On October 14, 1862, Confederate Gen. John Pemberton assumed command in Mississippi and east Louisiana. Eleven days later, Gen. Ulysses Grant became commander of Union forces in the region. Over the next 8 1/2 months, their forces fought for control of Vicksburg and the Mississippi River. On November 2, Grant moved down the Mississippi Central R.R. and established an advance supply base at Grand Junction, Tennessee on the 4th. By November 28, the Federals were camped at Lamar, six miles south of here.