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(3-96) Greenwood, MS. near the
intersection of U.S. Highways 82 and 49E.
Site
Marker: Fort Pemberton Park
- In the 1863 Campaign against Vicksburg, General Grant tried several
approaches, one being to send troops on transports down the Tallahatchie
and Yazoo Rivers. He cut the Mississippi River levee in February which
flooded the several bayous between the Mississippi and Tallahatchie
Rivers, making a navigable connection. Twenty-two transports (with 5000
troops), two ironclads, two rams and six light draft gunboats made up
the first expedition, which was later reinforced with another brigade
and additional vessels. It took several weeks to make the two hundred
mile trip as the bayous were narrow and tortuous. Apprised of the
Federal plans the Confederate General John C. Pemberton ordered a fort
to be constructed to block the enemy forces. The engineers selected a
location where the Tallahatchie makes an abrupt turn easterly, the river
flowing to this point in a straight stretch. There being room for only
two gunboats abreast, thus the Confederates would be shooting down a
straight alley. The fort was hastily built of cotton bales covered with
earth, and named Fort Pemberton. It had but a few light guns, but one an
eight inch rifle, was very accurate. The fort was manned by 1500 men
under command of Brig. Gen. W.W.
Loring. cutting the levees had flooded
the area and the only approach to the fort was by water. To further
impede the enemy the steamship "Star of the West" was sunk in the
channel. The Federal Flotilla arrived at Fort Pemberton on March 11th ,
and the two ironclads attacked at 1000 yards, but both were damaged
after several attempts to reduce the fort. The Federal fleet retired to
the Mississippi. Grant had failed to reach Vicksburg by the
Tallahatchie-Yazoo route. Part of the fort is included in the park and
some of the original breastworks may be easily recognized. June
2000 Aerial
Photo courtesy of Mike O'Neal and John Adams (pilot), Greenwood,
Mississippi
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Aerial
Photographs
