pleasurable, exposition of how and why the campaigns, in Virginia at least, played out as they did; and an unsurpassed examination of the problems of (high) command, I can’t recommend these enough. (The Scribners hardcover edition, is readily available secondhand, but all these books are still in print). Freeman also, wrote a three-volume biography of Lee that I intend to read also; and these books came out of that labor.

The other book recommendation, which was the actual impetus for me to buy this game, is the “Army’s Navy Series, Volume II, Assault and Logistics: Union Army Coastal and River Operations 1861-1866.” I don’t even remember how this book came into my hands, but I finally started reading it, and find it to be surprisingly interesting, lively and clear. It throws a light on an almost wholly neglected aspect of the war, and it’s making much of the rest of the war coherent in my mind, from this new perspective. Unfortunately, a book not as easy to find as the others.

Grant,

Don’t doubt, because you disagreed with Alexander that this review wasn’t useful. Aside from your specific criticisms, which are very helpful, just seeing you (strongly disagree) but continuing the conversation open mindedly with a friend is great. I admit to being a little put-off, by the rules, but I am going to give it a try, and Shelby Foote a second try too!

Thanks William

P.S. Aren’t the AH titles of the GCACW available for much less?

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One thought on “Video Review: Great Campaigns of the American Civil War: Thunder On the Mississippi: Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, April-July, 1863 from Multi-Man Publishing”

William says:

August 11, 2025 at 10:26 am

Hello Alexander,

I just bought this, in conjunction with the book “The Beleaguered City: the Vicksburg Campaign,” a standalone Modern Library book, excerpted (at 350 pages) from Shelby Foote’s “The Civil War: A Narrative.” They also did a one volume “Stars in their Courses,” about the Gettysburg Campaign.

I read, years ago, the whole three volume trilogy, but don’t think I ever came away with a clear understanding of the campaigns and battles. Also, reading it ultimately became a chore. Perhaps, akin, to Grant’s experience of aspects of the GCACW game mechanics!

I am commenting; however, as I would like to recommend to you two other books that I’m reading now: “Lee’s Lieutenants” by Douglas Southall Freeman, also in three volumes, but in my opinion, older, but better researched and written, albeit with an at times uncommon diction e.g. “Little food the men found and no camps except sodden fields by the roadside, but rest of a sort the vanguard had during the late morning.” which I must say I enjoy and prevents monotony in the prose.

If you want a much deeper, cogent, and for me pleasurable, exposition of how and why the campaigns, in Virginia at least, played out as they did; and an unsurpassed examination of the problems of (high) command, I can’t recommend these enough. (The Scribners hardcover edition, is readily available secondhand, but all these books are still in print). Freeman also, wrote a three-volume biography of Lee that I intend to read also; and these books came out of that labor.

The other book recommendation, which was the actual impetus for me to buy this game, is the “Army’s Navy Series, Volume II, Assault and Logistics: Union Army Coastal and River Operations 1861-1866.” I don’t even remember how this book came into my hands, but I finally started reading it, and find it to be surprisingly interesting, lively and clear. It throws a light on an almost wholly neglected aspect of the war, and it’s making much of the rest of the war coherent in my mind, from this new perspective. Unfortunately, a book not as easy to find as the others.

Grant,

Don’t doubt, because you disagreed with Alexander that this review wasn’t useful. Aside from your specific criticisms, which are very helpful, just seeing you (strongly disagree) but continuing the conversation open mindedly with a friend is great. I admit to being a little put-off, by the rules, but I am going to give it a try, and Shelby Foote a second try too!

Thanks William

P.S. Aren’t the AH titles of the GCACW available for much less?

LikeLike