On this day, June 7, 1863, a small but brutal battle was fought at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana, a Federal outpost just upriver from the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Both sides brought about the same number of men to the … Continue reading →
“At 2:30 a.m. …the enemy’s pickets fired upon my cavalry scouts and skirmishers. The cavalry scouts fell back…upon the skirmishers [who thought they were part of the enemy’s cavalry] …consequently they fired upon them, wounding…horses…[but]…fortunately no man was killed or … Continue reading →
This summer marks the 160th anniversary of the campaign for Vicksburg, and the Battle of Milliken’s Bend. The National Park Service is hosting a series of events as part of the America’s National Parks – Author Series, and two of … Continue reading →
Some discussion a few months ago at Civil War Talk pushed back against the notion of the Federal gunboats having a decisive role at Milliken’s Bend. After all, they were firing blind, caused few casualties, and were there in a … Continue reading →
The logbook of the gunboat Choctaw records the names of some of the men wounded at Milliken’s Bend. Lt. Commander F. W. Ramsay reported that Lt. Jonathan W. Ayers of Company K, 9th Louisiana, was wounded and “picked up in … Continue reading →