Bruinsburg to Port Gibson in the Vicksburg Campaign
The story of the Vicksburg Campaign is etched not just in grand strategies and battlefield maneuvers, but also in the intimate details of small towns, winding roads, and the lives they touched. One such narrative unfolds between the now-vanished settlement of Bruinsburg and the historic town of Port Gibson, Mississippi, revealing a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. This article delves into the historical significance of this area, exploring the events that led Bruinsburg to Port Gibson in the Vicksburg Campaign and its lasting impact.
A short distance inland from the Mississippi River, where Bayou Pierre empties its waters, once stood Bruinsburg. Established in 1788 by Peter Bryan Bruin, an Irish immigrant and veteran of the American Revolution, the settlement quickly flourished. Bruin, having secured a generous land grant from the Spanish government in exchange for bringing twelve families to the region, transformed the area into a thriving agricultural hub. Tobacco, indigo, corn, and cotton fields stretched across the landscape, interspersed with fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, a testament to the industrious spirit of its inhabitants.
Bruin became a prominent figure in the Natchez District, serving as an alcalde under Spanish rule and later as a territorial judge when the region became an American possession. His home even played host to Aaron Burr, the infamous former Vice President, during his flight from treason charges. During the heydays of heavy Mississippi River traffic, Bruinsburg evolved into a bustling port and cotton market, becoming a center of economic activity. Oral tradition suggests that future President Andrew Jackson established a trading post there for a time. However, the Civil War brought an end to the river commerce and the town’s prosperity.
In April 1863, Bruinsburg became a crucial element in the Vicksburg Campaign, forever altering its destiny. Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant selected it as the primary landing site for his troops, initiating a bold maneuver to capture the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. The once-bustling port was now almost deserted, bearing silent witness to the impending invasion. The nearby Windsor Plantation, with its imposing presence, served as a reminder of the region’s past wealth.
Grant’s initial objective was to cross the Mississippi River at Grand Gulf, further north, and then advance on Vicksburg from the south. On April 29, 1863, a Union fleet bombarded the Confederate defenses at Grand Gulf for five hours, but the Confederate guns proved too resilient. Rear Admiral David D. Porter, commander of the Union naval forces, declared Grand Gulf "the strongest place on the Mississippi."
Undeterred, Grant shifted his strategy, moving his troops south towards Bruinsburg. While Admiral Porter provided cover for the transport vessels, Grant sent reconnaissance parties across the river to gather intelligence on potential landing sites and inland routes. One such party returned with a fugitive slave from Louisiana who possessed vital knowledge of the roads leading to Port Gibson.
On April 30, 1863, the first wave of Union soldiers landed unopposed at Bruinsburg. As they disembarked, the U.S.S. Benton’s band played "The Red, White, and Blue," symbolizing the Union’s resolve. This initial landing was followed by the rest of the XIII Union Army Corps and portions of the XVII Corps. By late afternoon, approximately 17,000 soldiers had come ashore, marking the beginning of their march inland. This amphibious operation was the largest in American military history until the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.
The Union forces quickly secured the bluffs overlooking the landing area. More troops followed the next day, swelling the ranks of the invading army. The Federal soldiers paused at Windsor Plantation, resting in the shade of its grand oaks. Later that afternoon, the decision was made to push on that night, hoping to surprise the Confederates and prevent them from destroying the bridges over Bayou Pierre. Instead of taking the most direct route, the Bruinsburg Road, Grant’s columns veered onto the Rodney Road, passing Bethel Church and marching through the night. This decision would play a significant role in the events that followed.
The next objective in the Bruinsburg to Port Gibson in the Vicksburg Campaign was the capture of Port Gibson. Roads from there led to Vicksburg and Jackson. As McClernand’s 14th Corps, numbering 17,000 strong, landed, the rebels abandoned Grand Gulf and moved toward Port Gibson. General John A. McClernand, aiming to secure the bridges over Bayou Pierre before the retreating Confederates destroyed them, ordered a forced march during the evening of April 30-May 1.
