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The Battle of Big Black River Bridge was fought #OTD in 1863. Part of General Ulysses Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign, the battle was fought as a delaying action as the confederates withdrew from their loss the day before at Champion Hill. #CivilWar🧵 
The confederate commander, John Pemberton, ordered John Bowen to hold the east bank of the river to delay the @USArmy advance, which was led by General John McClernand’s XIII Corps.
General Michael Lawler’s brigade surged forward toward the confederate works, through waist-deep water, and scattered the inexperienced rebel troops. They withdrew in disorder across a rail bridge and three steamboats that were tied to make a second bridge.
Once across, the confederates burned both bridges, which delayed the U.S. pursuit but could not prevent them from bottling up Pemberton’s troops in @VicksburgNPS. Sergeant William Wesley Kendall was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during Lawler’s charge.
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