Grant, in turn, was now compelled to reinforce his hard-pressed right, and at 3:30 p. m. massed Union batteries concentrated fire on the ridge. The Federal infantry followed with heavy and repeated attacks along the entire line, and for the third time the hill changed hands. Pemberton was unable to rally his troops against these attacks, and the divisions of Bowen and Stevenson began to retreat toward Baker’s Creek. Loring was detailed to hold the road open for the withdrawal of the Confederate Army. Before Loring could rejoin the main body, after its crossing of the stream, the Union Army secured the crossings. Loring was thus cut off, and he was only able to join Johnston after a long 3-day march around the Union Army. Pemberton retreated toward Vicksburg and that night took position at Big Black River, 12 miles east of the city.
VICKSBURG
NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
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LEGEND 1 MUSEUM AND PARK HEADQUARTERS 2 JEFFERSON DAVIS STATUE 3 PEMBERTON STATUE 4 MISSISSIPPI MONUMENT 5 TILGHMAN STATUE 6 LOUISIANA MONUMENT AND GREAT REDOUBT 7 SURRENDER SITE 8 MICHIGAN MONUMENT 9 SHIRLEY HOUSE 10 ILLINOIS MONUMENT 11 THIRD LOUISIANA REDAN 12 GLASS BAYOU BRIDGE 13 ARKANSAS MONUMENT 14 MISSOURI MONUMENT 15 STOCKADE REDAN 16 OBSERVATION TOWER 17 FORT HILL 18 NATIONAL CEMETERY 19 UNION NAVY MEMORIAL 20 GRANT’S HEADQUARTERS AND RHODE ISLAND MONUMENT NEW YORK MONUMENT MASSACHUSETTS MONUMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE MONUMENT PENNSYLVANIA MONUMENT 21 WISCONSIN MONUMENT 22 MINNESOTA MONUMENT 23 IOWA MONUMENT 24 FORT GARROTT 25 ALABAMA MONUMENT SHOWING PARK TOUR CONFEDERATE AVENUE UNION AVENUE SECONDARY PARK ROAD RAIL ROAD
Wartime photograph of a Union supply station on the Big Black River in rear of Vicksburg. Courtesy Library of Congress.
The battle of Champion’s Hill (or Baker’s Creek) was the bloodiest action of the Vicksburg campaign. The numbers actually engaged were relatively equal, although a large Union reserve was close at hand. Pemberton lost nearly 4,000 men, not counting the entire division of Loring which was lost to his army. Grant listed casualties of 2,500, with Hovey losing one-third of his entire division killed and wounded.
THE BATTLE OF BIG BLACK RIVER.
Not knowing that Loring’s Division had been cut off, Pemberton made a stand at the Big Black River in order to hold the bridges open for Loring to join the main force. The Confederate entrenchments spanned the river at a readily defensible location where the stream made a horseshoe bend. Across the mile-wide neck of the river the Confederates constructed a line of works, and behind the earthworks, with their backs to the river, were placed 4,000 infantry of Bowen’s Division supported by artillery.