BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON

The 'Battle of Port Gibson' was fought on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and they were victorious. Among the Confederate forces was Colonel Isham Warren Garrott of the 20th Alabama Regiment.

Contents

Background

Battle

Aftermath

References

Background

Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant launched his march on Vicksburg in the Spring of 1863, starting his army south, from Milliken’s Bend, on the west side of the Mississippi River. He intended to cross the river at Grand Gulf, but the Union fleet was unable to silence the Confederate big guns there. Grant then marched farther south and crossed at Bruinsburg, Mississippi on April 30.

Battle

Union forces came ashore, secured the landing area and, by late afternoon, began marching inland. Advancing on the Rodney Road towards Port Gibson, Grant’s force ran into Rebel outposts after midnight and skirmished with them for around three hours. After 3:00 am, the fighting stopped. Union forces advanced on the Rodney Road and a plantation road at dawn. At 5:30 am, the Confederates engaged the Union advance and the battle ensued. Federals forced the Rebels to fall back. The Confederates established new defensive positions at different times during the day but they could not stop the Union onslaught and left the field in the early evening.

Aftermath

This defeat demonstrated that the Confederates were unable to defend the Mississippi River line and the Federals had secured their beachhead. The way to Vicksburg was open.

References