Near Champion Hill in Hinds County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Bowen's Counterattack
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017
1. Bowen's Counterattack Marker
On the morning of May 16, 1863, Gen. Pemberton placed his three
Confederate divisions along a two-mile front extending from the
Raymond Road on the south to the Middle Road on the north - Loring
on the right, Bowen in the center and Stevenson on the left. Gen.
John Bowen, age 32, was Pemberton's youngest and newest division
commander. By 1 p.m. Stevenson's division was being overrun, while
Hovey's federals had taken the Crossroads. Pemberton ordered
Bowen and Loring to move to support Stevenson. Loring did not
respond. Cockrell's Missouri brigade moved to the Crossroads
while Bowen rode with Green's Arkansas brigade and formed on
Cockrell's right. At 2:30 p.m. Bowen's 5,000 men engaged the
federals here and retook the guns of Waddell's Alabama Battery.
He then made a magnificent charge on the federal artillery on
the crest of Champion Hill, capturing 4 guns and pushing the
federals back almost three-quarters of a mile. Bowen's counter-
attack stalled when his men ran out of ammunition and encountered
Crocker's federal division, supported by Hovey's artillery. Bowen's
division retreated across Bakers Creek.Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 16, 1863.
Location. 32° 19.721′ N, 90° 31.794′ W. Marker is near Champion Hill, Mississippi, in Hinds County. Marker is at the intersection of Billy Fields Road and D J Johnson Road, on the left when traveling east on Billy Fields Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Billy Fields Road, Edwards MS 39066, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Champion Hill Battlefield (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Champion Hill (a few steps from this marker); The Hill of Death (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of the 3rd Battery, Ohio Light Artillery (approx. one mile away); Champion House Site (approx. one mile away); A Narrow Escape (approx. 2˝ miles away); The Death of General Tilghman (approx. 2˝ miles away); Chicago Mercantile Battery - Artillery in the Yard (approx. 2˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Champion Hill.
Also see . . . Battle of Champion Hill website. (Submitted on October 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017
2. Bowen's Counterattack Marker to right of two other markers.
In the middle is a 1977 National Historic Landmark plaque for the Champion Hill Battlefield and to the far left is a 2013 marker about the Battle of Champion Hill.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017
3. Photo of marker in background with Sid Champion V on right.
Sid Champion the 5th, is the great-great-grandson of Sid and Matilda Champion, the original owners of the land the Battle of Champion Hill was fought on and descendants still own.
I just happened to meet Sid V at the marker and he provided me with a wealth of information about the battle in the area and took me to the Hill of Death nearby. Thank you Sid!!
Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017
4. View of Bowen's Counterattack Marker looking towards D J Johnson Road.
Public Domain
5. Confederate General John Stevens Bowen
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
