Grant's Operations against Vicksburg

The Battle of Champion Hill, or Bakers Creek, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union commander Major General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton and defeated his army twenty miles to the east of Vicksburg, Mississippi, leading inevitably to the Siege of Vicksburg and surrender. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1049x731, 149 KB) map at site http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1049x731, 149 KB) map at site http://www. ... Jump to: navigation, search May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of battles and maneuvers in the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. ... Jump to: navigation, search The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-three mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Jump to: navigation, search Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was a Union general in the American Civil War, serving as general-in-chief (1864–1869), and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... Jump to: navigation, search The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. ... For other meanings of confederate and confederacy, see confederacy (disambiguation) National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Largest... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... General John C. Pemberton (Philadelphia, August 10, 1814 - Pennlyn, PA July 13, 1881), graduated from West Point, 27th in the Class of 1837. ... Illinois Memorial in Vicksburg National Military Park. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Battle of Vicksburg or Siege of Vicksburg was the final significant battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. ...

Following the Union occupation of Jackson, Mississippi, on May 14, both Confederate and Federal forces made plans for future operations. General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding all Confederate forces in Mississippi, retreated, with most of his army, up the Canton Road, but he ordered Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton, commanding three divisions (about 23,000 men), to leave Edwards Station and attack the Federals at Clinton. Pemberton and his generals felt that Johnston’s plan was dangerous and decided instead to attack the Union supply trains moving from Grand Gulf to Raymond. On May 16, however, Pemberton received another order from Johnston repeating his former directions. Pemberton had already started after the supply trains and was on the Raymond-Edwards Road with his rear at the crossroads one-third mile south of the crest of Champion Hill. Thus, when he ordered a countermarch, his rear, including his many supply wagons, became the advance of his force. Jump to: navigation, search Jackson is the capital, as well as the largest city, in the U.S. state of Mississippi. ... Jump to: navigation, search May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was a career U.S. Army officer and one of the most senior generals in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: Magnolia State Other U.S. States Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Governor Haley Barbour (R) Senators Thad Cochran (R) Trent Lott (R) Official languages English Area 125,546 km² (32nd)  - Land 121,606 km²  - Water 3,940 km² (3%) Population (2000)  - Population 2,697... Canton is a city located in Madison County, Mississippi. ... Edwards is a town located in Hinds County, Mississippi. ... Clinton is a city located in Hinds County, Mississippi. ... Jump to: navigation, search Raymond is a city located in Hinds County, Mississippi. ... Edwards is a town located in Hinds County, Mississippi. ...

On May 16, at about 7:00 a.m., the Union forces engaged the Confederates and the Battle of Champion Hill began. Pemberton’s force drew up into a three mile-long defensive line that ran from southwest to northeast along a crest of a ridge overlooking Jackson Creek. Grant observed in his Personal Memoirs, Jump to: navigation, search May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ...

... where Pemberton had chosen his position to receive us, whether taken by accident or design, was well selected. It is one of the highest points in that section, and commanded all the ground in the range.

Pemberton was unaware that one of the three Union columns was moving along the Jackson Road against his unprotected left flank on Champion Hill. For protection, Pemberton posted Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Lee's Alabama brigade atop Champion Hill where they could watch for the reported Union column moving to the crossroads. Lee spotted the Union troops and they soon saw him. If this force was not stopped, it would cut the Rebels off from their Vicksburg base. Pemberton received warning of the Union movement and sent troops to his left flank. Union forces at the Champion House moved into action and emplaced artillery to begin firing. Stephen D. Lee (1833‑1908) was a Confederate general. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: Camellia State, The Heart of Dixie¹, Yellowhammer State Other U.S. States Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Governor Bob Riley (R) Senators Richard Shelby (R) Jeff Sessions (R) Official languages English Area 52,423 mi²/135,775 km² (30th)  - Land 50,750 mi²/131...

