Key Battle in the Vicksburg Campaign After crossing the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, Mississippi on April 30th, the Union Army of Major General Ulysses S. Grant marched inland in a northeasterly direction.  Grant’s forces engaged the Confederates at Port Gibson on May 1st, at Raymond on May 12th, and at Jackson on May 14th.  The [...]

Continue reading about General Alvin P. Hovey’s Division At the Battle of Champion Hill

The 15th Illinois Infantry was formed within days of the beginning of the Civil War in April 1861. The regiment’s first stop after leaving Illinois was across the Mississippi River in Missouri. At the end of July 1861, the 15th set up camp at Mexico, Missouri, about 110 miles northwest of St. Louis.  Among the other regiments [...]

Continue reading about Lieutenant Colonel Edward F.W. Ellis Stands Up to Ulysses S. Grant

Mark on November 14th, 2011

In March of 1864, a land force consisting of the Union Army’s 19th Corps and portions of the 13th, 16th, and 17th Corps under the command of Major General Nathaniel Banks headed northwest up the Red River in Louisiana. Accompanying the army was Admiral David D. Porter and the Mississippi Squadron, a fleet of vessels designed [...]

Continue reading about Colonel Joseph Bailey’s Red River Dam