Near Grand Gulf in Claiborne County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Naval Battle During Grant’s Campaign

Grand Gulf Historic Tour

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 2, 2017

1. Naval Battle During Grant’s Campaign Marker

Inscription. War returned in March, 1863. Fearful that Major General Grant’s army might bypass Vicksburg, Lieutenant General J. C. Pemberton ordered Brigadier General John Bowen to move his troops to Grand Gulf. During the next several weeks, Bowen’s troops built fortifications and mounted big guns. Rebuffed in his efforts to capture Vicksburg, Grant marched southward through Louisiana from Milliken’s Bend. He planned to cross the Mississippi and take Grand Gulf, which would give the Federals a base for operations against Vicksburg to the south. To support the attack, Rear Admiral D.D. Porter ran several ironclads past the Vicksburg batteries on the night of April 16. On April 29 the Federals were ready to strike. Porter’s ironclads opened fire on Forts Cobun and Wade. Porter’s squadron consisted of the “Pittsburgh”, “Louisville”, “Carondelet”, “Mound City”, “Tuscumbia”, Lafayette”, and the flagship “Benton”. The bombardment lasted for five hours. The “Tuscumbia” was disabled and the guns in Fort Wade silenced. The big guns in Fort Cobun still

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roared defiance. Defeated in efforts to drive the Confederates back, Porter called off the attack. Under cover of darkness, the Federals bypassed Grand Gulf and crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg the next morning.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1863.

Location. 32° 2.552′ N, 91° 3.097′ W. Marker is near Grand Gulf, Mississippi, in Claiborne County. It is on Grand Gulf Road 1.8 miles north of Frazier Road when traveling north. This marker, along with several others, are located in a wooded area at the end of Grand Gulf Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Port Gibson MS 39150, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Mississippi, in Natchez Trace Corridor,

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 2, 2017

2. Naval Battle During Grant’s Campaign Marker

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort Cobun (within shouting distance of this marker); Whirlpool (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Hot Shot Furnace (within shouting distance of this marker); Point of Rock (within shouting distance of this marker); On to Vicksburg (approx. 0.6 miles away); Grand Gulf (approx. 0.7 miles away); Town of Grand Gulf (approx. 0.7 miles away); Confederate Riﬂe Pits (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Gulf.

Also see . . . The Battle of Grand Gulf. (Submitted on July 18, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Gen. John S. Bowen image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. Gen. John S. Bowen

Admiral David D. Porter image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

4. Admiral David D. Porter

USS Tuscumbia image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

5. USS Tuscumbia

USS Cincinnati image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

6. USS Cincinnati

Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 424 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 18, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.