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| WATER WHEEL | FIRE TOWER |
CARRIAGE HOUSE
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| CIVIL WAR AMBULANCE | PORT GIBSOM VOLUNTEER FIRE TRUCK |
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ONE MAN
SUBMARINE Used during the early prohibition period to bootleg whiskey and rum from Davis Island to Vicksburg. It was powered by a Model T Ford engine. |
THE CIVIL WAR AT GRAND GULF STATE PARK
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GRAND GULF
MILITARY PARK In 1938, the Mississippi Legislature created the Grand Gulf Military Monument Commission to purchase land and develop the Grand Gulf site. The Grand Gulf Military State Park opened in May, 1962. Dedication ceremonies were held April 7, 1968. On its 104 beautiful acres are the remains of Forts Wade and Cobun, various gun trenches and emplacements, an old cemetery, an observation tower, and several buildings. The caretaker house is an early structure dating from the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. It is simple in form with four rooms and three exterior chimneys. A gallery extends across the front. A number of wagons and carriages are displayed in a nearby building. The modern museum building contains a wealth of artifacts and documents relating to Grand Gulf, Civil War activities in the area. Claiborne County, Fort Gibson, and southwestern Mississippi in general. The Grand Gulf Military State Park is included in the National Register of Historic Places. |
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THE BUILDUP
FOR WAR By the use of flying batteries, the Confederates were so mobile that the Union troops had much difficulty is stopping fortification of bluffs behind Grand Gulf. Harassment forced Commodore David Farragut to convoy the unarmed ships. In March 1863, Confederate fortifications were strengthened and armament was increased by addition of Wade's and Gulbor's Missouri Batteries under command of Colonel William Wade, chief of artillery for Brigadier General John Bowe. Bowen had some 2,300 infantry to man the extensive new rifle pits. Dug into the side of the Point of Rock, about forty feet above the gulf. Fort Cobun was protected by a parapet nearly forty feet thick. Here was located the upper battery, mounting at time of attack, two 32-pounder rifles, one 8-inch Dahlgren, and a 30-pounder Parrott rifle, with extensive rifle pits. Fort Wade, the lower fort, just behind the ruined town, was situated on a shelf about twenty feet above and a quarter of a mile distant from the river. Fort Wade's armament consisted of one 100-pounder Blakely rifle, one 8-inch Dahlgren, and two 32-pounder riffles. Fort Wade also had extensive rifle pits. |
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WAR COMES TO
GRAND GULF No town in Mississippi felt the sting of the Civil War worse than did Grand Gulf. In the spring of 1862, Commodore David Farragut sent his powerful ocean-going squadron up the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge and Natchez fell, but Vicksburg refused to surrender. As long as Vicksburg was held by the Confederates, Union control of the Mississippi was blocked. To harass the Union warships and transports, Major General Mansfield Lovell ordered Confederate field artillery and supporting infantry to Grand Gulf. On May 26, the Brookhaven Artillery commanded by Captain James Hoskins fired on Union transports. In reprisal, several of Farragut's warships shelled Grand Gulf. For four weeks, there were frequent engagements between the Confederate field artillery and the warships. On June 9 and 10, heavy attacks were made on the town. A landing party was put ashore and Grand Gulf was partially burned. Undaunted, the Confederates continued their attacks on Union Shipping. The Union army sent a strong column led by Colonel Halbert Paine to land on Bayou Pierre. After occupying Grand Gulf, Paine's troops put the torch to the few remaining buildings. Late in July, Farragut's fleet withdrew from the Vicksburg area. |
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PADDLE
WHEEL OF THE CONFEDERATE TRANSPORT CHARM The paddle wheel, frame, and part of the pump came from the wreck of the Confederate Transport, Charm in the Big Black River. The Charm, a 225-ton side wheeler, was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1860. She was converted from a Yazoo River packet to a Confederate transport. She was conspicuous for bravery of the Battle of Belmont, Missouri, ferried troops across the Mississippi River to meet Grant's thrust down the Louisiana side of the river, and brought the big guns to Grand Gulf from the railroad bridge on the Big Black River. |
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FIRST GRAND GULF
NAVAL BATTLE In May 1862, cannoneers of Brookhaven Light Artillery, commanded by Captain James Hoskins, reached Grand Gulf, Hoskins had gunners emplace and mask four 6-pounders on bluffs behind the village. The task was to harass the Federal fleet commanded by Flag Officer Commodore David Farragut. On May 26, 1862, the Confederate artillerists wisely let three warships pass undisturbed, but as unarmed transports drew abreast, the four 6-pounders roared into action scoring hits on the "Laurel Hill". Before the warships could get into a position to return the fire, the flying battery was gone. Captain Thomas Craven, commander to the warship "Brooklyn" determined to teach the Confederates a lesson by bombarding the town of Grand Gulf. Captain Craven, intent on burning the town, conferred with Brigadier General Thomas Williams and agreed to spare the town, but to send Federal forces to levy a forced contribution of cattle, pigs, poultry and wood upon the populace. Under cover of darkness on the night of June 8, 1862, the Confederates moved 6 and 12-pounders into position on the ridge behind Grand Gulf. The next morning crews of these guns attack the "Wissahicken" and "Itasca" while these vessels were passing the batteries. |
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SECOND GRAND GULF
NAVAL BATTLE In April, 1863, Major General Ulysses Grant decided to alter his Vicksburg strategy by moving his troops down the Mississippi River. On April 29, 1863, the Federals launched a determined assault on Grand Gulf. The Confederates made a vigorous reply to the Union attack with their eight heavy field pieces. For six and a half hours the two forts were shelled by the gunboats. Realizing how capable the Confederate Batteries were at withstanding the assault, the gunboats were signaled to withdraw. General Grant, who witnessed the encounter on board a tug in the Mississippi River, decided against trying to run the unarmed transports, loaded to the gunwales with men, past the Confederate batteries. Instead, Grant executed his alternate plan of disembarking his men and marching them down the Louisiana side of the river to Disharoon's Plantation, about three miles down the river. |
