War Comes to Grand Gulf

In the spring of 1862, as Commodore David Farragut sent his ocean-going squadron up the Mississippi River and Baton Rouge and Natchez fell while Vicksburg refused to surrender, Grand Gulf became a target in the struggle for control of the river. To harass Union warships and transports, Major General Mansfield Lovell ordered Confederate field artillery and supporting infantry to Grand Gulf. On May 26, the Brookhaven Artillery under Captain James Hoskins fired on Union transports, and several of Farragut's warships shelled Grand Gulf in reprisal. For four weeks, frequent engagements continued between the Confederate field artillery and the warships. On June 9 and 10, heavy attacks struck the town, a landing party came ashore, and Grand Gulf was partially burned. The Confederates nevertheless continued attacking Union shipping until a strong Union army column led by Colonel Halbert Paine landed on Bayou Pierre, occupied Grand Gulf, and burned most of the few remaining buildings. Late in July, Farragut's fleet withdrew from the Vicksburg area.

Mississippi · United States