Battle of Port Hudson

The Battle of Port Hudson (March–July 1863) was a key Civil War event where Union forces aimed to control the Confederate stronghold along the Mississippi River in Louisiana. Capturing Port Hudson would give the Union control of a vital waterway, splitting the Confederacy. After intense fighting and a lengthy siege, Union troops successfully bombed and starved out the defenders. The victory, alongside the fall of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in July 1863, significantly weakened the Confederacy’s ability to move troops and supplies via the river. It was a turning point that helped the Union gain strategic control of the Mississippi.