The Battle of King's Creek
The campaign to take Vicksburg and control of the Mississippi River
had begun. On May 5, 1863, mounted infantry and cavalry units of the
Federal Ninth Illinois, Tenth Missouri and Seventh Kansas, under the
command of Colonel Florence Cornyn, were regrouping here when
they came under attack by Confederate (CSA) forces under the
command of Major W. M. Inge. The attack was driven back by
dismounted cavalry armed with Colt revolving rifles. The Federals
relocated to a stronger position one-half mile southwest where they
were engaged by Confederate forces under the command of CSA
Colonel Barteau. Heavy fighting occurred north and south of King's
Creek. The Confederates were routed after coming under canister fire
from three mountain howitzers located atop a ridge south of the
creek. Union forces suffered 23 casualties while the Confederates lost
20, with 40 wounded and 81 taken prisoner along with a large number
of horses and equipment.
The Campaign to Take Vicksburg
"Vicksburg is the key!" U.S. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed,
adding, "The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our
pocket!" In the spring of 1862, the Federal campaign to take Vicksburg,
Mississippi, began. General Ulysses
S. Grant's plan included sending
Federal forces down the east and west sides of Mississippi to occupy
Confederate troops and destroy railroads and supply lines that might
save a besieged Vicksburg, vital to keeping the Mississippi River out of
Union control. General Grant's plan worked, as area troops were not
able to reach the beleaguered Confederate troops in Vicksburg, and the
city surrendered to Union dictate on July 4, 1863, giving control of the
Mississippi River to Federal troops.
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