Battle of Big Black River Bridge Facts

Quick Facts

• Also Known As: The Battle of Big Black River Bridge is also called the Battle of Big Black.
• Date Started: The Battle of Big Black River Bridge started on May 17, 1863.
• Date Ended: The fighting ended on May 17, 1863.
• Location: The battle took place east of Vicksburg, in Hinds County, Mississippi.
• Who Won: The Union won the Battle of Big Black River Bridge.

The Bridge the Confederates Burned at Big Black River. Image Source: Wikipedia.

Interesting Facts

• The Union Army of the Tennessee fought against the Confederate Army of Mississippi.
• The Union commander of the Army of the Tennessee during the battle was Major General Ulysses S. Grant.
• The Confederate commander of the Army of Mississippi during the battle was was Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton.
• The Union Army suffered 276 casualties.
• The Confederate Army suffered 1,751 casualties. Roughly 1,700 were soldiers that the Union army captured.

Campaign

• The battle was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of 1863.

Principal Union Commanders

• Major General Ulysses S. Grant

Principal Confederate Commanders

• Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton

Union Forces Engaged

• 13th Army Corps (Army of the Tennessee)

Confederate Forces Engaged

• Bridgehead Defense Force (three brigades).

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

• Undetermined

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 5,000

Estimated Union Casualties

• 276 (killed, wounded, captured/missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

• 1,751 (killed, wounded, captured/missing)

Result

• Union victory

Outcome

The Union victory at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge made the fate of the Rebel soldiers who eluded capture and made it back to Vicksburg inevitable. Major General Ulysses S. Grant invested the city for the next six weeks before the Pemberton surrendered Vicksburg and his army on July 4, 1863.

Timeline of the Battle of Big Black River Ridge

These are the main battles and events that led to and followed the battle, in chronological order.

• December 26–29, 1862 — Battle of Chickasaw Bayou
• February 3–April 8, 1863 — Yazoo Pass Expedition
• March 11–18, 1863 — Battle of Fort Pemberton
• April 29, 1863 — Battle of Grand Gulf
• May 1, 1863 — Battle of Port Gibson
• May 12, 1863 — Battle of Raymond
• May 14, 1863 — Battle of Jackson
• May 16, 1863 — Battle of Champion Hill
• May 17, 1863 —  Battle of Big Black River Bridge
• May 25–July 4, 1863 — Siege of Vicksburg
• July 4, 1863 — Surrender at Vicksburg
• July 4, 1863  — Battle of Helena