High ranking Confederate generals were clearly aware of thepropaganda value for the Union on the capture of Vicksburg. So didPresident Jefferson Davis, however, Davis wanted to save Vicksburg.General Robert E. Lee valued the city primarily because Vicksburgprevented the Union from having uninterrupted lanes of commerce onthe Mississippi River. Lee, however, did not want to weaken his ownarmy's strength in the East. General Longstreet believed that aslong as the Rebels could hold other positions on the banks of theMississippi, Vicksburg was expendable. As for General Johnson, hevalued Middle Tennessee much more than Vicksburg and Beauregardseemed to pay little attention to Vicksburg.Looking back, thelevels of commerce from northern states using the Mississippi Riverindicated that the amount of their trade in 1860, was less afterthe fall of Vicksburg in 1863.With all that said, it's clear that the propaganda value for theUnion was a huge plus, but it did not change the course of theoutcome of the war. Defending Rebels who surrendered at Vicksburgwere paroled by Major General US Grant.