(3-2009) Enlarge Fort Cobun. North of the Grand Gulf Military Monument Visitor Center. Site Marker: On a ledge 40 feet above the Mississippi, The Confederates in March, 1863, laid out Fort Cobun. Protected by a parapet nearly 40 feet thick were four big guns manned by Company A. 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery. The guns of Fort Cobun under command of Captain John B. Grayson fired their first hostile shots on March 31st at Admiral David G. Farragut's squadron as it passed down river. On April 29, seven of Admiral David D. Porter's gunboats attacked the Grand Gulf fortifications. For more than five hours, the Union ironclads and the guns of Fort Cobun dueled. The Confederate artillerists disabled the "Tuscumbia." Unable to knock out the Confederate guns, the Union gunboats broke off the bombardment. Following the occupation of Grand Gulf, Admiral Porter said, "Grand Gulf is the strongest place on the Mississippi."

(2006) Enlarge Fort Cobun (Point of Rock)
 
Photo by Richard Edling, Philadelphia, Pa
 
Visitor Center Drawing of Action at Fort Cobun
 
Interpretive Marker:
Naval Battle during Grant's Campaign

(3-2004) Enlarge Point of Rock

(3-2003) Old bed of the Mississippi River below Fort Cobun

(3-2004) Enlarge Old bed of the Mississippi River below Fort Cobun

(2006) Enlarge Confederate rifle pits, Fort Cobun in background. Site Marker: Shortly after the Union Ironclads opened fire on April 29, 1863, the 12th Arkansas Sharpshooter Battalion moved up from the reserve and occupied these rifle pits
 
Richard Edling photo