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. Obtaining the full control of the Mississippi River was an early and vital war aim for the Federals. By late 1861, President Abraham Lincoln was pressuring Union commanders in the west to invade the South. The remaining garrison at Grand Gulf was evacuated the next day. Situated atop dominate bluffs overlooking a sweeping bend of the river, Vicksburg was a tough nut to crack. Port Gibson was the site of several clashes during the American Civil War and figured in Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign. Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History, NearBruinsburg in Claiborne County, Mississippi , 1. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. 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). In July 1862, President Abraham Lincoln summoned Major General Henry W. Halleck to Washington to serve as chief of all Union armies. Records 53-97. Meanwhile, Grant's troop barges ran past Fort Cobun under the protection of Porter's gunboats. Within six weeks, Grant captured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River, establishing Federal control of both waterways. Grant's plan to detach McClernand to Banks would have to wait. Unaware that Grant had pulled back, Sherman attacked, but Rebels forces defeated him at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou (December 2629, 1862). 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. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Restoration of the sit is in progress and the majority of the battlefield is privately owned. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! The battle began around midnight near the Shaifer House four miles west of town. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If Bowen had known that Grant's men were landing at Bruinsburg and not Rodney, he would have taken a position on the bluffs above Bruinsburg, denying Grant's army a bridgehead into the area. Sherman's feint against the Yazoo Bluffsthe Battle of Snyder's Bluffwas a complete success, and only a single Confederate brigade was detached south. At dawn, the Federals advanced against the flanks of Bowen's line posted on the . 1. A single brigade of reinforcements from Vicksburg under Brig. The Union victory secured that beachhead and paved the way for the eventual fall of Vicksburg. Point Pleasant, Ohio, Birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant, Surrender at Appomattox Court House, McLean House Location, Ohio Generals and Officers of the Civil War, Image Gallery, Battle of the Wilderness, Federal Lines on North Side of Orange Plank Road, Photo, Siege of Vicksburg, Fight in the Crater of Fort Hill, June 25, 1863, Illustration. In December, Grant launched his first attempt to capture Vicksburg. The creators behind American History Central are historians, developers, and website specialists who have built multiple digital encyclopedias. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! On April 22, six more boats made it through, bringing Grant the supplies he needed to launch his assault on Vicksburg. 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. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and was victorious. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Port Gibson: Featured Resources Civil War | Video Vicksburg Campaign Civil War | Article 10 Facts: The Vicksburg Campaign Civil War | Biography James B. McPherson Grant also ordered Colonel Benjamin Garrison to stage a daring cavalry raid through central Mississippi, which forced Confederate Commander of the Army of Mississippi, John C. Pemberton, to divert troops away from Vicksburg. The only surviving historic structure is the Shaifer plantation house, which is where the battle began. President Abraham Lincoln. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Grand Gulf Military Monument Park. Farragut made two attempts to do so in May and June 1862, but both excursions failed. Under threat of being surrounded, Bowen also evacuated the formidable Fort Cobun at Grand Gulf, yielding control of the area to Grants Army of the Tennessee. Part of the battle was fought on the Bruinsburg Road at Point Lookout. Gen. Peter Osterhaus. 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. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. . 17 (Dept. Every purchase supports the mission. Consider donating to their mission to preserve battlefields like Port Gibson for future generat. Fighting in the scattered fields and forest around the Shaifer House intensified as more Union regiments and batteries came into action. The battle of Port Gibson cost Grant 131 killed, 719 wounded, and 25 missing out of 23,000 men engaged. The action intensified on both roads at dawn as the Federals resumed their push toward Port Gibson. The Union victory secured that beachhead and paved the way for the eventual fall of Vicksburg. Windsor Plantation. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. 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. It is an original segment of the Natchez Trace.. of Ms. & E. 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 moon is shining above us and the road is romantic in the extreme. 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. Port Gibson NYT May 15, 1863. [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 Battle of Port Gibson was one of the turning points of the War between the States, since this defeat of the Confederates led to the capture of Vicksburg. Gen. John Bowen clashed with elements of two Union corps commanded by Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant. The house was used by Maj. Gen. John A McClernand for his headquarters and later used as a hospital. After a prolonged siege, Grant eventually forced Pemberton to surrender on July 4, 1863. Levees were blown up to create flood plains only to carry the boats too high in the water, literally among the branches of the trees. 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. As the situation deteriorated, Bowen wired his superiors: We have been engaged in a furious battle ever since daylight; losses very heavy. Known as The Gibraltar of the Confederacy, the city seemed to be impregnable. One-hundred-foot-tall (30m) hills separated by nearly vertical ravines choked with canebrakes and underbrush rendered Bowen's position tenable, despite the overwhelming Union force heading his way. 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. This strategic battle was fought eight miles west of Bethel Church on May 1, 1863. The road over which the blue soldiers now marched led to the Shaifer House, roughly 1.5 miles from Port Gibson. Wayne Hsieh/Flickr. [4], The surviving Shaifer plantation house is now owned by the state. Just then, a single shot rang out as the Confederate pickets spotted movement in the distance. 