Vicksburg National Military Park in Warren County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1.

Campaign, Siege, and Defense of Vicksburg; 1863.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

1. Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1. Marker

Inscription. The Union Army under command of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant was composed of the 13th Corps and Logan's Division of the 17th Corps. The Confederate Army, under command of Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen, was composed of Tracy’s, Cockrell's, Green’s, and Baldwin's brigades, the 6th Mississippi Infantry, the Botetourt (Virginia) artillery, and a section of Hudson’s (Mississippi) battery. Most of the Confederate arrived with thinned ranks. Tracy's brigade held the right,Green's and the Sixth Mississippi the left of the Confederate line. The battle was opened at an early hour by the advance of Carr's and Hovey’s divisions on the right and Osterhaus on the left of the Union line, Smith's Division in reserve. The confederate left was driven back about 10 a.m. and Baldwin’s brigade, just arrived, formed a new line about one and one-half miles in rear of the first position. Two regiments, just arrived, of Cockrell's Brigade were posted on the new line; Green's brigade and one regiment, just arrived, of Cockrell’s brigade, were ordered to the Confederate right which had retired a little from its first position. The First Brigade of Logan’s division

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was sent, on arrival, to the Union left the Third reinforced the Union right and Smith's Division became engaged; the Second Brigade of Logan's Division did not arrive until near the close of the battle. The Confederate line was held until about 5:30 pm., when both wings were driven from their positions and fell back across Bayou Pierre, the First and Fourth Missouri Infantry (consolidated) of Cockrell's Brigade arriving in time to assist in covering the retreat. Casualties: Union; killed 131, wounded 719, missing 25, total 875, one officer killed. Confederate; killed 56, wounded 328, missing 341, total 725, Brig.Gen. E. D. Tracy and three other officers killed.

Erected by the United States War Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 32° 22.624′ N, 90° 50.081′ W. Marker is in Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi, in Warren County. It is on Grant Circle west of Grant Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Grant Circle, Vicksburg MS 39183, United States

Marker located below the statue of General U.S. Grant. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 25, 2017

2. Marker located below the statue of General U.S. Grant.

of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

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: U.S. Detached for Service on Gunboats; (a few steps from this marker); U.S. Detached for Service on Gunboats (a few steps from this marker); Engagement at Raymond, Mississippi, May 12. (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named U.S. Detached for Service on Gunboats; (a few steps from this marker); Engagement at Jackson, Mississippi, May 14. (within shouting distance of this marker); Ulysses S. Grant (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi, May 16.

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Assault on the Confederate Line of Defense, May 19. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vicksburg National Military Park.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Battle of Port Gibson. (Submitted on November 17, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 451 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 17, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.