Confederate General John C. Pemberton, confused by Grant’s diversions, had dispersed his troops to defend Vicksburg. This left few Confederate forces to resist Grant’s advance from Bruinsburg. The Confederate brigades of Brigadier Generals Martin E. Green and Edward Tracy marched south along the Bruinsburg Road to contest the Union invasion. The two brigades were separated by a deep ravine, preventing mutual support. The "Y" intersection of the Bruinsburg and Rodney Roads became the critical point for Confederate movement.
Shortly after midnight, fighting erupted near the A.K. Shaifer house as the Union forces stumbled upon Confederate outposts. A spirited skirmish ensued until 3:00 a.m. As dawn approached, both sides prepared for a full-scale battle. The Union troops began their advance along the Rodney Road towards Magnolia Church, while another division moved along a connecting plantation road toward the Bruinsburg Road and the Confederate right flank. At 5:30 a.m., the battle began in earnest.
Most Union forces moved along the Rodney Road toward Magnolia Church and Brigadier General Martin E. Green’s Brigade. Outnumbered, the Confederates retreated around 10:00 a.m. to a new line between the White and Irwin branches of Willow Creek, where Brigadier General William E. Baldwin’s and Colonel Francis M. Cockrell’s brigades established a new line. Brigadier General Edward D. Tracy’s Alabama Brigade, positioned along the Bruinsburg Road, also faced heavy fighting. Tracy was killed early in the battle.
As the fighting intensified, Brigadier General John S. Bowen, the Confederate commander, urgently requested reinforcements. Despite their valiant efforts, the Confederates were slowly giving ground. By late afternoon, the Federals had advanced along the entire line. A Confederate counterattack near the Rodney Road briefly threatened to roll up the Union line, but ultimately, the Confederate forces were driven back. At 5:30 p.m., they began to withdraw from the battlefield.
The Battle of Port Gibson resulted in 131 Union soldiers killed, 719 wounded, and 25 missing, out of a force of 23,000. The Confederate losses amounted to 60 killed, 340 wounded, and 387 missing, from an engagement of 8,000 men. The Union victory at Port Gibson secured Grant’s position in Mississippi and enabled him to push deeper into the state’s interior. This victory forced the Confederate evacuation of Grand Gulf and ultimately led to the fall of Vicksburg.
After the battle, Union troops entered Port Gibson. Grant continued his advance, taking Raymond on May 12 and the capital of Jackson on May 14. From there, the Union troops turned west again, winning the battles of Champion Hill on May 16 and the Big Black River Bridge on May 17. On May 18, 1863, the Siege of Vicksburg began, lasting nearly six weeks and becoming a pivotal turning point in the Civil War. The Bruinsburg to Port Gibson in the Vicksburg Campaign served as the opening act in this larger drama.
Several sites in the area offer a glimpse into the events of the Vicksburg Campaign. The Bayou Pierre Presbyterian Church, where the 20th Alabama Infantry was posted during the Battle of Port Gibson, stands as a reminder of the intense fighting that took place. Nearby, Bethel Presbyterian Church, which Union troops passed on their march to Port Gibson, remains a landmark.
Bruinsburg Landing, now on private property, is a ghost town. The Bruinsburg Road, a key route for both Union and Confederate troops, remains partially preserved as Mississippi Highway 552. Magnolia Church, where fierce fighting occurred, is now marked only by its brick foundation and a historic marker.
The Rodney Road, much of which remains unchanged since the Civil War, evokes images of soldiers marching to battle. The A.K. Shaifer House, used as a surgical hospital after the battle, has been restored and is open to the public. The Windsor Ruins Loop, a 32-mile driving/biking tour off the Natchez Trace, provides access to many of these sites.
Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson serves as the final resting place for many Confederate soldiers killed in the Battle of Port Gibson. Confederate Generals Earl Van Dorn and Benjamin Grubb Humphreys are also interred there.
The narrative of Bruinsburg to Port Gibson in the Vicksburg Campaign is a testament to the strategic brilliance and resilience of the soldiers who fought there. While Bruinsburg has vanished from the map, its role as the launching point for Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign ensures its place in history.