In April 1863 General Ulysses S. Grant began his operations to cross the Mississippi and advance on Vicksburg. He undertook this endeavor by launching two assaults simulanteously. One in the north under Sherman near Vicksburg itself at Snyder's Bluff intended as a distraction and one in the sought at Grand Gulf intended as the real crossing.
His plans were frustrated by General John S. Bowen, who's division turned back the Federal's attempt to cross at that position. Having been thwarted at Grand Gulf, Grant moved further south to Bruinsburg to try again to cross.
General Bowen, meanwhile, had sent immediate corispondence to his commander - General John C. Pemberton - informing him of events at Grand Gulf. This done, Bowen moved out of Grand Gulf with his division and moved to Port Gibson. With cavalry to perform reconnaissance he could not know where Grant would attempt to cross again and so chose Port Gibson as the strongest line to defend should Grant attempt to advance in that area.
What followed was the battle of Port Gibson. Throughout the morning and early afternoon on May 1 the Confederates fought the Federal tide as long as they could, holding positions until they were about to be overwhelmed then falling back to another line to defend again, until at last a Federal flanking move forced them to abandon their positions and fall back to Grand Gulf.
There at Grand Gulf the Confederate as much as they could before falling back again. General William Loring soon arrived and could only confirm that Bowen's actions had been the correct ones to take. Both Bowen and Loring retired to Edward's Station to link up with Pemberton and the Army of Mississippi.
Bowen would go on to perform the best at Champion Hill where he almost broke the Federal line but lack of support wasted his efforts. He would fight a token rearguard at the Big Black River before falling into Vicksburg with Pemberton and participating in the defence of the city. He also took part in surrender negotiations and was paroled but died shortly after of dysentery.
So, the change here is, what if Bowen had retreated on Jackson instead of Edward's Station? What difference could he have made to the Vicksburg Campaign had he been at the Mississippi State Capital rather Edward's Station and Vicksburg? And could he gone on to play a larger role in events in 1864 and become one of the premier officers of the Confederacy or would he fade into obscurity like so many others?
His plans were frustrated by General John S. Bowen, who's division turned back the Federal's attempt to cross at that position. Having been thwarted at Grand Gulf, Grant moved further south to Bruinsburg to try again to cross.
General Bowen, meanwhile, had sent immediate corispondence to his commander - General John C. Pemberton - informing him of events at Grand Gulf. This done, Bowen moved out of Grand Gulf with his division and moved to Port Gibson. With cavalry to perform reconnaissance he could not know where Grant would attempt to cross again and so chose Port Gibson as the strongest line to defend should Grant attempt to advance in that area.
What followed was the battle of Port Gibson. Throughout the morning and early afternoon on May 1 the Confederates fought the Federal tide as long as they could, holding positions until they were about to be overwhelmed then falling back to another line to defend again, until at last a Federal flanking move forced them to abandon their positions and fall back to Grand Gulf.
There at Grand Gulf the Confederate as much as they could before falling back again. General William Loring soon arrived and could only confirm that Bowen's actions had been the correct ones to take. Both Bowen and Loring retired to Edward's Station to link up with Pemberton and the Army of Mississippi.
Bowen would go on to perform the best at Champion Hill where he almost broke the Federal line but lack of support wasted his efforts. He would fight a token rearguard at the Big Black River before falling into Vicksburg with Pemberton and participating in the defence of the city. He also took part in surrender negotiations and was paroled but died shortly after of dysentery.
So, the change here is, what if Bowen had retreated on Jackson instead of Edward's Station? What difference could he have made to the Vicksburg Campaign had he been at the Mississippi State Capital rather Edward's Station and Vicksburg? And could he gone on to play a larger role in events in 1864 and become one of the premier officers of the Confederacy or would he fade into obscurity like so many others?