The County was the site of two important Civil War battles. The first of
these occurred when Rear Admiral David Porter led seven ironclads in an attack on the
fortifications and batteries of Grand Gulf.
Battle of Grand Gulf
Location: Claiborne County
Campaign: Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg
(1863)
Date: 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.
Result(s): Confederate victory
The Battle of Port Gibson started near the A. K. Shaifer house, May 1, 1863.
A Federal Commission has recently compiled a Battlefield Preservation profile for the Port
Gibson Battlefield.
The Battle of Port Gibson was a crucial step leading to the Siege of
Vicksburg and the opening of the Mississippi River.
Other Names: Battle of Thompson’s Hill
Location: Claiborne County
Campaign: Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg
(1863)
Date: May 1, 1863
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
[US]; Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen [CS]
Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee
(comprising two corps) [US]; Confederate forces in area (one reinforced division: four
brigades) [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 1,648 total (US 861; CS 787)
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.
Result(s): Union victory
Letter from Jefferson Davis to
the Senate of the Confederate States
Richmond, Va., January 8,
1864.
To the Senate of the Confederate
States:
I herewith transmit for your information a communication from the
Secretary of War, covering copies of the "report of Gen. J. E. Johnston, of his
operations in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana," and of the
"report of Lieut. Gen. J. C. Pemberton, of the battles of Port Gibson, Baker's Creek, and the siege of
Vicksburg," to which is appended a copy of correspondence of the Department with him
relative to some points of the report which were thought to require
explanation.
Jefferson Davis
