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In the spring we followed the activities of Grant’s army as he tried on numerous occasions to get around John Pemberton.  We also called into question his integrity as presented in his memoirs.  Those operations had legitimate military functions and had any actually worked this series would be over by now.  They didn’t and so now we are in the next phase.  This program presents in 3 days what is usually presented by the Smithsonian Associates and HistoryAmerica tours in one day.

As Grant reached the spring season he determined to cross the Mississippi River below the Confederate fortifications at Vicksburg using Grand Gulf as his base.  We will follow his actions as canals are dug and roads south are blazed along levees, past Davis’ plantation and opposite a point where he could attack Grand Gulf.  We will examine how he got the river transport and gunboats down to support him and then consider his alternatives after the attacks on Forts Wade and Cobun failed.

We will then take a unique look at Grierson’s Raid as it passed within a few miles of Grant’s planned crossing.  This audacious raid tied up essential resources and left the Confederates at Grand Gulf blind as to Grant’s intentions.  You will then go down to a location only open to the BGES—Bruinsburg Landing and follow Grant’s move inland culminating with the battle at Port Gibson.  That battle is complicated and hard to follow.  We will devote the time necessary to unravel the mystery of the fight in a clearly understood fashion.

I think this is another one of those real gem programs—one that only BGES can do.  We take the West seriously and you will come to appreciate this game changing move on the part of US Grant.  It is “Check” in a game of chess and the Confederates have precious few moves before “Checkmate.” 

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