A.K. Shaifer House

Scroll down the page to view more pictures!

Civil War Battle of Port Gibson Historical Markers

Confederate Gen. Martin E. Green on the afternoon of April 30, 1863, posted his brigade near Magnolia Church, with an outpost here.

Shortly after midnight, Green rode forward to check on his pickets. Reaching this point, the general found Mrs. A.K. Shaifer and the ladies of the house frantically pilling their household effects on a wagon. Green assured the women that there was no need to hurry, since the Yankees couldn't possibly arrive before daybreak. Hardly had Green spoken before there was a crash of musketry -- the pickets had exchanged shots with the Union vanguard, soldiers of the 21st Iowa. The women leaped into the wagon and headed for Port Gibson, while Gen. Green returned to Magnolia Church to alert his troops. The Confederate pickets fell back before the Federal advance.

During the Battle of Port Gibson, the Shaifer house served as Gen. John A. McClernand's GHQ and a Union hospital.

The Battle in Retrospect

This Union victory at Port Gibson gave Grant the foothold on the Mississippi side of the river that terminated a year of failure, and subsequently led to the capture of Vicksburg, his ultimate goal.

The Port Gibson battlefield has changed little since May, 1863. Ravines are still filled with vines and immense canebrakes, and ridges are as steep-sided as when Federal troops scaled them. The deep road beds have not changed, and relics of the battle are still occasionally found on their surfaces. Bridges have been added where once streams were forded. The Shaifer house remains, but with walls showing scars from missiles fired during the battle. Magnolia Church, where the Confederates placed their first line of defense, is no longer standing. Only its brick foundation and the cistern remain. The Port Gibson Battlefield is listed in the National Register of Historic Place.

A.K. Shaifer House Photo Gallery

A.K. and Betsey Shaifer began building this farmstead in 1826. On this plantation Shaifer grew cotton but concentrated on vegetable and fruit crops. A year before the Civil War began, Shaifer died, leaving his widow and the families of two of their childr

A.K. Shaifer House, circa 1826 - Port Gibson, Mississippi

Historical marker describing the Federals storming Confederate Stronghold at Magnolia Church.

After the war, the Shaifer House became a symbol of reconciliation between North and South. A letter from an Indiana veteran sparked a correspondence between Kell Shaifer and former Union soldiers that lasted fifty years.

Site from where the first shot was fired during the Battle of Port Gibson.

During the battle, and for weeks afterward, the Shaifer home served as a field hospital where amputations took place on benches and tables on the porches around the house.

Deep cut roads through the loess soil are similar to what both armies marched on in the spring of 1863.

These Eastern Redcedar trees have been standing over the front lawn of the Shaifer House for almost 200 years.

Magnolia Church was a half a mile up the deep cut road from the Shaifer House. Today, only the foundation and a cistern remain.

Historical marker describing the attack and counter-attacks that took place at the A.K. Shaifer House.

Midnight gunfire between approaching Union soldiers and Confederate pickets stationed on this farm marked the beginning of the first battle in the final campaign to capture Vicksburg.

Directions to the A.K. Shaifer House

From Port Gibson:

Travel southwest on Rodney Road towards Windsor Ruins for 1.1 miles. Turn left onto Bessie Weathers Road (Magnolia MB Church at the intersection). Travel south on Bessie Weathers Road for 1.3 miles and then turn right onto an unmarked gravel road (Shaifer Road). After 1 mile you will come to the old Magnolia Church historical markers. Continue on for .4 miles to Shaifer House. There is a parking area on the left and the house is on the right.

From Windsor Ruins:

Travel east on Rodney Road towards Port Gibson. Travel about 4-5 miles and turn right onto Bessie Weathers Road (Magnolia MB Church at the intersection). Then follow the directions from Port Gibson.