Other Names: Bakers Creek
Location: Hinds County
Campaign: Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg (1863)
Date(s): May 16, 1863
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant [US]; Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton [CS]
Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee (three corps) [US]; Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 6,757 total (US 2,457; CS 4,300)
Description: 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.
Result(s): Union victory
The Confederate Forces At Vicksburg.
Confederate Army Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton
First Division Major General W.W. Loring
First Brigade Brig. General Lloyd Tilghman (k);
Colonel A.E. Reynolds
1st Confederate Battalion Major G.H. Forney
6th Miss. Colonel Robert Lowery
15th Miss. Colonel M. Farrell
20th Miss. Colonel D.R. Russell
23rd Miss. Colonel J.M. Wells
26th Miss. Colonel A.E. Reynolds;
Major T.F. Parker
Miss. Battery Captain Jacob Culbertson
Brigade loss: Champion's Hill 5 killed, 10 wounded, 42 missing
Second Brigade Brig. General Winfield S. Featherston
3rd Miss. Colonel T.A. Mellon
22nd Miss. Lieut. Colonel H.J. Reid
31st Miss. Colonel J.A. Orr
33rd Miss. Colonel D.W. Hurst
1st Miss.(1) Sharpshooters Major W.A. Rayburn
Brigade loss: Champion's Hill 2 wounded, 1 missing
total: 3
Third Brigade Brig. General Abram Buford
27th Ala. Colonel James Jackson
35th Ala. Colonel Edward Goodwin
54th Ala. Colonel Alpheus Baker (w)
55th Ala. Colonel John Snodgrass
9th Ark. Colonel Isaac L. Dunlop
3rd Ky.(4 co's) Major J.H. Bowman
7th Ky. Colonel Edward Crossland
12th La. Colonel T.M. Scott
Pointe Coupee' (La.) Artillery Captain Alcide Bouanchaud
Brigade loss: Champion's Hill 11 killed, 49 wounded
total: 60
Stevenson's Division Major General Carter L. Stevenson
Staff loss: Champion's Hill 1 killed
First Brigade Brig. General Seth M. Barton
40th Ga. Colonel Abda Johnson;
Lieut. Colonel robert M. Young
41st Ga. Colonel William E. curtiss
42nd Ga. Colonel R.J. Henderson
43rd Ga. Colonel Skidmore Harris (k);
Captain M.M. Grantham
52nd Ga. Colonel C.D. Phillips (m);
Major John J. Moore
Hudson's (Miss.) Battery Lieutenant Milton H. Trantham
Pointe Coupee' (La.) Battery Section Company A Lieut. John Yoist
Pointe Coupee' (La.) Battery Company C Capt. Alexander Chust
Brigade loss: Champion's Hill 58 killed, 106 wounded, 737 missing
Vicksburg siege 6 killed, 20 wounded, 5 missing
total: 932
Second Brigade Brig. General E.D. Tracy (k);
Colonel Isham W. Garrott;
Brig. General Stephen D. Lee
20th Ala. Colonel Ishman W. Garrott (k);
Colonel Edward W. Pettus
23rd Ala. Colonel F.K. Beck
30th Ala. Colonel Charles M. Shelley;
Captain John c. Francis
31st Ala. Colonel D.B. Hundley (w);
Lieut. Colonel T.M. Arrington;
Major G.W. Mathieson
46th Ala. Colonel Michael L. Woods (c);
Captain George E. Brewer
Ala. Battery Captain James F. Waddell
Brigade loss: Port Gibson 18 killed, 112 wounded, 142 missing
Champion's Hill 53 killed, 152 wounded, 609 missing
Vicksburg siege 79 killed, 177 wounded, 7 missing
total: 1349
Third Brigade Brig. General Alfred Cumming
34th Ga. Colonel James A.W. Johnson
36th Ga. Colonel Jesse A. Glenn;
Major Charles E. Broyles
39th Ga. Colonel J.T. McConnell (w);
Lieut. Colonel J.F.B. Jackson
56th Ga. Colonel E.P. Watkins (w);
Lieut. Colonel J.T. Slaughter
57th Ga. Lieut. Colonel C.S. Guyton
Colonel William Barkuloo
