War Comes to Grand Gulf

War Comes to Grand Gulf. Grand Gulf Historic Tour. No town in Mississippi felt the sting of the Civil War worse than did Grand Gulf. In the spring of 1862, Commodore David Farragut sent his powerful ocean-going squadron up the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge and Natchez fell, but Vicksburg refused to surrender. As long as Vicksburg was held by the Confederates. Union control of the Mississippi was blocked. To harass the Union warships and transports, Major General Mansfield Lovell ordered Confederate field artillery and supporting infantry to Grand Gulf. On May 26 the Brookhaven Artillery commanded by Captain James Hoskins fired on Union transports. In reprisal, several of Farragut's warships shelled Grand Gulf. For four weeks, there were frequent engagements between the Confederate field artillery and the warships. On June 9 and 10 heavy attacks were made on the town. A landing party was put ashore and Grand Gulf was partially burned. Undaunted, the Confederates continued their attacks on Union shipping. The Union army sent a strong column led by Colonel Halbert Paine to land on Bayou Pierre. After occupying Grand Gulf, Paine's troops put the torch to the few remaining buildings. Late in July, Farragut's fleet withdrew from the Vicksburg area.