Battle of Young's Point

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Young's Point
partof=American Civil War


caption=
date=June 7, 1863
place=Madison Parish, Louisiana
casus=
territory=
result=Union victory
combatant1=United States of America
combatant2=Confederate States of America
combatant3=
commander1=
commander2=James M. Hawes
commander3=
strength1=brigade
strength2=brigade
strength3=
casualties1=
casualties2=
casualties3=
notes=

The Battle of Young's Point was an engagement in the American Civil War that took place in Madison Parish, Louisiana on June 7, 1863. It had an observable influence on the direction and conduct of the Vicksburg Campaign. The inability of the Confederates to destroy the vital Union supply depot at Young's Point and thus force Ulysses S. Grant to loosen his grip on Vicksburg contributed to the ultimate surrender of the city.

Background

Young's Point, a small town on the Mississippi River, was occupied by the Union Army of the Tennessee after the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou on December 27-29, 1862. It was used as a staging area for the Arkansas Post Expedition and as a headquarters by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and of the XV Corps during the winter of 1862-63. It was used by Adm. David D. Porter's Mississippi River Squadron as advanced naval station during that time.

Engagement

As the rugged veterans of Brig. Gen. Henry E. McCulloch's brigade of Walker's Greyhounds battled the Federals at Milliken's Bend, their fellow Texans of Brig. Gen. James M. Hawes' brigade moved against Young's Point. Provided with inefficient local guides and faulty intelligance, Hawes' Brigade, 1,400-strong, left Richmond (south of Tallula) at 7:00 p.m. on June 6. Lack of reconnaissance led the brigade to consume 17 hours to march 11 miles, because the men had to halt for 4 1/2 hours at Walnut Bayou because a bridge was out and scouts had to search for a suitable crossing point. Instead of arriving at dawn as planned, the exhausted brigade reached the vicinity of Young's Point at 10:30 a.m..

Informed that his men could approach the Federal encampment through woods, Hawes was shocked as his command debauched on to the open fields of a level plain in full view of the Federal camp situated below Young's Point some 1 1/2 miles in the distance. As the Texans advanced across the fields, they saw Federal reinforcements arrive by transports supported by gunboats. Realizing that the chances for success had disappeared, Hawes ordered his troops to retire. Thus, Confederate efforts at Young's Point ended in failure.

Aftermath

Young's Point was used as a major supply depot and trans-shipping point throughout the Vicksburg campaign.

References