42nd Alabama

The brigade returned to Camp Timmons on Haynes’ Bluff and encamped on the evening of 16 April.

Admiral Porter moved his fleet past the batteries of Vicksburg on the nights of 16 and 23 April 1863 (figure 18). While at Haynes’ Bluff, Major Simons described the event in his diary: We were aroused from our beds about 11 or 12 O’clock last night by the booming of Cannon. Such a grabbing for Boots Pants & you never did see. In a few moments as were all out doors & in full view we could distinctly see a steamer making her way down the River. Our Batteries continued to send forth their great missiles of death . . . . No doubt, the Enemy intends crossing a force below the City to try & flank us or they may try to take Port Hudson first & if they succeed in that they will then bring all their strength to bear against this point. A few days will tell what they intend.14 On 30 April and 1 May, Grant’s army is ferried across the Mississippi River at Bruinsburg, simultaneously Sherman conducted a diversion toward Haynes’ Bluff.

General Maury reported: The enemy, after a heavy cannonade of our works as Snyder's Bluff for a part of two days, and landing several battalions of infantry-re-embarked the latter and returned down the river. From the strength and manner of his, attack, it was manifestly a false one, and designed to cover some other movement.15 Moore’s brigade reacted to the diversion and prepared for an attack that never came. On 1 May, Private Ferguson wrote, “In Camps near Vicksburg . . . We are lying behind the Brest Works--about 3 miles above our camp waiting for the approach of the Yankees.”16 The next day he writes, “We have got back to our camps without a fight so far. . . . I have been on picket yesterday morning till this morning and nothing to eat but a little no bread.”17 During April 1863, Major General J. H. Forney replaced Maury as the division commander. Grant defeated the Confederate Forces under General John S. Bowen at Port 50