| Battle Name: |
Grand Gulf |
| Other Names: |
None |
| State: |
Mississippi |
| Location: |
Claiborne County |
| Campaign: |
Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg (1863) |
| Dates: |
April 29, 1863 |
| Principal Commanders: |
Rear Adm. David D. Porter [US]; Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen [CS] |
| Forces Engaged: |
Mississippi Squadron and Companies A,B,D,F,G,H,K, 58th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment
[US]; Bowen's Division and attached troops [CS] |
| Estimated Casualties: |
Total unknown (US 80; CS unknown) |
| Description: |
Rear Adm. David D. Porter led seven ironclads in an attack on the fortifications and batteries at Grand
Gulf, with the intention of silencing the Confederate guns and then securing the area with troops of McClernand’s
XIII Army Corps who were on the accompanying transports and barges. The attack by the seven ironclads began
at 8:00 am and continued until about 1:30 pm. During the fight, the ironclads moved within 100 yards of the Rebel
guns and silenced the lower batteries of Fort Wade; the Confederate upper batteries at Fort Cobun remained out of
reach and continued to fire. The Union ironclads (one of which, the Tuscumbia, had been put out of action) and the
transports drew off. After dark, however, the ironclads engaged the Rebel guns again while the steamboats and
barges ran the gauntlet. Grant marched his men overland across Coffee Point to below the Gulf. After the transports
had passed Grand Gulf, they embarked the troops at Disharoon's plantation and disembarked them on the
Mississippi shore at Bruinsburg, below Grand Gulf. The men immediately began marching overland towards Port
Gibson. The Confederates had won a hollow victory; the loss at Grand Gulf caused just a slight change in Grant’s
offensive. |
| Results: |
Confederate victory |
