On May 8, 1863, as the Union XV Corps left Grand Gulf, two divisions of the XVII Corps rested at Hankinson's Ferry and Rocky Springs to wait for rations. Three divisions of the XIII Corps camped at Big Sand Creek, one and a half miles northeast, while a fourth was at Little Sand Creek. On May 9, the two XVII Corps divisions marched through here along the Natchez Trace and passed through the XIII Corps divisions, which remained in camp. The object of these maneuvers was to move the army toward the railroad.