General Orders, No. After a prolonged siege, Grant eventually forced Pemberton to surrender on July 4, 1863. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! On March 29, 1863, he put part of his army to work constructing bridges, draining bayous and constructing a road past Vicksburg on the west side of the Mississippi. A flanking assault by Col. Francis Cockrell's Missouri brigade crumpled the Federal right flank and gave McClernand pause. Utilizing some diversions, he marched his army down the western side of the river whileRear Adm. David Dixon Porterran his flotilla of gunboats and transports past the Confederate guns of Vicksburg. While in Port Gibson, a visit to Windsor Ruins is a must. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! With two of the three main rivers connecting the North and South under Union control, the Federals turned their attention to the Mississippi River. 1. Five-and-one-half hours of shelling by Porters squadron failed to silence Fort Cobun, a Confederate artillery stronghold guarding the Mississippi River. With the aid of Admiral Porters gunboats, Grant attempted to move Major General John A. McClernands 13th Army Corps down the Mississippi River on transport barges and execute a landing on the east bank at Grand Gulf, at the juncture of the Mississippi and the Big Black River roughly thirty miles below Vicksburg. Sundown found the two sides settling into a stalemate along a broad front on the Rodney Road several miles from Port Gibson. Battle of Chickasaw Bayou (December 2629, 1862), The Union victory at the Battle of Port Gibson, Battle of Big Black River Bridge (May 17). Join us July 13-16! The Battle of Port Gibson was fought near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield, For Sale: Three Battlefield Tracts Spanning Three Wars, Preserve 128 Sacred Acres at Antietam and Shepherdstown. Later that night, Grant ordered McClernand and Major General James B. McPherson to march their 13th and 17th Army Corps down the Louisiana side of the Mississippi past Grand Gulf. Situated atop dominate bluffs overlooking a sweeping bend of the river, Vicksburg was a tough nut to crack. When spring arrived, Grant set a new plan into motion. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Grant's plan to detach McClernand to Banks would have to wait. Admiral David Farragut captured the port city of New Orleans on May 18, 1862, closing down Confederate access to the Gulf. Grant launched his campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the spring of 1863, starting his army south from Milliken's Bend on the . At the onset of the American Civil War, the State of Tennessee comprised the majority of the northern border of the Confederate States of America in the West. [2][4] In 2009, the battlefield was designated by the Civil War Preservation Trust as one of its Top 10 most endangered Civil War battlefields. Battle of Mine Run. By mid-April, his men had carved a path through the Louisiana wilderness that would enable Grant to march the Army of the Tennessee past Vicksburg, cross the river, and then attack the city from the south. The only Confederate cavalry in the area, Wirt Adams's regiment, had been ordered away to pursue Grierson's raiders, and Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen performed a reconnaissance in force to determine Grant's intentions. The battlefield covers about 3,400 acres (1,400ha) of land west of the city, astride Rodney Road, where Union Army forces were establishing a beachhead after crossing the Mississippi River in a bid to take the Confederate fortress of Vicksburg. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The Federals divided their forces and moved along two roughly parallel roads that converged near their objective, about ten miles to the east. As Greens men scrambled to the rear, Brig. 17 (Dept. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. He sent three divisions, commanded by his most trusted subordinate, General William T. Sherman, down the river from Memphis to attack Vicksburg from the north. As McPhersons troops moved along Rodney Road in the dark, they encountered light opposition from Greens advance patrols until stopping at about 3 a.m. In May of 1962, the Grand Gulf Military Monument Park was officially opened, dedicated to preserving the memory of both the town and the battle in which occurred there. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. The victory was key in setting the foundation for Grant's successful conclusion to the Vicksburg Campaign. The mesmerizing ruins are all that remain of what was once Mississippi's largest antebellum mansion. Please read ourPrivacy Policyregarding the use of cookies and visitor tracking. On April 22, six more boats made it through, bringing Grant the supplies he needed to launch his assault on Vicksburg. Defending that border was difficult for the Confederacy because three major rivers (the Mississippi, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, which flow north to the Ohio River) provided relatively easy access to the South. The stillness of the night was shattered as a volley of musketry came in reply. Gen. Edward Tracy, who anchored the Confederate right flank roughly a mile and half to the northwest. The site is also known as the Grindstone Ford. After failing to capture the strategically important city in late 1862 and early 1863, Grant decided on a new plan. Obtaining the full control of the Mississippi River was an early and vital war aim for the Federals. Port Gibson Confederate Official Records. Farragut made two attempts to do so in May and June 1862, but both excursions failed. Noted are the Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863, the Battle of Raymond, May 12, 1863, the Battle of Jackson, May 14, 1863, the Battle of Champion Hill, May 16, 1863, and the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, May 17, 1863. Join us July 13-16! "Through Storm and Sunshine": Valorous Vivandires in the Civil War. On April 29, 1863, Grant put his grand scheme into action. Forced to defend two approaches to Port Gibson, Bowen divided his already heavily outnumbered forces. The 11th Wisconsin Infantry was among the first units to attack and remained in front throughout the battle. Battlefield map courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled. Records 1 - 52. As he relaxed, he caught up on correspondence, including a message from Banks that he was nowhere near Port Hudson. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The first Union objective was Port Gibson, roughly ten miles east of Bruinsburg and commanding the local road network. Now on the Vicksburg side of the river, Grants men marched toward their first objective, Port Gibson, situated roughly ten miles east of Bruinsburg, which commanded the local road network. Twenty minutes after the troops had been staged for the assault, the Confederates were retreating into the Bayou Pierre bottoms, having left behind several hundred prisoners. On May 1, 1863, Confederate forces under Brig. For the first time after seven attempts General Grant was able to establish a beachhead on dry soil on the same side of the Mississippi River as his foe. Resounding Union victories at the Battle of Champion Hill (May 16) and the Battle of Big Black River Bridge (May 17), forced Pemberton to take refuge within the City of Vicksburg proper. Vicksburg is located on the eastern side of the Mississippi, south of the mouth of the Yazoo River. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, commander of Confederate troops near Vicksburg, had roughly 30,000 soldiers under his authority. After the battle the mansion was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. As the situation deteriorated, Bowen wired his superiors: We have been engaged in a furious battle ever since daylight; losses very heavy. The Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson. Old Natchez Trace (132-3T), located northeast of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi, about 0.7 miles north of the Mangum Mound Site at milepost 45.7. Gen. Peter Osterhaus. By 1863, Union forces controlled almost the entire length of the Mississippi River. The ragtag army that had fought so well at Port Gibson would not rest until they had entered the Warrenton fortifications nearly ten miles away. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. Gen. Martin E. Green was inspecting his picket line at the Shaifer House shortly after midnight when he was amused to see Mrs. Shaifer and the women of the house frantically loading a wagon with all their household items. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Just then, a single shot rang out as the Confederate pickets spotted movement in the distance. This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. Meanwhile, Grants troop barges, protected by Porters gunboats, ran past Fort Cobun. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Confederate Brig. First Sergeant Charles Hobbs of the 99th Illinois recorded of his experience that night: As we pass along an old darkey gives us his blessings, but fears there will be few of us ever to return. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! The site of the Battle of Port Gibson lies approximately four miles west of the historic town of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Vicksburg sits on a high bluff on the eastern side of the Mississippi River, south of the mouth of the Yazoo River. The only surviving historic structure is the Shaifer plantation house, which is where the battle began. Gen. William Baldwin, just arriving from Vicksburg, and Col. Francis Cockrells from Grand Gulf, were placed into position astride the road at White and Irwins Branches of Willow Creek, a mile and a half east of Magnolia Church. As an Amazon Associate, the owner of Ohio Civil War Central can earn from qualifying purchases. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Green called for reinforcements from Brig. Windsor Battlefield Tour. Having landed on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River unopposed at Bruinsburg, the Union army pushed steadily inland through the night on April 30, 1863. The general tried to calm their fears by telling them that the enemy could not possibly arrive before daylight. Meanwhile, Grant approached the city with the bulk of his army from the east, but Rebel cavalry cut his supply lines, forcing him to retreat before launching an assault. At dawn the battle was renewed in fury as Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand threw most of his XIII Corps toward Greens thin gray line. As the situation deteriorated, Bowen wired his superiors: "We have been engaged in a furious battle ever since daylight; losses very heavy. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield, For Sale: Three Battlefield Tracts Spanning Three Wars, Preserve 128 Sacred Acres at Antietam and Shepherdstown. Shortly after midnight on May 1, advanced elements of the 14th Division under Brig. Noted are the Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863, the Battle of Raymond, May 12, 1863, the Battle of Jackson, May 14, 1863, the Battle of Champion Hill, May 16, 1863, and the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, May 17, 1863. Having developed each other's positions, the opposing forces sat down and waited for daylight. At dawn the battle was renewed in fury as Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand threw most of his XIII Corps toward Greens thin gray line. On March 29, 1863, Grant put part of his army to work erecting bridges, draining bayous, and constructing a road past Vicksburg on the west side of the Mississippi. Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 Battlefield preservation 5 See also 6 References On the night of April 16, seven gunboats and three supply ships under the command of Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter ran the gauntlet of Confederate batteries along the river. McClernand and McPherson then rendezvoused with Porter at Bruinsburg, fewer than ten miles downriver from Grand Gulf. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! The action intensified on both roads at dawn as the Federals resumed their push toward Port Gibson. As an Amazon Associate, the owner of AHC can earn from qualifying purchases. (CSA). Because the city was perched atop a heavily fortified bluff, they decided to cross the Mississippi downstream from it and circle around from the rear. This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. On the night of May 1, 1863, 23,000 Union soldiers landed a few miles south of Vicksburg at Port Gibson, Mississippi. American History Central also displays ads from third-party networks. As long as they held it, Union forces could not ship men or supplies any further south. Empower curiosity about the people, places, and stories of our past. Nevertheless, the South still controlled traffic on much of the river because of its strong fortifications at Vicksburg, Mississippi. After five and one-half hours of shelling by Porter's squadron failed to silence Fort Cobun, a Confederate artillery stronghold guarding the Mississippi River, Grant called an end to the Battle of Grand Gulf. Battle of Port Gibson. The Federal soldiers clambered aboard the barges at Disharoons plantation on the Louisiana side of the river, crossed over, and disembarked at Bruinsburg, on the Mississippi side. Despite heavy Rebel fire, Porter passed the city, losing only one ship. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Port Gibson NYT May 12, 1863. Gen. Eugene A. Carr engaged Confederate pickets near the Shaifer House. https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/battleportgibson.htm. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. At roughly 8 a.m., a Union musket ball pierced General Tracy's breast, killing him instantly, but his men held on until about 10 a.m. when their lines began to crumble. McClernand stopped to reorganize, then launched into a series of grandiose speeches until Grant pointed out that the Confederates had simply withdrawn to a more defendable position. The Battle of Port Gibson was a resounding Union victory that secured Grant's beachhead east of the Mississippi River and cleared the way to the Southern Railroad supplying Vicksburg. Porters troop transports, landing at Bruinsburg. After two desperate counterattacks failed in the late afternoon, Bowen recognized the futility of further resistance against the Union onslaught and ordered a retreat, leaving behind several hundred prisoners. Both flanks were turned, and Green's men broke and ran. The A. K. Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson. Grant then returned his attention to Vicksburg.

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