Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant launched his march on
Vicksburg in the Spring of 1863, starting his army south, from
Milliken's Bend, on the west side of the Mississippi River. He intended
to cross the river at Grand Gulf, but the Union fleet was unable to
silence the Confederate big guns there. Grant then marched farther south
and crossed at Bruinsburg on April 30. Union forces came ashore,
secured the landing area and, by late afternoon, began marching inland.
Advancing on the Rodney Road towards Port Gibson, Grant's force ran into
Rebel outposts after midnight and skirmished with them for around three
hours. After 3:00 am, the fighting stopped. Union forces advanced on
the Rodney Road and a plantation road at dawn. At 5:30 am, the
Confederates engaged the Union advance and the battle ensued. Federals
forced the Rebels to fall back. The Confederates established new
defensive positions at different times during the day but they could not
stop the Union onslaught and left the field in the early evening. This
defeat demonstrated that the Confederates were unable to defend the
Mississippi River line and the Federals had secured their beachhead. The
way to Vicksburg was open.