Known also as the Battle of Baker’s Creek, The Battle of Champion Hill stands as the most pivotal land engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign during the American Civil War. Fought on May 16, 1863, near Edwards and Bolton in Hinds County, Mississippi, this crucial clash saw Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant secure a decisive victory over Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, fundamentally shaping the outcome of the campaign and sealing the fate of Vicksburg.
Following the Union occupation of Jackson, Mississippi, both sides were formulating their next moves. Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding overall forces in the region, ordered Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton to leave Edwards Station and attack Union troops positioned at Clinton. However, Pemberton and his generals, wary of Johnston’s plan, decided instead to target Union supply trains moving from Grand Gulf to Raymond, a move that would prove costly in its execution and consequences.
The Strategic Context and Initial Maneuvers
The Vicksburg Campaign was a concerted effort by Union forces to gain control of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a strategic Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Its capture would effectively split the Confederacy and open the river to Union traffic, thus being a major turning point in the war. After taking Jackson, the capital, Grant sought to isolate Pemberton’s army and prevent its junction with Johnston’s forces.
Pemberton’s decision to pursue Union supply trains, contrary to Johnston’s orders, created confusion and delayed his ability to react to Grant’s advancing columns. On May 16, Pemberton received a renewed, emphatic order from Johnston, reiterating the original directive. Forced to countermarch, his army, already in motion, found its rear — laden with vital supply wagons — becoming its advance element on the Raymond-Edwards Road, with its main force positioned near the crest of Champion Hill. This disoriented deployment made his lines vulnerable as Union forces were already on the move.
The Onset of Battle: May 16, 1863
Early on May 16, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant received intelligence that Confederate forces were at Edwards Station, preparing to advance eastward. Grant promptly ordered his columns, which had been slogging westward from Bolton and Raymond, to press forward. Around 7:00 a.m., the southernmost Union column encountered Confederate pickets near the Champion Plantation, initiating the first shots of The Battle of Champion Hill.
Pemberton’s Confederate battle lines, stretching approximately three miles, were established along the military crest of a ridge overlooking Jackson Creek. The crest of Champion Hill itself was a key defensive point on the left flank of the Confederate line. While strategically sound against frontal attacks from the Middle and Raymond roads, Pemberton was crucially unaware of a strong Union force advancing down the Jackson Road directly towards his unprotected left flank. This oversight threatened to cut off the Confederates from their vital base of operations at Vicksburg.
To counter the perceived threat and protect his position, Pemberton stationed Brigadier General Stephen D. Lee’s brigade atop Champion Hill, tasked with observing for any Union movement towards the Crossroads. It was Lee who first spotted the Union troops, alerting Pemberton to the imminent danger. Pemberton swiftly deployed his three divisions to address the developing threat, shifting his forces to cover Champion Hill and protect the vital Crossroads.
The Fierce Fighting on Champion Hill
Shortly after 10:00 a.m., Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant ordered a full-scale assault. Two Union divisions, totaling approximately 10,000 men, advanced with determination, their long blue lines extending westward beyond the Confederate flank. Confederate troops were forced to shift further west to meet this escalating threat, inadvertently creating a dangerous gap between their forces defending the Crossroads and those on the Raymond Road. By 11:30 a.m., the Union charge had reached the Confederate main line of resistance. The fighting was incredibly intense, with both sides engaging in desperate charges and countercharges. However, the sheer strength of Union numbers eventually prevailed, and by shortly after 1:00 p.m., the Federal forces swept over the crest of Champion Hill, sending the Rebels into disorder.
The Federals continued their relentless advance, capturing the Crossroads and effectively severing the Jackson Road, which was a critical escape route for the Confederates. Faced with potential disaster, Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton made a desperate move, ordering his two remaining divisions to launch a counterattack. Brigadier General John S. Bowen’s division, approximately 4,500 strong, attacked with characteristic ferocity, striking the Union forces at the Crossroads. Through a fierce bayonet charge, they successfully drove the blue-clad troops back three-quarters of a mile, temporarily regaining control of Champion Hill. Yet, their insufficient numbers ultimately caused the valiant counterattack to falter just short of the Champion House.
Confederate Collapse and Retreat
Recognizing the renewed threat, Union General Ulysses S. Grant quickly called for fresh troops from Bolton to reinforce his beleaguered lines. As these additional soldiers arrived, Federal forces along the Middle and Raymond Roads intensified their offensive, abandoning their earlier cautious approach. The Confederate resistance, already stretched thin and exhausted, was shattered within moments. Confronted with an untenable position, Confederate General Pemberton had no choice but to order a full retreat from the field. The only remaining escape route was the Raymond-Edwards Road, which crossed Baker’s Creek.
As the Confederate army commenced its desperate withdrawal, Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman’s Brigade was ordered to hold its ground at all costs, acting as a vital rear guard. In a testament to his bravery and duty, General Tilghman was killed during this heroic stand. Alongside the rest of Major General William W. Loring’s division, his brigade was ultimately cut off from Edwards Station and had to undertake a circuitous journey to reach Jackson. By late afternoon, Union troops had seized the Baker’s Creek Bridge, and by midnight, they occupied Edwards Station, signaling the complete route of Pemberton’s forces.
Casualties and the Road to Vicksburg
The Battle of Champion Hill was a costly victory for the Union, with 410 killed, 1,844 wounded, and 187 missing out of approximately 32,000 men engaged. However, for the Confederates, it was an unmitigated disaster. Out of 23,000 men, Pemberton’s army suffered 381 killed, 1,018 wounded, and 2,441 missing, coupled with the irreplaceable loss of 27 vital artillery pieces. This profound defeat severely weakened Confederate resistance and left Pemberton’s remaining forces in full retreat towards Vicksburg.
The victory at Champion Hill was a crucial precursor to the ultimate success of Grant’s Vicksburg Campaign. The Confederates, reeling from their defeat, did not expect another major engagement so soon, but the Union forces pursued them relentlessly. Just a few miles down the road, the Rebels would face another desperate stand at the Big Black River, a final hurdle before the infamous Siege of Vicksburg itself.
Legacy and Preservation of the Battlefield
Today, the Champion Hill battlefield and some of its original roads remain remarkably well-preserved, offering a poignant glimpse into this historic struggle. While no original buildings from the period survive, the landscape itself tells a compelling story. Thousands of acres of the core battlefield are privately owned, with an additional 800 acres of outlying area managed by the State of Mississippi. The Civil War Preservation Trust has actively protected another 402 acres through conservation easements and land purchases, demonstrating a concerted effort to safeguard this vital historical site.
There is ongoing hope that portions of these preserved properties may eventually be incorporated as an extension of the Vicksburg National Military Park, ensuring greater public access and interpretation. Currently, however, many sites are not publicly accessible, and official guide maps for the area are limited. For those deeply interested, private tours of the battlefield can be arranged with descendants and property owners, offering a unique and personal perspective on the ground where this pivotal Civil War engagement unfolded.
