The Fall of Grand Gulf, Mississippi

In the last post, I wrote about Gideon Welles and President Lincoln receiving news of the capture of Grand Gulf on May 8, 1863.  Some more information about it.

From Wikipedia.

The Battle of Grand Gulf was fought April 29, 1863.  Then, i had to wonder why Washington, D.C., didn't get the news until May 8?

The fact is that the Union forces lost the battle on April 29.

Rear Admiral David D. Porter took seven ironclads in to attack Grand Gulf, downriver from Vicksburg.  The Confederates withstood a horrendous bombardment and prevented Federal infantry from landing.

The two major Confederate fortifications were earthen Fort Cobun and Fort Wade.  Union troops were from Major General Jogn A. McClernand's XIII Corps.  Porter's ironclads were the USS Benton, Lafayette, Tuscumbia, Carondelet, Louisville, Mound City and Pittsburg.  The Tuscumbia was put out of action.

The Union fleet withdrew, but after dark ran by the Confederate fortifications.  They landed troops and several days later, the Confederates evacuated Grand Gulf.

--Old B-Runner