Bombardment of Confederate Fortifications by Federal Gunboats

Bombardment of Confederate Fortifications by Federal Gunboats. Fort Gibson Historic Tour. The river on April 29, 1863, was at flood stage and falling. It was overflowing its banks from the bluffs on the east to high ground beyond the flood pain to the west. The river bend upstream just above the "Point of Rocks" force the current of the main channel to this side and to the bluffs on which the Confederate Forts of Coburn and Wade were located. Rear Admiral Porter deployed his fleet of seven gunboats along a line about in this area in very strong currents and counter currents. Firing began at seven o'clock a.m. and lasted continuously for about five and one-half hours. Fort Wade, slightly to the right on the bluff above, was knocked out. Fort Coburn, upstream to the left of the "Point of Rocks", was never silenced. Several boats were estimated to be damaged and one disabled., Porter communicated with General Grant who remained with his army on transports a short distance above Grand Gulf. He decided to land his troops across on the Louisiana side and march south across Coffee Point to Disharoon's Plantation, a point below the Confederate fortifications., At eight o'clock p.m. under cover of darkness, the gunboats and empty transports slipped safety by and tied up about four miles below Grand Gulf where they met Grant's troops and transported them to Bruinsburg, Miss. Here they were disembarked and started their "March to Port Gibson" and eventually to surround Vicksburg.