Events preceding the battle of Champion's Hill emphasized the opposing
tactical views held by the two Confederate commanders. Pemberton
believed the retention of Vicksburg so imperative that no move which
might endanger the city should be considered. It was Johnston's view
that Admiral Porter's successful passage of the batteries and Grant's
approach from the rear had already doomed the city, and that it was
consequently valuable only for the military supplies and troops which it
contained. Johnston believed that the South's only chance to prevent
loss of the Mississippi was for Pemberton and himself to join forces and
fight the great battle which might smash and destroy Grant's Army.
On the morning of May 14, Pemberton, at Edwards Station, received the
dispatch from Johnston (a copy of which Grant had already intercepted)
informing him of the position of Union troops at Clinton, between the
two Confederate forces, and ordering him "if practicable, come up on his
[Grant's] rear at once." Pemberton considered the order "suicidal."
Convinced that Johnston's recent arrival on the field and separation
from the main body did not give him sufficient information to survey the
situation accurately, Pemberton called a council of war and placed the
order before his commanders. Although a majority of his council favored
obedience to Johnston's order, Pemberton was unwilling to endorse a
movement which might endanger Vicksburg. It was decided to move instead
against Grant's supposed communications which were believed essential to
the Union Army's existence away from the river.
On May 15, Pemberton marched to the southeast with 17,000 men, his route
further separating him from Johnston to the north. Grant, meanwhile,
prepared to head westward, his line of march threatening to pierce the
gap between Johnston and Pemberton and beat both of them in the race for
Vicksburg. On the morning of the 16th, a second order was received from
Johnston ordering Pemberton to move to the north and join Johnston. This
order was obeyed, but as Pemberton's troops were countermarching they
were struck by Union troops.
The battle of Champion's Hill centered around a crescent-shaped ridge of
about 75 feet elevation near the Champion plantation home and involved
three parallel roads leading from Edwards Station to Raymond. Each of
Pemberton's three divisions--led by General Bowen, General Loring, and
Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson--covered one of these roads. The battle
opened shortly before noon on the 16th when Brig. Gen. A. P. Hovey's
Union Division, supported by Logan's Division, attacked along the north
road which passed over the slope of Champion's Hill. From the crest of
the hill, Stevenson's Confederate Division opened a heavy fire on the
advancing Union lines which steadily mounted the ridge, driving the
Confederates back and capturing 11 guns. To meet this threat to the
Confederate left flank, Bowen's Division was shifted to the north to
prevent a breakthrough. Re-forming his lines, Bowen counterattacked the
ridge position. He dislodged the Federal infantry, driving them from the
slope, and recaptured all but two of the lost guns.
Grant, in turn, was now compelled to reinforce his hard-pressed right,
and at 3:30 p. m. massed Union batteries concentrated fire on the ridge.
The Federal infantry followed with heavy and repeated attacks along the
entire line, and for the third time the hill changed hands. Pemberton
was unable to rally his troops against these attacks, and the divisions
of Bowen and Stevenson began to retreat toward Baker's Creek. Loring was
detailed to hold the road open for the withdrawal of the Confederate
Army. Before Loring could rejoin the main body, after its crossing of
the stream, the Union Army secured the crossings. Loring was thus cut
off, and he was only able to join Johnston after a long 3-day march
around the Union Army. Pemberton retreated toward Vicksburg and that
night took position at Big Black River, 12 miles east of the city.
[Illustration: VICKSBURG
NATIONAL MILITARY PARK]
LEGEND
1 MUSEUM AND PARK HEADQUARTERS
2 JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE
3 PEMBERTON STATUE
4 MISSISSIPPI MONUMENT
5 TILGHMAN STATUE
6 LOUISIANA MONUMENT AND GREAT REDOUBT
7 SURRENDER SITE
8 MICHIGAN MONUMENT
9 SHIRLEY HOUSE
10 ILLINOIS MONUMENT
11 THIRD LOUISIANA REDAN
12 GLASS BAYOU BRIDGE
13 ARKANSAS MONUMENT
14 MISSOURI MONUMENT
15 STOCKADE REDAN
16 OBSERVATION TOWER
17 FORT HILL
18 NATIONAL CEMETERY
19 UNION NAVY MEMORIAL
20 GRANT'S HEADQUARTERS AND
RHODE ISLAND MONUMENT
NEW YORK MONUMENT
MASSACHUSETTS MONUMENT
NEW HAMPSHIRE MONUMENT
PENNSYLVANIA MONUMENT
21 WISCONSIN MONUMENT
22 MINNESOTA MONUMENT
23 IOWA MONUMENT
24 FORT GARROTT
25 ALABAMA MONUMENT
SHOWING
PARK TOUR
CONFEDERATE AVENUE
UNION AVENUE
SECONDARY PARK ROAD
RAIL ROAD
[Illustration: _Wartime photograph of a Union supply station on the
Big Black River in rear of Vicksburg._ Courtesy Library of
Congress.]
The battle of Champion's Hill (or Baker's Creek) was the bloodiest
action of the Vicksburg campaign. The numbers actually engaged were
relatively equal, although a large Union reserve was close at hand.
Pemberton lost nearly 4,000 men, not counting the entire division of
Loring which was lost to his army. Grant listed casualties of 2,500,
with Hovey losing one-third of his entire division killed and wounded.