Battle of Big Black River Bridge

On this date of May 17 in 1863 occurred the Battle of Big Black River Bridge. Pulling back toward Vicksburg at their defeat at Champion Hill on the 16^th, the Confederates threw up a delaying defense on the east bank of the Black River. Three divisions of McClernand’s 13^th Corps engaged the Confederates under the command of John S. Bowen.

Burning the bridges behind them, Bowen’s men did what they could, though their losses totaled about 600 with close to 1800 captured. A bold charge by the men of General Mike Lawler on the Federal right flank had set the southerners into a panicked flight – some even drowning in the river in an attempt to escape. The Union forces threw up their own bridges and continued to follow the next day. Federal losses were only about 300 in total.

The three corps of Sherman, McPherson, and McClernand approached the Vicksburg defenses on the 18^th. Assaults on the 19^th and 22^nd were not at all successful, revealing the strength of the arc of Confederate works around the city. Hence Grant concluded that a siege would be the only successful way to cause the fall of Vicksburg.