Bowen expected Union troops to cross at the former. Discussions between Union scouts and an African American, who was possibly named Bob, yielded the information that a usable road ran from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson, so Bruinsburg was selected as the crossing point.
Bowen anticipated Union troops would cross at a specific spot.  Discussions with a Black man, potentially named Bob, revealed a route from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson was viable, making Bruinsburg the designated crossing point.