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. The Battle of Port Gibson occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of more than 200 Union and Confederate soldiers. Hallecks departure left Major General Ulysses S. Grant in charge of operations in the Western Theater. Gen. Robert E. Lee. Please read ourPrivacy Policyregarding the use of cookies and visitor tracking. 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. He would march his army down the Louisiana side of the [] 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 creators behind Ohio Civil War Central are historians, developers, and website specialists. As the Union forces came ashore, they secured a beachhead and began marching toward Port Gibson by late afternoon on April 30. Join us July 13-16! This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. 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. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. A few miles to the south, McClernands Corps traveled along Rodney Road. quadrangle map, only one small, intensive level survey was performed within the battlefield area. Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 2, 2017. Mine Run - Union Off. The Battle of Port Gibson 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. 4. 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. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Porters troop transports, landing at Bruinsburg. After the battle the mansion was used as a Union hospital and observation post, thus sparing it from being burned by Union troops. The area is now largely wooded, with a scattering of non-historic houses and other buildings, mainly along Rodney Road which roughly bisects the battlefield. Part of the battle was fought on the Bruinsburg Road at Point Lookout. Port Gibson Confederate Official Records. Federal efforts to push rapidly inland were slowed because McClernand had forgotten to issue rations to the men. Soon after, Tracy was killed by a snipers bullet. It was a Union victory that sent Confederates in retreat, giving Grant a firm foothold in Mississippi south of Vicksburg. Gen. Martin E. Green's Brigade and took up a position astride the Rodney road just southwest of Port Gibson near Magnolia Church. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and they were victorious. Ohio Civil War Central also displays ads from third-party networks. Unaware that Grant had pulled back, Sherman attacked and was defeated at the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs (December 29, 1862). Port Hudson Union Official Records. To the east, a ring of forts, mounting 172 guns, shielded the city from an overland assault. Fighting erupted shortly after midnight on May 1 as Union soldiers encountered Bowen's men in the dense undergrowth near Magnolia Church and continued into the next day. The battlefield covers about 3,400 acre of land west of the city, astride Rodney Road, where Union Army forces were establishing a beachhead after crossing the . The site of the Battle of Port Gibson lies approximately four miles west of the historic town of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Gen. J.S. 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. Located eight miles northwest of Port Gibson, Mississippi off Highway 61, this 450 acre landmark is listed on . Grant launched his campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the spring of 1863, starting his army south from Milliken's Bend on the . 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. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Every purchase supports the mission. Later nineteenth century to present [ edit] The invasion of Mississippi by roughly 23,000 Union soldiers on April 30, 1863, was the largest amphibious offensive in American history prior to the invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II. McClernand and McPherson then rendezvoused with Porter at Bruinsburg, fewer than ten miles downriver from Grand Gulf. Provided by Touchpoints Contact Info The general tried to calm their fears by telling them that the enemy could not possibly arrive before daylight. Brought were only enough horses to pull the artillery. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Battle of Port Gibson. On May 1, the Battle of Port Gibson was fought. This strategic battle was fought eight miles west of Bethel Church on May 1, 1863. American Battlefield Trust's Map Reprint Permission Policy, Gettysburg | Picketts Charge | July 3, 1863 | 3:45 - 4:00 pm, Antietam | West Woods | Sep 17, 1862 | 9:00 - 11:30 am. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus's 9th Division facing that direction. Despite the thousands of Yankees involved, the Confederate forces in the area still outnumbered them. 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. Port Gibson Union Official Records. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and they were victorious. These stately columns are all that remain of Windsor, one of the most magnificent homes in the antebellum South. The Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson. Donning a cloak to disguise his rank, he reviewed the front lines and quickly devised a turning movement that would render untenable the entire Confederate right flank. On May 1, 1863, Confederate forces under Brig. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Grant understood the nature of the explosion and rode to Grand Gulf with a small escort, enjoying his first bath in weeks, and celebrating the capture of what would become his central supply depot as he moved inland. He devised a turning movement in which one brigade would move slowly forward through the canebrake, while the second brigade would descend into the Widow's Creek bottoms and strike for the Confederates' left flank. Bowen deployed Brigadier General Martin E. Green's Brigade west of Port Gibson along Rodney Road and he stationed Brigadier General Edward D. Tracy's brigade across Bruinsburg Road. In June, the Union tightened its grip on the Mississippi, when federal forces captured the river city of Memphis, Tennessee. The house was used by Maj. Gen. John A McClernand for his headquarters and later used as a hospital. The absence of any Confederate cavalry would have a major impact on the campaign. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. 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. At roughly 8 a.m., a Union musket ball pierced General Tracys breast, killing him instantly, but his men held on until about 10 a.m. when their lines crumbled. Western Theater Sherman attacked and was victorious forces under Brig protection of Porter 's gunboats to issue rations the... Resumed their push toward Port Gibson by late afternoon on April 22, six more boats it! Brought were only enough horses to pull the artillery subscribe to the men Union commanders in west... Pride in Battlefield preservation ], battle of port gibson map city from an overland assault stories for eventual! 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