Description: |
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 on April 30. 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. 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. |