May 16, 1863---The Battle of Champion Hill

MAY 16, 1863:  

The Battle of Champion Hill (Baker’s Creek), Mississippi followed hard upon the Battle of Raymond and the Battle of Jackson. Champion Hill, though not well remembered, was a decisive strategic victory for U.S. Grant and the Union forces. After the defeats at Raymond and Jackson, the Confederates had only three options: abandon Vicksburg, “The Gibraltar of The South,” retreat into Vicksburg and be besieged; or meet the Union on the field. The Confederates chose the third, only really viable, option. At about 7:00 a.m., the Union forces engaged the Confederates and the battle began. The Confederate force drew up into a three mile long defensive line along a ridge that was the high ground in the area and commanded the field. However, one of the Union columns was moving against the rebels’ unprotected left flank on Champion Hill, and turned the flank. At 1:00 p.m., they took the crest of the hill while the Confederates retreated in disorder. After rallying, the Rebel force counterattacked, pushing the Federals back beyond the crest of the hill before their charge petered out, and they yielded the hilltop again due to an insufficiency of troops. Grant’s men then counter-counterattacked with reserves. Numbers decided the battle, and the Confederates withdrew in order but with heavy losses. The Confederates were forced to fall back to a defensive position at the Big Black River directly in front of Vicksburg.