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BOMBARDMENT OF
CONFEDERATE FORTIFICATIONS BY FEDERAL GUNBOATS The river on April 10, 1863, was at flood stage and falling. It was overflowing its banks from the bluffs on the east to high ground beyond the flood plain to the west. The river bend |
| upstream just above the "Point of Rocks"
forced the current of the main channel to this side and to the bluffs on
which the Confederate Ports of Coburn and Wade were located. Rear Admiral
Porter deployed his fleet of seven gunboats along a line about in this area
in very strong currents and counter currents. Firing began at seven
o'clock AM and lasted continuously for about five and one half hours. Fort
Wade, slightly to the right on the bluff above was knocked out. Fort
Coburn, upstream to the left on the "Points of Rocks", was never silenced.
Several boats were estimated to be damaged and one disabled.
Porter communicated with General Grant who remained with his army on transports a short distance above Grand Gulf. He decided to land his troops across on the Louisiana side and march south across Coffee Point to Disharoon's Plantation, a point below the Confederate fortifications. At eight o'clock PM, under cover of darkness, the gunboats and empty transports slipped safely by and tied up about four miles below Grand Gulf where they met Grant's troops and transported them to Brainsburg, Mississippi. Here they were disembarked and started their "March to Port Gibson" and eventually to surround Vicksburg. |
| FORT WADE On a shelf overlooking the charred ruins of Grand Gulf the Confederate engineers built Fort Wade. Guibor's and Wade's Missouri Batteries manned its four big guns. When Admiral David G Farragut's squadron passed Grand Gulf on March 31, the guns of Fort Wade roared into action. General John S Bowen, the Confederate commander at Grand Gulf, had a narrow escape when one of the 20-pounder Parrott's burst as he entered the emplacement. |
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FORT WADE On April 29, four of Admiral David D Porter's "City Series" ironclads came down river, and took position one-fourth of a mile from Fort Wade. A terrible artillery duel ensued. They were joined by the mighty "Lafayette". Fort Wade was smothered by the storm of shot and shell delivered by the five gunboats. Two32-pounder rifles were dismounted, and the parapet knocked to pieces. Colonel William Wade had his head torn off. By 11 AM Fort Wade had been silenced and Porter's entire squadron concentrated its fire on Fort Cobun. |
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FORT WADE'S
AMMUNITION MAGAZINE Destroyed by the Confederates on the morning of May 3, 1863, when Grand Gulf became untenable against the Federal Army approaching from Port Gibson. The large sections of iron grate are the remains of the town's jail which was moved into the fort to house the ammunition. |
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XIII-INCH
MORTAR Was probably used by the Union in the fight for Vicksburg. In the early 1900's it was seen partially buried in the levee on Davis Island. These mortars were mounted on schooners or box-like boats. The mortars weighed 17,000 pounds and fired 200 pound explosive "bombs". |
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SUPPORTING
BATTERY Field pieces (10 and 20-pounder Parrott rifles) manned by cannoneers from either Guibor's or Wade's Missouri Batteries were mounted in this emplacement. These guns were used against the attacking gunboats on April 29, 1863. |
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GUN EMPLACEMENT To guard against a Union attack in their rear, the Confederates threw up this work. Note the embrasures for four field guns and the ditch fronting the parapet. |
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GUN EMPLACEMENT To guard against a Union attack in their rear, the Confederates threw up this work. Note the embrasures for four field guns and the ditch fronting the parapet. |
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CONFEDERATE RIFLE
PITS During the April 29, 1863, bombardment of Grand Gulf, these rifle pits were held by the 6th Missouri (Confederate). |
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SUPPORTING
BATTERY Field pieces (10 and 20-pounder Parrott rifles) manned by cannoneers from either Gulbor's or Wade's Missouri Batteries were mounted in this emplacement. These guns were used against the attacking gunboats on April 29, 1863. |
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CONFEDERATE
RIFLE PITS During the April 29, 1863 bombardment of Grand Gulf these rifle pits and the "covered way" which linked Forts Wade and Coburn were held by the 3rd Missouri (Confederate). |
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VICTORIES AND
DEFEATS... THE COST OF WAR Despite the estimated more than 2,500 heavy projectiles fired into the Confederate forts, there was little damage. The Confederates suffered there dead, including Colonel Wade, and eighteen wounded. Union losses totaled nineteen dead and fifty-seven wounded. The "Benton" was rendered inactive by a shot through the control house. Two Confederate forts with thirteen guns had held off seven Federal gunboats. Ships of this squadron amassed eighty-one guns, many of which were 11-inch Dahlgrens. Defeat of Brigadier General John Bowen's army in engagements west of Port Gibson on May 1, 1863, made the fortifications at Grand Gulf untenable, and the Confederates decided to spike the guns, destroy ammunition, and abandon the works. Grand Gulf was then occupied by Union forces who used the site as a temporary base of supplies. |
HISTORIC HOMES AT GRAND GULF STATE PARK
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SCOTIA Built by Thomas Foster as a one room log house in 1766 in the community of Scotia, located 5 miles south of the present town of Roxie, in Franklin County, Mississippi. About 1789 a "dog trot" was added to connect a second room. The upstairs was added for families living quarters and the downstairs was used as a stage stop accommodation for travelers. |
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building was of hand-hewn yellow pine put together by the dove-tail method.
