The Union troops marching around St. Joseph Lake reached the Mississippi River today at Hard Times, nearly opposite Grand Gulf. After a short stop at Hard Times, the column marched toward De Shroon's plantation further downriver. However, the day was eventful for the soldiers, as they could see and hear the battle at Grand Gulf.
Earlier in the morning, Admiral Porter left Hard Times with his fleet, and headed down the river followed by three divisions of McClernand's corps in transports. The plan was to land the troops and assault the works at Grand Gulf as soon as the enemy's guns were silenced.
Porter's bombardment began at 8 o'clock and the firing was very deliberate and continued non-stop until 1 o'clock., when the Confederates ceased firing. However, the navy failed to reduce the Confederate works.
The 130th Regiment was encamped a few miles below the battle, and Charles Johnson described it like this:
...and the cannonading made a terrific noise. Whether it came from the heavy caliber of the guns engaged or from the peculiar state of atmosphere, I cannot say, but never did the terrific din of cannonading strike my ears with such force. Every shot, too, seemed to have a peculiar ringing sound that was piercing in its effects upon the organs of hearing.During the battle Porter lost 19 killed and 56 wounded. Every one of his vessels suffered some damage, especially the Tuscumbia, which was struck 81 times, making her unfit for service.
The Confederates also suffered casualties. However, it was unclear if all the Confederate guns had been destroyed or just some of them. General Grant decided not to risk landing the infantry. So, McClernand moved his men back to Hard Times, where they disembarked and marched across the bend to a point about 3 miles below Grand Gulf, but on the west side of the river.
Later that night Porter renewed the attack on the Grand Gulf batteries. The battery fired on the boats and the boats answered with shell and solid shot. The scene was grand, and the roar was awful. Union troops near the battle could trace the shells from both sides by following the light of the fuse, as they arced through the air. They could then see the shells burst as they struck.
While the battle raged, the troop transports managed to get by without serious injury.
And while this battle raged below Vicksburg. General Sherman sent ten regiments above Vicksburg on the Yazoo River towards Haines' Bluff, as if to attack. At the same time eigh gunboats bombarded it. But the whole demonstration at Haines' Bluff was only a feint intended to confuse the enemy and divert attention from the real point of attack at Grand Gulf.
