The Battle of Big Black River Bridge was a crucial military engagement during the Vicksburg campaign, a significant operation in the American Civil War. The Union aimed to gain control of Vicksburg, a strategic city on the Mississippi River, to secure supply lines and exert control over the river. On May 17, 1863, Union General John A. McClernand commanded his forces to pursue the retreating Confederate army, led by General Joseph E. Johnston, after their earlier engagements in northern Mississippi. The location near the Big Black River Bridge provided a tactical advantage, as the bridge served as a vital crossing point for Confederate movements.The Union forces engaged the Confederate rearguard, which was tasked with slowing the Union advance and protecting the retreat of Southern troops. McClernand's forces executed a successful assault that resulted in the capture of about 1,700 Confederate soldiers. The battle demonstrated the effective coordination of Union troops under McClernand's leadership while highlighting the challenges faced by the Confederate forces in maintaining control over key strategic locations as they retreated toward Vicksburg. The victory at Big Black River Bridge was a stepping stone for Union forces, as it allowed them to tighten their grip on the area leading up to the siege of Vicksburg itself.