Vicksburg is a city in the state of Mississippi, in the southern United States. It sits high on a bluff above the Mississippi River, and that position is the whole reason anyone outside America knows the name.

Vicksburg is維克斯堡是 a city in the state of Mississippi密西西比州的一座城市, in the southern United States位於美國南部. It sits high on a bluff above the Mississippi River它座落在密西西比河上方的高地上, and that position is the whole reason anyone outside America knows the name而這個位置就是美國以外的人會知道這個地名的全部原因

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), whoever held Vicksburg controlled river traffic. The South held it, and its guns on the high ground could stop any Northern boat going past. So the Union army under General Grant spent months trying to take it. In the end they surrounded the city and cut off food, and the people inside dug caves in the hillside to hide from the shells.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865)在美國南北戰爭期間（1861-1865）, whoever held Vicksburg控制維克斯堡的一方 controlled river traffic就能控制河運. The South held it南方守住了這座城市, and its guns on the high ground而它在高地上的大砲 could stop any Northern boat going past可以阻擋任何經過的北方船隻. So the Union army under General Grant所以格蘭特將軍率領的聯邦軍隊 spent months trying to take it花了好幾個月想要拿下它. In the end they surrounded the city and cut off food最後他們包圍了這座城市並且切斷糧食供應, and the people inside dug caves in the hillside to hide from the shells城裡的人則在山坡上挖洞躲避砲彈

The city gave up on 4 July 1863 — the same week as the battle at Gettysburg. After that the North controlled the whole river, and the South was cut in two. Historians often call it a turning point of the war.

The city gave up on 4 July 1863這座城市在1863年7月4日投降 — the same week as the battle at Gettysburg跟蓋茨堡之役同一週. After that the North controlled the whole river之後北方就控制了整條密西西比河, and the South was cut in two而南方則被切成兩半. Historians often call it a turning point of the war歷史學家常說這是這場戰爭的轉捩點

So in English, "Vicksburg" in a sentence is usually shorthand for that siege, not for the modern city. "After Vicksburg, the war changed" means after the battle.

So in English所以在英文裡, "Vicksburg" in a sentence is usually shorthand for that siege句子裡的「Vicksburg」通常是這場圍城戰的簡稱, not for the modern city而不是指現代的這座城市. "After Vicksburg, the war changed"「After Vicksburg, the war changed」這句話 means after the battle意思是這場戰役之後

The modern city is small and quiet, and today it lives partly on visitors who come to see the battlefield park and the old houses. A local detail people find surprising: because the city fell on the Fourth of July, Vicksburg did not really celebrate American Independence Day for a very long time afterwards. The memory sat that deep.

The modern city is small and quiet現代的這座城市小小的、很安靜, and today it lives partly on visitors今天它有一部分靠遊客維生 who come to see the battlefield park and the old houses這些遊客來看戰場公園和老房子. A local detail people find surprising當地有個讓人意外的小細節: because the city fell on the Fourth of July因為這座城市是在美國國慶日（7月4日）淪陷的, Vicksburg did not really celebrate American Independence Day for a very long time afterwards維克斯堡有很長一段時間都沒有真的在慶祝美國獨立紀念日. The memory sat that deep這段記憶就是烙印得這麼深