The timbers above the front door are 52 feet in length cut from heart pine
and still in perfect condition.
Mr and Mrs J A Paulk purchased "Scotie" from Robert Ferrells and moved it to Warren County, log by log. It was moved to this location in 1976 and donated in memory of the Faulk, Foster, and Johnston families of Claiborne County. |
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THE SPANISH HOUSE This house was built in the late 1790's of cypress, poplar, and heart pine, and put together with wooden pegs instead of nails. The Spanish built structure represents one of several homesteads erected by five different groups of "Conquerors" who occupied and raised their flag over this area. |
| The proximity of the house to Fort Wade caused considerable damage from Federal shells in 1863. It was repaired after the war and restored to its original condition in 1958 by replacing deteriorated timbers with new ones hewn from local forests. It is a jewel of the past and will be preserved for the pleasure of the future. |
HISTORIC CHURCHES OF GRAND GULF STATE PARK
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CONFEDERATE
MEMORIAL CHAPEL The building was donated to the State of Mississippi by the Rodney Foundation. It was moved to this site in 1983, and has been restored to its original condition. It will be used as a non-denominational chapel by religious and other groups approved by the Park. It is expected that its use will be on the same high level of conduct and purpose as exemplified by its original users. |
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SACRED
HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH |
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RODNEY SACRED
HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1866 - 1870 Listed in National Register of Historic Places, the church building was constructed in 1866, as the once flourishing river town was declining. Church completion was in the year preceding the disastrous 1869 fire. Although there is no recorded organized activity of the Rodney Catholics until 1867, they apparently were served by the priest in Port Gibson. In January, 1861, Bishop William Elder requested Father Philip Huber of Port Gibson to visit two Catholic families in Rodney. Father Charles Van Queckelberge of Port Gibson assisted in acquiring land and building the church, which was constructed by Patrick Murphy. The property was purchased by Bishop Elder in 1867 for $ 500 and construction was initiated shortly thereafter. The church was completed in 1866. A bell was purchased for $ 300. In 1869, Father Van Queckelberge was transferred due to bad health, an action which so provoked the Rodney congregation that a petition was sent to Bishop Elder to retain Father Van Queckelberge. In 1870, father Haber returned to serve for a year. |
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RODNEY SACRED
HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 1890 - 1957 During 1890, the priest's house was constructed and the mission received a Christmas gift from the Society of Brussels for "Poor Churches" as one of the most destitute churches of the diocese. This gift probably contained the vestments and altar hangings. In 1871, Father Haber reported to Bishop Elder that the value of the church, lot, and house, was approximately $ 3,500. For the next eight years, the mission was occasionally served by several priests. In late 1870's, a school operated at the church. The school created a financial drain on the church treasury, so parents were charged a monthly tuition to meet the cost, an increasing hardship on families in a declining community economy and population. During the 1927 flood, the church was damaged but repaired the following year. By 1933, the population of Rodney had diminished to less than 100. By 1937, only seven communicants remained at Sacred Heart, and services were that year discontinued. In February 1869, the Natchez-Jackson Diocese deeded the property to the Rodney Foundation for the most outstanding of the few remaining examples to Mississippi of carpenter gothic church architecture. |
JUST BEYOND GRAND GULF STATE PARK
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BRIERFIELD AND
HURRICANE The Brierfield and Hurricane plantations of Jefferson and Joseph Davis were located west of here at Davis Bend. War, floods, and fire have destroyed most of the physical evidence of these plantation homes. |
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SITE OF THE
HERMITAGE West 2 miles. Built about 1800 by George W Humphreys. Birthplace of Benjamin Grubb Humphreys (1808-1882). Brigadier General, Confederate States of America. Governor of Mississippi from 1865 to 1868. |
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| ABANDONED CHURCH | GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION |
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