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.