Cherokee (Ga.) Artillery Captain M. Van Der Corput
Brigade loss: Champion's Hill 121 killed, 269 wounded, 605 missing
Vicksburg siege 22 killed, 74 wounded
total: 1091
Fourth Brigade Colonel A.W. Reynolds
3rd Tenn. Colonel N.J. Lillard
31st Tenn. Colonel William M. Bradford
43rd Tenn. Colonel James W. Gillespie
59th Tenn. Colonel William L. eakin
3rd Md. Battery Captain F.O. Claiborne (k);
Captain john B. Rowan
Brigade loss: Champions Hill 152 missing
Big Black Bridge 12 missing
Vicksburg siege 14 killed, 25 wounded, 14 missing
total; 217
Texas Legion Colonel T.N. Waul
1st Battalion Major Eugene S. Bolling
2nd Battalion Lieut. Colonel James Wrigley
Cavalry Battalion Lieutenant Thomas J. Cleveland
Artillery Company Captain J.Q. Wall
Legion loss: Vicksburg siege 47 killed, 190 wounded, 8 missing
total: 245
Attached Troops
C 1st Tenn. (Carter's) Cavalry Captain R.S. Vandyke
Botetourt (Va.) Artillery Captain J.W. Johnston;
Lieutenant James P. Wright
Forney's Division Major General John H. Forney
Hebert's Brigade Brig. General Louis Hebert
3rd La. Lieut. Colonel S.D. Russell;
Major David Pierson (w);
21st La. Colonel Charles H. Herrick (m w);
Lieut. Colonel J.T. Plattsmier
36th Miss. Colonel W.W. Witherspoon
37th Miss. Colonel O.S. Holland
38th Miss. Captain D.B. Seal
43rd Miss. Colonel Richard Harrison
7th Miss.(1) Captain A.M. Dozier
C 2nd Ala. Artillery Lieutenant John R. Sclater
Appeal (Ark.) Battery Captain W.N. Hogg (k);
Lieutenant R.N. Cotten
Brigade loss: Vicksburg siege 219 killed, 45 wounded, 21 missing
total: 695
Moore's Brigade Brig. General John C. Moore
37th Ala. Colonel J.F. Dowdell
40th Ala. Colonel John H. Higley
42nd. Ala. Colonel John W. Portis;
Lieut. Colonel Thomas C. Lanier
1st Miss. Light Artillery Colonel William T. Withers
35th Miss. Colonel William S. Barry;
Lieut. Colonel C.R. Jordan
40th Miss. Colonel W.B. Colbert
2nd Tex. Colonel Ashbel Smith
Ala. Battery Captain H.H. Sengstak
Pointe Coupee' (La.) Artillery Captain William A. Davidson
Brigade loss: Vicksburg siege 121 killed, 304 wounded
total: 425
Smith's Division Major General Martin L. Smith
First Brigade Brig. General W.E. Baldwin
17th La. Colonel Robert Richardson
31st La. Colonel S.H. Griffin (k);
Lieut. Colonel James W. Draughon
4th Miss. Lieut. Colonel T.W. Adaire (w);
Captain Thomas P. Nelson
46th Miss. Colonel C.W. Sears
Tenn. Battery Captain Thomas F. Tobin
Brigade loss: Port Gibson 12 killed, 48 wounded, 27 missing
total: 87
Vaughn's Brigade Brig. General J.C. Vaughn
60th Tenn. Captain J.W. Bachman
61st Tenn. Lieut. Colonel James G. Rose
62nd Tenn. Colonel John A. Rowan
Third Brigade Brig. General Francis A. Shoup
26th La. Colonel Winchester Hall (w);
Lieut. colonel William C. Crow
27th La. Colonel L.D. Marks (m w);
Lieut. colonel L.L. Mclaurin (k);
Captain Joseph T. hatch
28th La. Colonel Allen Thomas
McNally's (Ark.) Battery
Brigade loss: Vicksburg siege 107 killed, 199 wounded
total: 306
Mississippi State Troops Brig. General John V. Harris
5th Regiment Colonel H.C. Robinson
3rd Battalion Lieut. Colonel Thomas A. Burgin
Attached Troops
14th Miss. Battalion Major M.S. Ward
Miss. Partisan Rangers Captain J.S. Smyth
Bowen's Division Major General John S. Bowen
First (Mo.) Brigade Colonel Francis M. Cockrell
1st Mo. Colonel A.C. Riley
2nd Mo. Lieut. Colonel P.S. Senteny (k);
Major Thomas M. Carter
3rd Mo. Lieut. Colonel F.L. Hubbell (m w);
Colonel W.R. Gause;
Major J.K. McDowell
