John Pemberton who invented Coca-Cola", is chosen as one of the few people allowed to leave the city of Atlanta, just before it sinks into the Atlantic Ocean. In 2010, the Coca-Cola Company paid tribute to Pemberton as a key character in an advertising campaign called "Secret Formula". Centered on the secret ingredients of Coca-Cola, imagery related to Pemberton was used to make people more aware of Coke's history and mythology. In 2013, Pemberton was portrayed by Bill Hader in the "Atlanta" episode of Comedy Central's "Drunk History", created by Derek Waters. Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers have an album track
John C. Pemberton Black River, where he fought and suffered even more heavy losses on May 17. Pemberton resolved to defend Vicksburg and led his defeated men back into its defenses on May 18. In the process, he gave up the high ground on Hayne's Buff which Sherman had failed to take in December. Johnston had advised him that if this ground should ever fall, Vicksburg would be untenable, and that he should escape with his army of 31,000, sacrificing the city. Pemberton refused to take this advice. He held firm for over six weeks, while soldiers and civilians were starved into submission.