A Narrow Escape

A Narrow Escape. . The Battle on Champion Hill raged back and forth for hours, earning the site a reputation as "the hill of death." As more Union reinforcements arrived, Pemberton gave the order to retreat. With Pemberton's army in danger of being trapped, a messenger arrived with news that the lower Bakers Creek bridge (destroyed in recent rains) had just been rebuilt. Pemberton directed the army there and ordered two batteries and Gen. Lloyd Tilghman's brigade, a unit of Loring's Division, to hold their position on the Raymond Road until all the Confederates made it safely across. Unfortunately for Pemberton, Loring's Division was unable to cross and never rejoined Pemberton's army., The next day, portions of both armies fought again west of Edwards along the Big Black River. There the Confederates defended the railroad bridge from behind earthworks, hoping to allow Loring's Division time to cross the Big Black. Overrun by Union troops who assaulted the position, however, the Confederates fled across the river and burned the bridge behind them. Pemberton's army had narrowly escaped into the defenses of Vicksburg. , "[With] The ingenious construction of this bridge, Major [Andrew] Hickenlooper, Chief Engineer of General McPherson's corps, has, during this brief but brilliant campaign, earned for himself a most enviable reputation., This bridge is certainly the most easily constructed, and it is the most secure, of any impromptu bridge known. The buoyancy of a 500-pound bale of cotton is quite 400 pounds and serviceable for eight days." , Harper's Weekly, June 27, 1863. , [Photo captions] , Union troops rapidly replaced several bridges across the Big Black River Bridge for their advance on Vicksburg. Here are a cotton bale bridge and a pontoon bridge., Cotton Bridge over the [Big] Black River (sketch by Theodore Davis).