4th Mo. Colonel A.C. Riley
5th Mo. Lieut. Colonel R. S. Bevier
Colonel James McCowan
6th Mo. Colonel Eugene Erwin (k)
Major Stephen Cooper
Mo.Battery Lieut. William Corkery
(Guibor's) Lieut. Cornelius Hefferman
Mo. Battery Captain John C. Landis
Lieut. John M. Langan
Mo. Battery Lieut. Richard C. Walsh
(Wade's)
Brigade loss: Port Gibson 13 killed; 97 wounded;
96 captured or missing
Total: 206
Champion's Hill 65 killed; 293 wounded;
242 captured or missing
Total: 600
Big Black Bridge 2 killed
Vicksburg (siege) 113 killed; 446 wounded
Total: 559
Second Brigade Brig. General Martin E. Green (k)
Colonel T. P. Dockery
15th Ark. Colonel Caleb Davis
19th Ark. Col. T. P. Dockery
Captain James K. Norwood
20th Ark. Colonel D. W. Jones
21st Ark. Colonel J. E. Cravens
Captain A. Tyler
1st Ark. Cavalry(1)(2) Captain John J. Clark
12th Ark. Sharp-shooters(1) Captain Griffin Bayne (w);
Lieutenant John S. Bell
1st Mo. Cavalry(2) Colonel Elijah Gates;
Major William C. Parker
3rd Mo. Cavalry(2) Captain Felix Lotspeich
3rd Mo. Battery Captain William E. Dawson
Lowe's (Mo.) Battery Lieutenant Thomas B. Catron
Stirman's Battalion Colonel Ras. Stirman
Brigade loss: Port Gibson 17 killed, 83 wounded, 122 missing
Champion's Hill 65 killed, 137 wounded, 65 missing
Big Black Bridge 1 killed, 9 wounded, 1012 missing
River Batteries Colonel Edward Higgins
1st La. Artillery Lieut. Colonel D. Beltzhoover
8th La. Artillery(1) Major F.N. Ogden
23rd La. Artillery Captain Samuel Jones
1st Tenn. Artillery Colonel A. Jackson, Jr.
Tenn. Battery Captain J.B. Caruthers
Tenn. Battery Captain T.N. Johnston
Tenn. Battery Captain J.P. Lynch
Vaiden (Miss.) Battery Captain S.C. Bains
Miscellaneous Units
54th Ala. Detachment Leutenant Joel P. Abney
City Guards Captain E.B. Martin
Miss. Cavalry Colonel Wirt Adams
Johnston's Forces General Joseph E. Johnston
Gregg's Brigade Brig. General John Gregg
1st Tenn.(1) Major S.H. Colms
3rd Tenn. Colonel C.H. Walker
10th Tenn. Colonel R.W. MacGavock (k);
Lieut. Colonel James J. Turner
30th Tenn. Colonel R.W. MacGavock (k);
Lieut. Colonel James J. Turner
41st Tenn. Colonel R. Farquharson
50th Tenn. Lieut. Colonel T.W. Beaumont(w)
7th Texas Colonel H.B. Granbury
Mo. Battery Captain H.M. Bledsoe
Brigade loss: Raymond 73 killed, 251 wounded, 190 missing
Gist's Brigade Colonel Peyton H. Colquitt
46th Ga. Captain T.B. Hancock
14th Miss. Lieut. Colonel W.L. Doss
24th S.C. Lieut. Colonel Ellison Capers
Miss. Battery Captain J.A. Hoskins
Brigade loss: Jackson 17 killed, 64 wounded, 118 missing
Walker's Brigade Brig. General W.H.T. Walker
1st Battalion Ga. Sharpshooters Major A. Shaaff
Ga. Battery Captain R. Martin
Unattached
3rd Ky.(3) Colonel A.P. Thompson
8th Ky.(3) Colonel H.B. Lyon
Reinforcements
Rust's Brigade from Port Hudson
Maxey's Brigade from Port Hudson
Ector's Brigade from Tennessee
McNair's Brigade from Tennessee
Breckinridge's Division from Tennessee
W.H. Jackson's Division from Tennessee
Evan's Brigade from Charleston
Loring's Division from Pemberton's command
Reinforcements arrived after Grant's withdrawal
from Jackson to Vicksburg.
Confederate Strength:
On June 4th, General Johnston reported his
strength at 24,000 effectives.
General Pemberton says in his official report that his
effective force numbered 28,000 when he moved into
the Vicksburg defenses.
Confederate losses from May 1st to July 3rd,
inclusive are given as:
1260 killed, 3572 wounded, 4227 missing
total: 9059