Near Champion Hill in Hinds County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

The Battle of Champion Hill

Fight for the Crossroads

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

1. The Battle of Champion Hill Marker

Inscription. The Crossroads is a junction formed by the Middle Road from the east, the Ratliff plantation road from the south and the Jackson Road from the north as it descends from the crest of Champion Hill and turns west. At 1:30 p.m. on May 16, 1863, Federal forces overran the crest of Champion Hill, one-half mile north, pushing back the Confederate forces of Stephen D. Lee and Alfred Cumming. James Slack's brigade of Alvin P. Hovey's Union division attacked the Crossroads from the northeast. The 24th Iowa captured the four guns of Waddell's Alabama Battery that had opposed Peter Osterhaus' and Eugene Carr's Union divisions approaching on the Middle Road. Frances Cockrell's Confederate brigade of Missourians and Arkansans counterattacked and drove the Federals back over the crest of Champion Hill. The Federals soon rallied and recaptured Champion Hill and the Crossroads. The outnumbered Confederates hastily retreated to the Big Black River.

Estimated Casualties: 2,441 Union and 3,851 Confederate.

Erected 2013 by the Champion Heritage Foundation.

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° 19.72′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

90° 31.8′ W. Marker is near Champion Hill, Mississippi, in Hinds County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

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); Bowen's Counterattack (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

The Battle of Champion Hill Marker on far left. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

2. The Battle of Champion Hill Marker on far left.

(approx. one mile away); A Narrow Escape (approx. 2½ miles away); Artillery Duel (approx. 2½ miles away); The Vicksburg Campaign (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Champion Hill.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Death of General Tilghman (was approx. 2½ miles away but has been confirmed missing); Chicago Mercantile Battery – Artillery in the Yard (was approx. 2½ miles away but has been confirmed missing); A Refugee Family (was approx. 2½ miles away but has been confirmed missing); Architecture and Renovations (was approx. 2½ miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Battle of Champion Hill website. (Submitted on October 27, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

View south from marker towards DJ Johnson Road (former Ratliff Road). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

3. View south from marker towards DJ Johnson Road (former Ratliff Road).

Sid Champion V - family that privately owns most of the battlefield. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

4. Sid Champion V - family that privately owns most of the battlefield.

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!!

Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,548 times since then and 108 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 27, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.