1. Champion Hill and Big Black
Vicksburg
Champion Hill and Big Black

2. Results of the Battle of Jackson May 14, 1863
Grant neutralized Jackson militarily:
burned the machine shops and factories
cut telegraph lines
destroyed railroad tracks
Jackson became known as “Chimneyville”
With Vicksburg isolated, Grant began his move west

3. Decisive Point One of the elements of operational design
“A geographic place, specific key event, or enabling system that allows commanders to gain a marked advantage over an enemy and greatly influence the outcome of an attack.”
FM 3-0

4. Champion Hill as the Decisive Point
Vicksburg National Military Park website calls Champion Hill “The decisive engagement of the Vicksburg campaign” and concludes that “victory at Champion Hill guaranteed the success of [Grant’s] campaign.”
“The drums of Champion Hill sounded the doom of Richmond.”
Major General J.F.C. Fuller, Military Historian.

5. Champion Hill as the Decisive Point
After Champion Hill, “the South could no longer win the war through their own generals’ initiative… Champion Hill reduced Confederate president Jefferson Davis to reliance upon Union bungling or Northern war weariness to confer Southern independence. If a decisive battle is defined as one in which a nation fatally wounds its foe, Champion Hill was indeed a decisive engagement.”
James Arnold, Grant Wins the War, 1-2

6. Unity of Effort and Objective?
Johnston’s concept
Leave Edward’s Station and attack Federals at Clinton
Pemberton’s concept
Johnston’s plan too dangerous and conflicted with President Davis’ order to defend Vicksburg
Decided to attack supply trains instead
But remember, Grant had decided to “cut loose from my base, destroy the rebel force in rear of Vicksburg or invest or capture the city.”
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.

7. Impact of Logistics
“I naturally expected that Pemberton would endeavor to obey the orders of his superior, which I have shown were to attack us at Clinton. This, indeed, I knew he could not do; but I felt sure he would make the attempt to reach that point. It turned out, however, that he had decided his superior’s plans were impracticable, and consequently determined to move south from Edward’s station and get between me and my base. I, however, had no base, having abandoned it more than a week before.”
Grant, Memoirs

8. Battle Begins
Grant received word Pemberton was at Edwards Station preparing to march east
Grant advanced west from Bolton and Raymond on three parallel columns
At about 7:00 am Union forces engaged Confederates
Battle of Champion Hill began
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.

9. The Terrain
“Champion’s Hill, where Pemberton had chosen his position to receive us, whether taken by accident or design, was well selected. It is one of the highest points in that section, and commanded all the ground in range. On the east side of the ridge, which is quite precipitous, is a ravine running first north, then westerly, terminating at Baker’s Creek. It was grown up thickly with large trees and undergrowth, making it difficult to penetrate with troops, even when not defended. The ridge occupied by the enemy terminated abruptly where the ravine turns westerly. The left of the enemy occupied the north end of this ridge. The Bolton and Edward’s station wagon-road turns almost due south at this point and ascends the ridge, which it follows for about a mile; then turning west, descends by a gentle declivity to Baker’s Creek, nearly a mile away. ”
Grant, Memoirs

10. OAKOC Obstacles Avenues of approach Key terrain
“On the east side of the ridge, which is quite precipitous, is a ravine running first north, then westerly, terminating at Baker’s Creek”
Avenues of approach
“The Bolton and Edward’s station wagon-road turns almost due south at this point and ascends the ridge…”
Key terrain
“one of the highest points in that section”
Observation and fields of fire
“commanded all the ground in range”
Cover and concealment
“grown up thickly with large trees and undergrowth”
Good photos at Champion Hill Virtual Tour

11. Obstacles
Deep ravines such as this one cut throughout the area and disrupted Federal formations

12. Avenues of Approach
The Jackson Road trace as it ascends Champion Hill.  From this point, the crest would be approximately 400 yards.

13. Key Terrain
The crest of Champion Hill looking north.  At the time of the battle, this was the highest point on the battlefield.  Free of trees, the crest provided Confederates a commanding view of the entire area.

14. Observation and Fields of Fire
View of the battlefield looking south from the Champion Hill Road, 1000 yards northwest of the crest of Champion Hill. The actual crest of Champion Hill would be hidden by the treeline near the middle of the picture.  

15. Cover and Concealment
View from the Confederate line on Champion Hill. The thick cover served both Confederates and Federals well.

16. Confederate Forces Defensive line focused on Middle and Raymond Roads
Federals used Jackson Road, taking advantage of the unprotected Confederate left flank
Pemberton had to shift forces which created a gap at the Crossroads
Failure of principle of war of security
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.
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.

17. Federal Forces
Federals attacked at 10:00 am and overtook Confederate defensive line by 1:00 pm
Captured Crossroads which closed the Jackson Road escape route
Confederates counterattacked in insufficient numbers
Grant pressed the attack
Tried to get McClernand to move forward and cut off the Confederate retreat, but McClernand, in spite of Grant’s sending “repeated orders by staff officers fully competent to explain to him the situation,” did not advance.
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.

18. Federal Forces
Confederates retreated to only escape route still open (Raymond Road crossing of Baker’s Creek)
Tilghman died acting as rear guard to cover the Confederate retreat
“Had McClernand come up with reasonable promptness, or had I known the ground as I did afterward, I cannot see how Pemberton could have escaped with any organized force.” (Grant, Memoirs)
At 8:00 pm Federals entered Edwards
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.

19. Decisive Point One of the elements of operational design
“A geographic place, specific key event, or enabling system that allows commanders to gain a marked advantage over an enemy and greatly influence the outcome of an attack.”
FM 3-0

20. Maneuver
As both an element of combat power and a principle of war, maneuver concentrates and disperses combat power to place and keep the enemy at a disadvantage. It includes the dynamic, flexible application of leadership, firepower, information, and protection as well.
Achieves results that would otherwise be more costly
Keeps enemies off balance by making them confront new problems and new dangers faster than they can deal with them.

21. Was it the Decisive Point?
Was Champion Hill the last chance for Confederates to avoid siege at Vicksburg?
How did Grant use maneuver to put the Confederates in a position of Federal advantage?

22. Big Black River
After its victory, the Federal Army rested until early in the morning of May 17
By now Sherman had arrived from Jackson, and Grant sent him and McPherson to cut off Pemberton’s retreat north of the railroad
McClernand moved to intercept the Confederates right where the railroad crossed the Big Black River
1864 photograph of the Big Black River battlefield

23. Big Black River
Pemberton’s army was exhausted and they waited on the east side of the Big Black on the night of the 16th to gather the withdrawing forces
The wait proved costly
On May 17, McClernand struck the dejected Confederates who had their backs to the river

24. Big Black River
Pemberton’s army managed to escape back to Vicksburg thanks to well placed infantry and artillery on the bluffs along the west bank of the river and the successful burning of the bridge
Pemberton beat Grant to the safety of the Vicksburg defenses
Grant arrived outside Vicksburg on May 18 and began plans to assault the Confederate positions
The Civil War-era bridge over the Big Black was burned by the Confederates to prevent pursuit by Grant’s army. 

25. Next
Assaults on Vicksburg