When Grant arrived at Champion Hill around 10:00 a.m., he ordered the attack to begin. John A. McClernand's corps attacked on the left, James B. McPherson's on the right; William T. Sherman's corps was well behind the others, departing Jackson. By 11:30 a.m., Union forces had reached the Confederate main line and at about 1:00 p.m., they took the crest while the troops from Carter L. Stevenson's division retired in disorder. McPherson's corps swept forward, capturing the crossroads and closing the Jackson Road escape route. The division of John S. Bowen then counterattacked in support of Stevenson, pushing the Federals back beyond the Champion Hill crest before their surge came to a halt. They had insufficient troops to hold that position, however. Pemberton directed William W. Loring to send forces from the southern area of the line (where they were only lightly engaged with McClernand's ineffective attack) to reinforce the Hill, but Loring refused, citing a strong Union presence to his front. John Alexander McClernand John Alexander McClernand ( May 30, 1812 – September 20, 1900) was an American soldier and lawyer. ... James Birdseye McPherson (November 14, 1828 – July 22, 1864) was a general who fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... Portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman by Mathew Brady William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, and author. ...

Battle of Champion Hill
sketched by Theodore R. Davis

Grant then counterattacked, committing forces that had just arrived from Clinton by way of Bolton. Pemberton’s men could not stand up to this assault, so he ordered his men from the field to the one escape route still open: the Raymond Road crossing of Bakers Creek. By now, Loring had acceded to Pemberton's direction and marched toward the fighting, but by a circuitous route that kept them out of action. Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman’s brigade formed the rearguard, and they held at all costs, including the loss of Tilghman, a victim of artillery fire. In the late afternoon, Union troops seized the Bakers Creek Bridge, and by midnight, they occupied Edwards. The Confederates fell back to a defensive position at the Big Black River in front of Vicksburg. The Battle of Big Black River Bridge there the next day would be the final chance for Pemberton to escape. Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1689x631, 867 KB)Battle of Champion Hill. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1689x631, 867 KB)Battle of Champion Hill. ... Clinton is a city located in Hinds County, Mississippi. ... Jump to: navigation, search Raymond is a city located in Hinds County, Mississippi. ... Lloyd Tilghman Lloyd Tilghman (1816–May 16, 1863) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War after graduating from West Point. ... Grants Operations against Vicksburg The Battle of Big Black River Bridge, or Big Black, fought May 17, 1863, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. ...

Champion Hill was a bloody, but decisive, Union victory. In his Personal Memoirs, Grant observed,

While a battle is raging, one can see his enemy mowed down by the thousand, or the ten thousand, with great composure; but after the battle these scenes are distressing, and one is naturally disposed to alleviate the sufferings of an enemy as a friend.

Grant criticized the lack of fighting spirit of his rival, McClernand, dissatisfied that he had not killed or captured Pemberton's entire force. McClernand's casualties were low on the Union left flank (south); McPherson's on the right were the bulk of the Union losses, about 2,500. The Confederates had about 4,300 casualties. Their effective loss included most of Loring's division, which had marched off to join Joseph E. Johnston in Jackson. Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was a career U.S. Army officer and one of the most senior generals in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. ...

Battlefield preservation

Discontiguous portions of the battlefield, totaling over 8 acres, are owned by the State of Mississippi. These properties, including the Coker House which served as a hospital during the battle, are being held for possible future inclusion in Vicksburg National Military Park. Millions of acres of the core battlefield are privately owned, listed as II.1. Class A (opportunity for comprehensive preservation, good integrity, low threat) by the American Revolution War Sites Advisory Commission. Vicksburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service located in Vicksburg, Mississippi at 32° 21′ 30″ N 90° 50′ 30″ W. Established by Congress on February 21, 1899, it commemorates the Battle of Vicksburg, waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863, one of the most...

External links

• National Park Service, Vicksburg
• Grant, U.S., Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant online
• National Park Service battle description
• West Point Atlas map of Grant's advance from Jackson to Vicksburg
• Battle description by Ed Bearss
• Civil War Battlefields Listed by Preservation Priorities