General Grant had selected New Carthage as the staging point for
his army as he maneuvered to cross the Mississippi River below Vicksburg.. After
Admiral Porter's fleet passed the Vicksburg batteries and rendezvoused with Grant, Federal
troops could then be moved upriver to strike the Warrenton batteries, below Vicksburg, or
down the Mississippi River and storm the Confederate stronghold of Grand Gulf. New
Carthage, however, proved inadequate for staging as flood waters inundated the area
between Pointe Clear and New Carthage. General
McClernand would search for alternate staging areas and directed some of his troops to
investigate the road around Bayou Vidal.
In the vicinity of Dunbar's plantation on Mill Bayou, which flows into
Bayou Vidal, Missouri Confederates attempted to dislodge a Federal outpost on April 15,
but were checked and driven back. The Federals built a bridge across Bayou Vidal and
marched along the east side of the stream.
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