Champion Hills, battle of
Grant, at
Jackson (q. v.), hearing of the arrival of
Johnston and his order for
Pemberton to strike his rear, perceived the reason for the sudden evacuation of their post by the troops at the capital.
No doubt they had been sent to join
Pemberton that the latter might crush
Grant by the weight of superior numbers.
The latter comprehended his peril, and instantly took measures to meet
Pemberton before such junction could take place.
He ordered a concentration of his forces at Edwards's Station, 2 miles from the railway bridge over the
Big Black River.
While
Sherman tarried in
Jackson long enough to destroy the railways, military factories, arsenal, bridges, cotton factories, stores, and other public property, the remainder of the army turned their faces towards
Vicksburg.
Pemberton was at or near Edwards's Station, with about 25,000 troops and ten batteries of artillery.
Blair moved towards the station, followed by
McClernand and
Osterhaus; while
McPherson, on another road, kept up communication with
McClernand.
Pemberton had advanced to Champion Hills, when a note from
Johnston caused him to send his trains back to the
Big Black River; and he was about to follow with his troops.
when
Grant, close upon him. compelled him to remain and fight (May 16, 1863).
General Hovey's division now held the advance directly in front of
Pemberton.
At eleven o'clock a battle began.
Hovey's division bearing the brunt, and, after a severe contest of an hour and a half, his infantry were compelled to fall back half a mile to the position of his artillery.
Reinforced, he renewed the battle with great energy.
Finally
Pemberton's left began to bend under
Logan's severe pressure.
and, at five o'clock, gave way. The rest of his army became so confused and disheartened that they began to fly. Seeing this.
Pemberton ordered his whole army to retreat towards the
Big Black River; when
Grant ordered the fresh brigades
[
87]
of
Osterhaus and
Carr to follow with all speed, and cross the river, if possible.
In the retreat
Pemberton lost many of his troops, made prisoners.
This battle was fought mainly by
Hovey's division of
McClernand's corps and
Logan's and
Quinby's divisions (the latter commanded by
Crocker) of
McPherson's corps.
The National loss was 2,457, of whom 426 were killed.
The loss of the
Confederates was estimated to have been quite equal to that of the Nationals in killed and wounded, besides almost 2,000 prisoners, eighteen guns, and a large quantity of smallarms.
Among the killed was
General Tilghman, who was captured at
Fort Henry the year before.
