needs clarification. If this older source (archives to 2006) duplicates a PD source, we need verification of same. Can't find any other text string matches.
Grand Gulf, Mississippi was one of the busiest ports on the Mississippi River.
In the spring of 1862, Commodore David Farragut sent his powerful ocean-going squadron up the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge and Natchez fell to the squadron, 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 sent 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 E. Paine to land on Bayou Pierre. After occupying Grand Gulf, Paine's troops burned down the few remaining buildings. Late in July, Farragut's fleet withdrew from the Vicksburg area.
Grand Gulf the memorial
In 1938, the Mississippi Legislature created the Grand Gulf Military Monument Commission to purchase land and develop the Grand Gulf site. It officially opened to the public in May 1962 as a 400 acres (160 ha) memorial for both the town and the battle, Battle of Grand Gulf, in which occurred there. Dedication ceremonies were held April 7, 1968.
Two forts, Fort Wade and Fort Cobun, have been preserved. Various gun trenches and emplacements, an old cemetery and the caretaker house have also been preserved. A number of wagons and carriages, including a Civil War ambulance wagon, are displayed in a nearby building. The modern museum building contains a wealth of artifacts and documents relating to Grand Gulf and Civil War activities in the area of Claiborne County, Port Gibson and southwestern Mississippi in general.