It was July 1863. After two years of bloody conflict, the American Civil War raged on, with no relief in sight. In fact, going into July, the Confederacy had every reason to believe that they would be victorious. In the east, every attempt by the Union to take Richmond had failed spectacularly, most recently at the Battle of Chancellorsville, where Gen. Joseph Hooker squandered his numerical advantage and was dealt a crushing blow by the Army of Northern Virginia.
Dude has prostitutes follow the army. What could possibly go wrong?
Emboldened by the success, Gen. Robert E. Lee led an invasion into Pennsylvania, where he hoped a major victory on northern soil would force Lincoln to agree to peace, and recognize the Confederate States of America as a sovereign nation.
In the west, the Union had more success. In May, the Army of the Tennessee under Gen. U.S. Grant had begun the daunting task of capturing the fortified river city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, which had been likened to the British stronghold of Gibraltar. Fighting a series of battles including Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Raymond, and Champions Hill, Grant eventually settled around Vicksburg itself, beginning an historic siege of the city.
Thus was the climate going into July, 1863. In the east, the Union seemed helpless, and in the west, the Confederates seemed down, but not out. But one thing that was true of the Civil War, or any war for that matter, is things can change very quickly. Just ask the Confederate States of America.
In the east, from July 1-3, Lee engaged the Army of the Potomac in and around the city of Gettysburg. Apparently deciding to go with a competent general for a change, Lincoln appointed George Meade to lead the army, and Meade was able to halt the Confederate attack. Both sides suffering a combined 53,000 casualties, the battle ended with a valiant yet doomed assault by the Confederates, thus changing the tide of war in the east.
"Whoopsie Daisy"
To make matters even worse for the Confederacy, on the 4th, Grant captured Vicksburg, taking almost 30,000 prisoners.
"Yeah, I'm kind of awesome"
All propaganda purposes aside, this was a huge blow to the south. They lost their stronghold on the Mississippi, and thousands of brave, hard fighting soldiers, and Gen. Pemberton who was really neither, but since he was a general, they'd have to try and get him back anyway.
Rank has its privileges
Despite the setback, the Confederates were not totally done on the Mississippi. They still had a small force stationed at Port Hudson, Louisiana. Port Hudson had weathered a Union assault in May, and although Union Gen. Nathaniel Banks had the garrison surrounded, through the month of June, the held out. However, on July 8th, when word of Vicksburg's surrender reached Confederate Gen. Franklin Gardner, the garrison surrendered to Union forces.
In retrospect, Port Hudson was hardly an obstacle. With only slightly north of 3,000 soldiers, there was really nothing they could have done to stop the Union from taking control of the Mississippi, unless Lincoln decided paddleboats would be more fun than gunboats and iron clads. But it was like the annoying little gnat that wouldn't die. Sure, the venomous scorpion that was Vicksburg was gone, but the gnat pestered on. The Union wasn't simply going to leave it there. It was kind of like in Tombstone after Doc Holliday kills Johnny Ringo. While the head of the snake was gone, the rest of the Cowboys had to be dealt with. Almost as a cleanup effort.
So there you have Port Hudson. A minor battle, a gnat, and a Cowboy.
It fell 150 years ago today, July 8th, 1863; an afterthought to one of the war's biggest battles.
"I swear to God, I better not be Ike Clanton! I mean that!"
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