|
Battle of Port Gibson
May 1, 1863
| Shortly after midnight the crash of musketry shattered the stillness as
the Federals stumbled upon Confederate outposts near the A. K.
Shaifer house. Union troops immediately deployed for battle and artillery, which soon
arrived, roared into action. A spirited skirmish ensued which lasted until 3 a.m. The
Confederates held their ground. For the next several hours an uneasy calm settled over the
woods and scattered fields as soldiers of both armies rested on their arms. Throughout the
night the Federals gathered their forces in hand and both sides prepared for the battle
which they knew would come with the rising sun. |
The A. K. Shaifer House and its grounds
are closed to visitor use.
State Historical Markers
|
| At dawn, Union troops began to move in force along the Rodney Road toward Magnolia Church. One division was sent along a connecting plantation
road toward the Bruinsburg Road and the Confederate right flank. With skirmishers well in
advance the Federals began a slow and deliberate advance around 5:30 a.m. The Confederates
contested the thrust and the battle began in earnest. |
 |
| The morning hours witnessed Green's Brigade driven from its position by the principal
Federal attack. Brigadier General Edward D. Tracy's
Alabama Brigade astride the Bruinsburg Road also experienced hard fighting. Although Tracy
was killed early in the action, his brigade managed to hold its tenuous line. |
Bruinsburg Road
|
| It was clear, however, that unless the Confederates received heavy reinforcements they
would lose the day. Brigadier General John S. Bowen,
Confederate commander on the field, wired his superiors: "We have been engaged in a
furious battle ever since daylight; losses very heavy. The men act nobly, but the odds are
overpowering." Early afternoon found the Alabamans slowly giving ground.
Green's weary soldiers, having been reformed, arrived to bolster the line on the
Bruinsburg Road. |
Rodney Road
|
Even so, late in the afternoon, the Federals advanced all along the line
in superior numbers. As Union pressure built, Cockrell's Missourians unleashed a vicious
counterattack near the Rodney Road which began to roll up the blue line. The 6th Missouri also counterattacked hitting the Federals near
the Bruinsburg Road.All this was to no avail for the odds against them were too great. The
Confederates were checked and driven back. The day was lost. At 5:30 p.m. battle-weary
Confederates began to retire from the hard-fought field. |
|
|
| The battle of Port Gibson cost Grant 131 killed, 719 wounded, and 25
missing out of 23,000 men engaged. This victory not only secured his position on
Mississippi soil, but enabled him to launch his campaign deeper into the interior of the
state. Union victory at Port Gibson forced the Confederate evacuation of Grand Gulf and
would ultimately result in the fall of Vicksburg. The Confederates suffered 60 killed,
340 wounded, and 387 missing out of 8,000 men engaged. In addition, 4 guns of the
Botetourt (Virginia) Artillery were lost. The action at Port Gibson underscored
Confederate inability to defend the line of the Mississippi River and to respond to
amphibious operations. Confederate Soldiers are buried at Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson.
Grant's March, Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863 100k, Large Format
Map-Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 0815 1030 hours 94k, Large Format
Map-Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1100-1600 hours 99k
Map-Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1630-1730 hours 105k, Large Format
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Previous Page |
|
Next Page |
|
  
 |
Last update: Friday, November 05, 1999
http://www.nps.gov/vick/vcmpgn/ptgibson.htm
Editor: G. Zeman |
|
|
|
|
