Which Mississippi River stronghold surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant's forces on July 4, 1863, after a long siege?

The Great Famine of the 1840s, caused by potato blight, drove more than a million people to emigrate from which country? Which Southern writer, who died at 39 in 1964, published only two novels, "Wise Blood" and one other? Because Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party split the Republican vote, which Democrat won the White House in 1912? Heavy diversion of the Jordan River's water has caused the level of which salty sea to drop dramatically? Béchamel sauce is also known by what color name? Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg were boyhood idols of which Swiss player, who won Wimbledon in 2003 and 2004? Samuel Beckett won which award in 1969 but skipped the trip to Sweden to avoid giving public speeches? Beck's, Sierra Nevada and Pabst Blue Ribbon are brands of what?