April 23, 27, 29, 1862
Siege of Bridgeport
Location
Image from page 83 of “The soldier in our Civil War : a pictorial history of the conflict, 1861-1865, illustrating the valor of the soldier as displayed on the battle-field, from sketches drawn by Forbes, Waud, Taylor, Beard, Becker, Lovie, Schell, Crane
Skirmishes at or near Bridgeport, Alabama between Union Army and Confederate States Army forces occurred on April 23, 27 and 29 (West Bridge), 1862 during the American Civil War.
A modern newspaper article called the April 1862 action the Siege of Bridgeport after a modern re-enactment event, although the actions are described as skirmishes by other sources such as Dyer (1908), Long (1971) and the U.S. National Park Service.
Other skirmishes occurred at Bridgeport on August 27, 1862 and July 27, 1863, which involved an attack on a steamer. Union forces occupied Bridgeport after an engagement on July 29, 1863.
Ormsby M. Mitchel
On April 29, 1862, Union (northern) troops under General Ormsby M. Mitchell attacked Confederate (southern) troops under command of General Danville Leadbetter
Danville Leadbetter
that were camped on the hill at Bridgeport overlooking the river and bridge. The ensuing battle resulted in the deaths of several men from both sides and the destruction of the railroad’s drawbridge on the opposite side of Long Island by the Confederates as they retreated towards Chattanooga. Mitchell, when withdrawing from Bridgeport in early May 1862, ordered the long railroad truss bridge burned, which the Confederate’s had attempted to blow up during the battle of April 29th.