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. 4. With the aid of Admiral Porter's gunboats, Grant attempted to move Major General John A. McClernand's 13th Army Corps down the Mississippi River on transport barges and execute a landing on the east bank at Grand Gulf, located at the juncture of the Mississippi and the Big Black River roughly thirty miles below Vicksburg. Unaware that Grant had pulled back, Sherman attacked and was defeated at the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs (December 29, 1862). Bowen repulsed the Union navy at Grand Gulf, Major Gen. U.S. Grant landed his troops on the Louisiana side and marched them down river. The 11th Wisconsin Infantry was among the first units to attack and remained in front throughout the battle. Part of the battle was fought on the Bruinsburg Road at Point Lookout. Here they began improving the fortifications along the roads to Vicksburg, expecting that Grant would be close behind. Confederate forces were entrenched at Magnolia Church. An informative marker tells the story behind the mansion, including its demise. Last updated: March 3, 2018 Was this page helpful? Fighting in the scattered fields and forest around the Shaifer House intensified as more Union regiments and batteries came into action. Almost by mutual consent, the fighting ebbed by 3:00 a.m., and the weary soldiers in blue and gray rested on their arms. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Successive Union attacks buckled the Confederate lines. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and they were victorious. This strategic battle was fought eight miles west of Bethel Church on May 1, 1863. Tracy dispatched infantry and artillery to Greens assistance minutes before cannons began to pound his own line, signaling the advance of a new Union column under Brig. Gen. Edward Tracy, who anchored the Confederate right flank roughly a mile and half to the northwest. Gen. Peter Osterhaus. Gen. Alvin P. Hovey's 12th Division arrived and surged forward just as Carr's men were storming the Confederate position. Despite the resulting delay, however, the Army of the Tennessee moved onto the river bluffs unopposed and pushed rapidly towards Port Gibson. 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. Gen. William E. Baldwin's Brigade arrived later and was positioned in support of Green's Brigade. Under threat of being surrounded, Bowen was also forced to evacuate the formidable Fort Cobun at Grand Gulf, yielding control of the area to Grant's Army of the Tennessee. Continue with Recommended Cookies. At dawn, the Federals . 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. Many of the bullets buried themselves in the wagon-load of furniture. Known as The Gibraltar of the Confederacy, the city seemed to be impregnable. The city was known as "The Gibraltar of the Confederacy," because it is situated on a high bluff overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. After the battle the mansion was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. The moon is shining above us and the road is romantic in the extreme. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Wary of Tracy's Brigade to the north, McClernand posted Brig. The Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson. Grand Gulf Military Monument Park. In July 1862, General Henry Halleck was called to Washington and promoted to chief of all Union armies, leaving Grant in charge of operations in the Western Theater. Leading up to the Battle of Port Gibson in the spring of 1863, confederate troops used the roof observatory as a lookout as Grant's army crossed the Mississippi River. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and was victorious. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. A flanking assault by Col. Francis Cockrell's Missouri brigade crumpled the Federal right flank and gave McClernand pause. Records 1 - 52. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. The Battle of Port Gibson occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of over 200 Union and Confederate soldiers. Mine Run - Union Off. To the north, nearly impenetrable swamps and bayous protected Vicksburg. Gen. Edward Tracy, who anchored the Confederate right flank roughly a mile and half to the northwest. 601.437.5911. Port Gibson was the site of several clashes during the American Civil War and figured in Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign. Map (db m35542) HM Farragut made two attempts to do so in May and June 1862, but both excursions failed. Vicksburg Campaign: Unvexing the Father of Waters. The action intensified on both roads at dawn as the Federals resumed their push toward Port Gibson. Reinforced by Brig. A desperate Confederate counterattack by Cockrells Missourians was repulsed, and Bowen ordered a retreat. Forced to defend two approaches to Port Gibson, Bowen divided his already heavily outnumbered forces. The victory was key in setting the foundation for Grant's successful conclusion to the Vicksburg Campaign. During the winter, Grant made several unsuccessful attempts to approach Vicksburg from other directions. Within six weeks, Grant captured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River, establishing federal control of both waterways. The battlefield covers about 3,400 acres (1,400 ha) 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 American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Confederate victory proved inconsequential, however. When spring arrived, he set a new plan into motion. 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. Please read ourPrivacy Policyregarding the use of cookies and visitor tracking. Hallecks departure left Major General Ulysses S. Grant in charge of operations in the Western Theater. Records 53-97. #2 Port Gibson Battlefield National Register of Historic Places Updated: 2020-05-09 The Port Gibson Battlefield is the site near Port Gibson, Mississippi where the 1863 Battle of Port Gibson was fought during the American Civil War. Tracy dispatched infantry and artillery to Greens assistance minutes before cannons began to pound his own line, signaling the advance of a new Union column under Brig. Copyright20062023,Somerightsreserved. The brigades of Brig. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Gen. Edward D. Tracy arrived later and was posted across the Bruinsburg Road two miles north of Green's position. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With 20,000 men crowded into a 1.5-mile (2.4km) front, McClernand's plan appeared to be to force his way past the Confederate line. The Union troops pushed forward all along the line, and fierce fighting continued throughout the afternoon. [4], After a number of failed attempts to reach Vicksburg from the north and northeast, Union General Ulysses S. Grant decided to march his army down the west side of the Mississippi River, past Vicksburg, and locate a crossing area from which he could reach the city from the south. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Soon after, Tracy was killed by a snipers bullet. The site of the Battle of Port Gibson lies approximately four miles west of the historic town of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Port Hudson Maps. The Federal landing at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, on April 30, 1863, and the ensuing victory at the Battle of Port Gibson the next day, cemented a Union presence in western Mississippi that led to the eventual downfall of the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. . Battle of Mine Run. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Located eight miles northwest of Port Gibson, Mississippi off Highway 61, this 450 acre landmark is listed on . To divert attention from his main operations, Grant ordered Sherman to feign an attack against Confederate forces stationed at Snyders Bluff, upriver from Vicksburg, from April 29 through May 1. The Confederates there were commanded by Maj. Gen. John S. Bowen, who had moved a division forward from Grand Gulf to confront Grant's XVII Corps under Maj. General James B. McPherson and XIII Corps under Maj. General John A. McClernand. MOVING INLAND: BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON The first day ashore, Grant pushed McClernand two miles inland to high, dry ground and on toward the town of Port Gibson, where a bridge across Big Bayou Pierre led to Grand Gulf (which Grant coveted as a supply base on the Mississippi). By late 1861, President Abraham Lincoln was pressuring Union commanders in the west to invade the South. The Union forces were brought across by Read Admiral D.D. Despite the large number of Yankees involved, the Confederate forces in the area were still superior in number. President Abraham Lincoln. [1], Last edited on 30 December 2022, at 22:19, Learn how and when to remove this template message, History Under Siege: Port Gibson designated by the Civil War Preservation Trust as a Top 10 most endangered Civil War battlefield in 2009, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Port_Gibson&oldid=1130579779, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 22:19. The two forces reunited some 30 miles south of the city, and on April 29-30, Porters sailors were transporting Grants army across the river into Bruinsburg, Mississippiunopposed. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled. In late April 1863, Union troops on the west bank advanced toward Vicksburg. Union forces entering Port Gibson . Wayne Hsieh/Flickr. American History Central also displays ads from third-party networks. Having developed each other's positions, the opposing forces sat down and waited for daylight. Grant, however, would have other plans; the roads on the west bank of the Big Black River were open all the way to the Mississippi state capital and the critical rail link to Vicksburg. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 17 (Dept. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Built between 1859-1861, the plantation was the home of wealthy planter, Smith Coffee Daniell, II. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus's 9th Division facing that direction. To complete the river crossing, however, Grant needed the help of his naval forces. Battle of Port Gibson Grants March Marker, Battle of Port Gibson Grants March. . Grant then sailed farther south and began crossing at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, on April 30. 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. Nevertheless, the South still controlled traffic on much of the river because of its strong fortifications at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Bowen moved south from Grand Gulf with Brig. Ohio Civil War Central also displays ads from third-party networks. The Union victory secured that beachhead and paved the way for the eventual fall of Vicksburg. When spring arrived, Grant set a new plan into motion. Gen. J.S. Part of the battle was fought on the Bruinsburg Road at Point Lookout. The Federal landing at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, on April 30, 1863, and the ensuing victory at the Battle of Port Gibson the next day, cemented a Union presence in western Mississippi that led to the eventual downfall of the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. Windsor Ruins. Port Gibson was the opening battle in a successful two-month-long Union campaign to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi, and take control of the Mississippi River. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, commander of Confederate troops near Vicksburg, had roughly 30,000 soldiers under his authority. Brought were only enough horses to pull the artillery. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Hinds County and Warren County, MS|May 17, 1863, Warren County, MS|May 18-Jul 4, 1863. Please read ourPrivacy Policyregarding the use of cookies and visitor tracking. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. The Battle of Port Gibson occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of more than 200 Union and Confederate soldiers. Confederate forces were entrenched at nearby Magnolia Church. The road over which the blue soldiers now marched led to the Shaifer House, roughly 1.5 miles from Port Gibson. According to data recorded on the Widow's Creek U.S.G.S. Grant then called an end to the Battle of Grand Gulf. When reinforcements arrived from Brigadier General William E. Baldwin's and Colonel Francis M. Cockrell's brigades, the Rebels established a succession of new lines while being forced back steadily. The Confederate defeat resulted in their losing the ability to hold Mississippi and defend against an amphibious attack . The terrain is a tangle of ravines and terraces, caused by the soil type (sedimentary loess) and a history of intensive agricultural use up to the 20th century. Join us July 13-16! When Confederates under Brig. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, the commander of Confederate troops in and around Vicksburg, had roughly 30,000 soldiers at his disposal. A 2,080-acre (840ha) area surrounding part of the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and a larger area was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005. Supplies were piled on all sorts of wagons and carriages for the surprise march on the Confederates. 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. Despite the reinforcements, Green was still heavily outnumbered, and at around 10:00 a.m., his line collapsed. 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. Grant launched his campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the spring of 1863, starting his army south from Milliken's Bend on the . The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In December, Grant launched his first attempt to capture Vicksburg. The road to his rear now threatened, Bowen commenced retreating through Port Gibson to the north shore of Bayou Pierre. Green called for reinforcements from Brig. Soon after, Tracy was killed by a snipers bullet. 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. "Through Storm and Sunshine": Valorous Vivandires in the Civil War. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. The Federals divided their forces and moved along two roughly parallel roads that converged near their objective, about ten miles to the east. Mine Run - Union Off. Just then, a single shot rang out as the Confederate pickets spotted movement in the distance. La.) Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson showed up late in the afternoon with Brig. Bowen deployed Brigadier General Martin E. Greens Brigade west of Port Gibson along Rodney Road and he stationed Brigadier General Edward D. Tracys brigade across Bruinsburg Road. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. A portion of the troops turned left following the road past Windsor, but the bulk turned right, coming to Bethel Church, and turning east here. 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