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Following the Union occupation of Jackson, Mississippi, both Confederate and Federal forces made
plans for future operations. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston retreated, with most of his army, up the Canton Road, but he
ordered Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton, commanding 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, though, 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. On May 16, 1863, about 7:00 am, the Union forces engaged the Confederates and the Battle
of Champion Hill began. Pemberton’s force drew up into a defensive line along a crest of a ridge overlooking
Jackson Creek. Pemberton was unaware that one Union column was moving along the Jackson Road against his
unprotected left flank. For protection, Pemberton posted Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Lee's men 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. When Grant arrived at Champion Hill, around 10:00 am, he
ordered the attack to begin. By 11:30 am, Union forces had reached the Confederate main line and about 1:00 pm,
they took the crest while the Rebels retired in disorder. The Federals swept forward, capturing the crossroads and
closing the Jackson Road escape route. One of Pemberton's divisions (Bowen’s) then counterattacked, pushing the
Federals back beyond the Champion Hill crest before their surge came to a halt. 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. Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman’s brigade formed the rearguard, and they held at all costs, including the
loss of Tilghman. In the late afternoon, Union troops seized the Bakers Creek Bridge, and by midnight, they
occupied Edwards. The Confederates were in full retreat towards Vicksburg. If the Union forces caught these
Rebels, they would destroy them. |
