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. With two of the three main rivers connecting the North and South under Union control, the Federals turned their attention to the Mississippi River. Gen. Edward Tracy, who anchored the Confederate right flank roughly a mile and half to the northwest. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. Ohio Civil War Centralis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, a program designed to allowsites to generate revenue by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Empower curiosity about the people, places, and stories of our past. Port Gibson: Featured Resources Civil War | Video Vicksburg Campaign Civil War | Article 10 Facts: The Vicksburg Campaign Civil War | Biography James B. McPherson This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Grant launched his campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in the spring of 1863, starting his army south from Milliken's Bend on the west side of the Mississippi River. Port Gibson Union Official Records. 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. 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 land on the Louisiana side of the river, opposite Vicksburg, was rough, etched with poor roads and many streams. In late April 1863, Union troops on the west bank advanced toward Vicksburg. 17 (Dept. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Bowen lost 787 soldiers (60 killed, 340 wounded, and 387 missing). The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The A. K. Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson. 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. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. The Federals divided their forces and moved along two roughly parallel roads that converged near their objective, about ten miles to the east. [4], The surviving Shaifer plantation house is now owned by the state. The Federals divided their forces and moved along two roughly parallel roads that converged near their objective, about ten miles to the east. 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 a result, the landing was unchallenged and the only Confederates nearby were Major General John S. Bowens force of 6,000-8,000 soldiers who had marched to Port Gibson after thwarting Grants landing at Grand Gulf the previous day. The general tried to calm their fears by telling them that the enemy could not possibly arrive before daylight. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. A single brigade of reinforcements from Vicksburg under Brig. 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. Every purchase supports the mission. [Source: Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields (Washington, 1993); Estabrook, C. Records and Sketches of Military Organizations (Madison, 1914); Love, W. Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion (Madison, 1866)], Sign up for the Wisconsin Historical Society Newsletter, 1996-2023 Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706, Port Gibson, Battle of | Wisconsin Historical Society, Read About the Experiences of Wisconsin Troops. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. Situated atop dominate bluffs overlooking a sweeping bend of the river, Vicksburg was a tough nut to crack. The Battle of Port Gibson occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of more than 200 Union and Confederate soldiers. Meanwhile, Grants troop barges, protected by Porters gunboats, ran past Fort Cobun. As the situation deteriorated, Bowen wired his superiors: "We have been engaged in a furious battle ever since daylight; losses very heavy. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. A crossing point at Bruinsburg, just south of the mouth of Bayou Pierre, was described as suitable for the army's use, and on April 30, 1863 Grant began what was then one of the largest amphibious military operations in United States history. 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. Battle of Port Gibson - Grant's March Marker. 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. Gen. William E. Baldwin's Brigade arrived later and was positioned in support of Green's Brigade. [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 men act nobly, but the odds are overpowering." Old Rodney Rd He would march his army down the Louisiana side of the [] Against this target, Grant poised his army to strike. McClernand and McPherson then rendezvoused with Porter at Bruinsburg, fewer than ten miles downriver from Grand Gulf. Port Hudson Conf Official Records. Battlefield map courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust. On January 30, 1862, the Western Theater commander, General Henry Halleck, reluctantly approved Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grants request to attack Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River. The remaining garrison at Grand Gulf was evacuated the next day. May 1, 1863 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. Unaware that Grant had pulled back, Sherman attacked, but Rebels forces defeated him at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou (December 2629, 1862). To the east, a ring of forts, mounting 172 guns, shielded the city from an overland assault. Part of the battle was fought on the Bruinsburg Road at Point Lookout. 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. Fortunately for Grant, Pemberton took his orders to defend Vicksburg at all costs literally. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The remaining garrison at Grand Gulf was evacuated the next day. When spring arrived, Grant set a new plan into motion. Official Records. Windsor Plantation. It is an original segment of the Natchez Trace.. Gen. A. J. Smith's 10th Division and Stevenson's Brigade of McPherson's XVII Corps, McClernand resumed the pursuit. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. The Confederate defeat resulted in their losing the ability to hold Mississippi and defend against an amphibious attack . of Ms. & E. To divert attention from his main operations, Grant ordered Sherman to feign an attack against Confederate forces stationed at Snyder's Bluff, upriver from Vicksburg, from April 29 through May 1. 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. Within six weeks, Grant captured Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River, establishing Federal control of both waterways. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Sporadic skirmishing and artillery fire continued until 3 a.m. The Confederate victory proved to be inconsequential, however. 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. When Confederates under Brig. To complete the river crossing, however, Grant needed the help of his naval forces. 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. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled. Copyright20062023,Somerightsreserved. This map depicts the opening battles in the Union campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in May 1863. After landing at Bruinsburg, Ulysses S. Grant . Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. . https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/battleportgibson.htm. Battle of Vicksburg Map. 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 site of the Battle of Port Gibson lies approximately four miles west of the historic town of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This strategic battle was fought eight miles west of Bethel Church on May 1, 1863. This victory not only secured his position on Mississippi soil, but enabled him to launch his campaign deeper into the interior of the state. Despite the reinforcements, Green was still heavily outnumbered and around 10:00 a.m. his line collapsed. The Battle of Port Gibson occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of over 200 Union and Confederate soldiers. When . The general tried to calm their fears by telling them that the enemy could not possibly arrive before daylight. The Confederate right did not last long. Finding an unguarded landing at Bruinsburg, south of Grand Gulf, the Union launched the largest amphibious landing conducted by the U. S. Army until the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. . 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. Every purchase supports the mission. The men act nobly, but the odds are overpowering. After two desperate Rebel 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. Gen. Robert E. Lee. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. [Wikimedia Commons]. The action intensified on both roads at dawn as the Federals resumed their push toward Port Gibson. Federal efforts to push rapidly inland were slowed because McClernand had forgotten to issue rations to the men. Port Gibson | May 1, 1863 (June 2020) American Battlefield Trust Port Gibson, ten miles east of Bruinsburg on the Little Bayou Pierre River, commanded the road network between Grand Gulf and Jackson and was Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's first objective after crossing the Mississippi. 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. Every purchase supports the mission. After failing to capture the strategically important city in late 1862 and early 1863, Grant decided on a new plan. 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 force now retreated back towards Grand Gulf. 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. Confederate forces were entrenched at nearby Magnolia Church. Rather than moving forward to confront the Union invasion force at Bruinsburg, where it was most vulnerable, Pemberton kept most of his troops in garrison at Vicksburg. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. Provided by Touchpoints Contact Info This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. Port Gibson NYT May 15, 1863. Join us July 13-16! Wary of Tracy's Brigade to the north, McClernand posted Brig. 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. After a prolonged siege, Grant eventually forced Pemberton to surrender on July 4, 1863. That night Grant's men camped two miles north of Port Gibson. A few miles to the south, McClernands Corps traveled along Rodney Road. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus's 9th Division facing that direction. Canals were dug and abandoned. Gen. Peter Osterhaus. The first Union objective was Port Gibson, roughly ten miles east of Bruinsburgand commanding the local road network. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, the commander of Confederate troops in and around Vicksburg, had roughly 30,000 soldiers at his disposal. Located eight miles northwest of Port Gibson, Mississippi off Highway 61, this 450 acre landmark is listed on . In the battles aftermath, Grant turned his army east and drove General Joseph E. Johnstons forces away from the state capital at Jackson, Mississippi, on May 14, 1863. Green quickly mounted and raced back to Magnolia Church to alert his brigade. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. The 11th Wisconsin Infantry was among the first units to attack and remained in front throughout the battle. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! See and touch history at Historic Sites, Museums and special events, Restore your historic home or property, get tax credits, renovation tips, This map depicts the opening battles in the Union campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi, in May 1863. [6], The battlefield area is about 4 miles (6.4km) west of Port Gibson. Map (db m105841) HM The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson showed up late in the afternoon with Brig. As the Union forces came ashore, they secured a beachhead and began marching toward Port Gibson by late afternoon on April 30. Port Hudson West Gulf Blockading Squad. Time and againUlysses S. Granttried and failed to approach the bastion city. Built between 1859-1861, the plantation was the home of wealthy planter, Smith Coffee Daniell, II. 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. 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. Battle of Port Gibson Grants March Marker, Battle of Port Gibson Grants March. On May 1, the Battle of Port Gibson was fought. 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. With two of the three main rivers connecting the North and South under Union control, the Federals turned their attention to the Mississippi River. Having developed each other's positions, the opposing forces sat down and waited for daylight. The Battle of Port Gibson was Union general Ulysses S. Grant's first victory in the campaign that eventually led to the fall of Vicksburg. 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. The site is owned, operated, and funded by R.Squared Communications, LLC. Restoration of the sit is in progress and the majority of the battlefield is privately owned. In June, the Union tightened its grip on the Mississippi, when Federal forces captured the river city of Memphis, Tennessee. "Through Storm and Sunshine": Valorous Vivandires in the Civil War. La.) The Federals divided their forces and moved along two roughly parallel roads that converged near their objective, about ten miles to the east. Grant then called an end to the Battle of Grand Gulf. 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. 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. Grant would then detach Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand's XIII Corps to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks at Port Hudson, Louisiana, while Sherman hurried to join Grant and James B. McPherson and the XVII Corps for an inland move against the railroad. By late 1861, President Abraham Lincoln was pressuring Union commanders in the west to invade the South. Windsor Ruins. 