In the subsequent Battle of Milliken's Bend, Black soldiers, many of them raw recruits, fought in vicious hand-to-hand combat with the attacking Confederates, suffering many casualties but obtaining a Union victory.

In February 1864, the 1st Mississippi Regiment was dispatched to Ross's Landing in Chicot County, Arkansas on a foraging mission.

A group of Confederate guerillas, the 9th Missouri Cavalry, unexpectedly ambushed the Union troops at a local plantation on February 14.

[1] Shortly afterwards, Col. Webber of the 51st was dispatched to establish army posts and scout the surrounding countryside at Goodrich's Landing and Lake Providence in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana.

[7] Webber was in command of several USCT regiments, including the 51st, assigned to guard the surrounding plantations against attacks by Confederate guerillas.

For the remainder of 1864, the 51st Regiment was based at Goodrich's Landing and fought several skirmishes against Confederate raiding parties in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Starting on April 2, Union forces laid siege to the Confederate-held Fort Blakely on the north side of Mobile bay.

After the battle, the colonel of the 47th Colored Infantry reported on the attack made by his men alongside the 51st Regiment: "The spirit and enthusiasm of the troops could not be excelled.