nearly
three to one
He pushed forward with the utmost resolution and courage . His vanguard , led by McClernand , and including the Winchester regiment , seized solid ground near Port Gibson , but found themselves confronted by a formidable Southern force . Bowen , who commanded in Grand Gulf , was brave and able . Seeing the Union army marching toward his rear , and knowing that if Grant took it he would be surrounded , both on land and water , by a force outnumbering his nearly three to one , he marched out at once and took station two miles in front of Port Gibson . Dick was by the side of Colonel Winchester as he rode forward . The faint echo of shots from the skirmishers far in front showed that they had roused up an enemy . Glasses were put in use at once .