Union troops under General N.P. Banks had surrounded the Confederate stronghold the previous week and now mounted a full fledged attempt to storm its defenses in an attack starting at dawn.  Unprepared but enthusiastic black troops, the Louisiana Native Guard, recruited from the New Orleans area were thrown into the attack. Though turned back by artillery and intense crossfire, General Banks later praised their efforts in his official dispatches and often exaggerated accounts of their performance spread across the North. (By John Osborne)

Union troops under General N.P. Banks had been besieging the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River for weeks.  They now mounted a last, full fledged attempt to storm its defenses in an attack starting in the pre-dawn hours.  As with the May 27, 1863 attack, the assualt failed with heavy Union casualties. Confederate defenders reported less than fifty men killed or wounded.  Banks resumed the siege and Port Hudson finally surrendered on July 9, 1863.  (By John Osborne)

Union troops under General Nathaniel Banks surrounded the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River in mid-May, 1863 and, after attempts to storm the fortress on May 27, 1863 and June 13, 1863 resulted in very heavy casualties among the attackers, settled into a seven week siege. Confederate General Franklin Gardner ended the considerable suffering of his 6,000 starving men and surrendered on July 9, 1863.  (By John Osborne)

Union troops under General N.P. Banks had surrounded Port Hudson in mid-May 1863.  With his garrison starving and the news of the surrender upriver of Vicksburg, CSA General Franklin Gardner asked for terms and at 9:30 a.m. Federal troops marched into the stronghold. Around a thousand of the Union besiegers had lost their lives and all Union casualties totalled close to 5000.  The Confederates suffered 700 casualties after the 6000 prisoners captured were paroled.  The lower Mississippi was now open and Union control of the river complete. (By John Osborne)

Union troops under General Nathaniel Banks surrounded the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River in mid-May, 1863 and, after attempts to storm the fortress on May 27, 1863 and June 13, 1863 resulted in very heavy casualties among the attackers, settled into a seven week siege. Confederate General Franklin Gardner ended the conderable suffering of his 6,000 starving men and surrendered on July 9, 1863.  (By John Osborne)

Union troops under General N.P. Banks had surrounded the Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River the previous week and now mounted a full fledged attempt to storm its defenses in an attack starting at dawn.  Generals Weitzel and Paine led the morning attacks and General W.T. Sherman made further assaults in the afternoon. All the attacks failed and Union losses were heavy, around 1800 total casualties.  Confederate defenders reported less than fifty casualties.  Banks settled in for a siege and Port Hudson finally surrendered on July 9, 1863.  (By John Osborne)