Big Black River (Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Black River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Webster County, Mississippi |
| River mouth | Mississippi River 40 feet (12 m) |
The Big Black River is a river in the state of Mississippi in the United States. It is a branch, also called a tributary, of the famous Mississippi River.
The Big Black River starts in Webster County near a town called Eupora. From there, it flows about 330 miles (530 km) (531 km) southwest. It joins the Mississippi River about 25 miles (40 km) south of the city of Vicksburg. This river is very important to the area known as the Big Black River Basin. It also forms parts of the borders for several counties, including Choctaw, Montgomery, Holmes, and Claiborne counties.
Many parts of the Big Black River and its smaller streams are filled with silt. Silt is like fine mud or sand carried by the water. This silt often comes from farms nearby. Most of these streams flow slowly and are muddy. However, some parts of the river and its branches flow quickly and have sandy bottoms.
A very important battle during the American Civil War happened at the Big Black River. It was called the Battle of Big Black River Bridge. This battle was part of the larger Siege of Vicksburg in 1863.
The Big Black River Area
The area drained by the Big Black River, called its basin, covers about 3,400 square miles (8,800 km2). The land in this basin is between 50 and 650 feet (14 to 198 meters) above sea level. The basin itself is about 160 miles (260 km) long and usually 22 to 25 miles wide.
Most of the small streams that feed into the Big Black River are in the upper part of the basin. Many of these streams only flow during certain times of the year. The land in this area is quite hilly. About 56% of the land is covered by forests, and 39% is used for farming and raising cattle.
A Civil War Battle Site
During the American Civil War, a major battle took place along the Big Black River in 1863. This battle was a key part of the Siege of Vicksburg. The Union Army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, was fighting against the Confederate States Army, led by General John C. Pemberton.
After a battle at Battle of Champion Hill, General Grant chased General Pemberton, who was trying to get to Vicksburg. General Pemberton left about 5,000 soldiers to defend both sides of the Big Black River. This was to slow down the Union forces while he took his main army to Vicksburg.
Images for kids
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A map showing the Big Black River Basin.
See also
In Spanish: Río Big Black para niños