4. On January 30, 1862, the Western Theater commander, General Henry Halleck, reluctantly approved Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant's request to attack Fort Henry, located on the Tennessee River. The battle began around midnight near the Shaifer House four miles west of town. Battle of Mine Run. The action intensified on both roads at dawn as the Federals resumed their push toward Port Gibson. 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. The Union victory secured that beachhead and paved the way for the eventual fall 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. . Although most of the Port Gibson battlefield is still privately owned, the Civil War Trust (a division of the American Battlefield Trust) and its partners have acquired and preserved 644 acres (2.61km2) of the Port Gibson battlefield. The site is also known as the Grindstone Ford. Confederate Brig. . The house was used by Maj. Gen. John A McClernand for his headquarters and later used as a hospital. The stillness of the night was shattered as a volley of musketry came in reply. Every purchase supports the mission. Windsor Battlefield Tour. 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. 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. Despite the large number of Yankees involved, the Confederate forces in the area were still superior in number. On May 2, Grant quickly maneuvered Bowen out of position by sending McPherson to cross the Bayou Pierre at a ford several miles upstream. In June, the Union tightened its grip on the Mississippi, when federal forces captured the river city of Memphis, Tennessee. On the night of May 1, 1863, 23,000 Union soldiers landed a few miles south of Vicksburg at Port Gibson, Mississippi. The women were terrified and, screaming with fright, leaped into the wagon and whipped the animals toward Port Gibson. Shortly after midnight on May 1, advanced elements of the 14th Division under Brig. The absence of any Confederate cavalry would have a major impact on the campaign. Port Gibson NYT May 12, 1863. The high bluff upon which the city sits made it nearly impossible to assault from the river. Gen. Edward Tracy was killed on the Confederate right. On April 29, 1863, Grant put his grand scheme into action. Please call for camping info. The Union victory at the Battle of Port Gibson cost Grant 875 casualties (131 killed, 719 wounded, and 25 missing). The Battle of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863 was a pivotal event of the Civil War in Mississippi which featured the largest amphibious operation of the United States army prior to June 6, 1944. Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, commander of Confederate troops near Vicksburg, had roughly 30,000 soldiers under his authority. 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. In July 1862, President Abraham Lincoln summoned Major General Henry W. Halleck to Washington to serve as chief of all Union armies. Photographed By Tom Bosse, July 2, 2017. This FREE annual event brings together educators from all over the world for sessions, lectures, and tours from leading experts. 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. Battle of Raymond: May 12 It was a Union victory that sent Confederates in retreat, giving Grant a firm foothold in Mississippi south of Vicksburg. These stately columns are all that remain of Windsor, one of the most magnificent homes in the antebellum South. The moon is shining above us and the road is romantic in the extreme. 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. . As an Amazon Associate, the owner of AHC can earn from qualifying purchases. Map (db m35542) HM Gen. John Bowen clashed with elements of two Union corps commanded by Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant. . Port Gibson was the site of several clashes during the American Civil War and figured in Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign. A flanking assault by Col. Francis Cockrell's Missouri brigade crumpled the Federal right flank and gave McClernand pause. Hallecks departure left Major General Ulysses S. Grant in charge of operations in the Western Theater. Inscription. Gen. Edward Tracy, who anchored the Confederate right flank roughly a mile and half to the northwest. Grand Gulf Military Monument Park. Despite the thousands of Yankees involved, the Confederate forces in the area still outnumbered them. 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. 1. Bowen moved south from Grand Gulf with Brig. As Greens men scrambled to the rear, Brig. 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. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. The creators behind Ohio Civil War Central are historians, developers, and website specialists. 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. Gen. J.S. 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. By late 1861, President Abraham Lincoln was pressuring Union commanders in the west to invade the South. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! The house was used by Maj. Gen. John A McClernand for his headquarters and later used as a hospital. Port Gibson Battlefield The A. K. Shaifer House was the site of the opening shots in the Battle of Port Gibson. On April 22, six more boats made it through, bringing Grant the supplies he needed to launch his assault on Vicksburg. April 30, 1863 Federals March toward Port Gibson As the Union forces came ashore, they secured a beachhead and began marching toward Port Gibson by late afternoon on April 30. If you would like to know more, please contact us. Gen. Peter Osterhaus. Brought were only enough horses to pull the artillery. The brigades of Brig. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! Ohio Civil War Central is an independent encyclopedia of Ohio history. Records 53-97. The site is owned, operated, and funded by R.Squared Communications, LLC. Port Gibson, ten miles east of Bruinsburg on the Little Bayou Pierre River, commanded the road network between Grand Gulf and Jackson and was Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grants first objective after crossing the Mississippi. Just then, a single shot rang out as the Confederate pickets spotted movement in the distance. Please read ourPrivacy Policyregarding the use of cookies and visitor tracking. Despite the resulting delay, however, the Army of the Tennessee moved onto the river bluffs unopposed and pushed rapidly towards Port Gibson. 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. Despite heavy Rebel fire, Porter passed the city, losing only one ship. Successive Union attacks buckled the Confederate lines. View the original source document: WHI 90836, Location: Port Gibson, Mississippi (Google Map), Campaign: Grant's Operations Against Vicksburg (March-July 1863). Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! At the onset of the American Civil War, the State of Tennessee comprised most of the northern border of the Confederate States of America in the West. 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. Grant's plan to detach McClernand to Banks would have to wait. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 644 acres at Port Gibson Battlefield.