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

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

The Coker House and the Battle of Champion Hill

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

1. The Coker House and the Battle of Champion Hill Marker

Inscription.

The Coker House and the Battle of Champion Hill. . The Coker House is the only remaining structure on grounds where the pivotal Battle of Champion Hill was fought on May 16, 1863. Located on the southern margin of the battlefield, the house sustained fire from both Union and Confederate artillery as the battle lines shifted throughout the day., This house, like others in the area, served as a field hospital after the battle., Artillery Duel , Artillery was positioned in front of this house much of the day. In the morning, Confederate artillery along Cotton Ridge (the name of the subtle high ground where you are standing) held off Union soldiers advancing from the east. Late in the afternoon, the Confederate battery withdrew and a Union battery took its place, aiming at the new Confederate position on the next ridge to the west. , The artillery duel directed to and from the Coker House was peripheral to the main Battle of Champion Hill, centered two miles north. However, at the end of the battle, the engagement here became critical as it provided cover for the Confederate army's withdrawal., "...for over an hour we loaded our guns and killed each other as fast as we could. , "I've been in ... greater battles than Champion Hill, but only once did I see two lines of blue and gray stand close together and fire into each other's faces for an hour and a half.” , Capt. Sam Byers, 5th Iowa Infantry, "One cannon shot went straight through the house... In the room nearest the battery was a piano, standing diagonally across the room, with a corner jut in the right place in the path of the ball. Of course it was knocked off, but the tones were all left... " , Sgt. Thomas B. Marshall, 83d Ohio Infantry, [Captions] , Top right: (below) Illustration of the Battle of Champion Hill and (left) illustration of the action at Bakers Creek, Harper's Weekly. , Bottom left: Theo Davis, journalist/artist for Harper's Weekly, saved these sketches (above right) and published them thirty years after the war. , Bottom right: Portions of General Grant's army moved west toward Vicksburg along the Raymond-Edwards road, which passes in front of the Coker House.

The Coker House is the only remaining structure on grounds where the pivotal Battle of Champion Hill was fought on May 16, 1863. Located on the southern margin of the battlefield, the house sustained fire from both Union and Confederate artillery as the battle lines shifted throughout the day.

This house, like others in the area, served as a field hospital after the battle.

Artillery Duel
Artillery was positioned in front of this house much of the day. In the morning, Confederate artillery along Cotton Ridge (the name of the subtle high ground where you are standing) held off Union soldiers advancing from the east. Late in the afternoon, the Confederate battery withdrew and a Union battery took its place, aiming at the new Confederate position on the next ridge to the west.

The artillery duel directed to and from the Coker House was peripheral to the main Battle of Champion Hill, centered two miles north. However, at the end of the battle, the engagement here became critical as it provided cover for the Confederate army's withdrawal.

"...for over an hour we loaded our guns and killed each other as fast as we could.
"I've been in ... greater battles than Champion Hill, but only once did I see two lines of blue and gray stand close together and
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fire into each other's faces for an hour and a half.”
Capt. Sam Byers, 5th Iowa Infantry

"One cannon shot went straight through the house... In the room nearest the battery was a piano, standing diagonally across the room, with a corner jut in the right place in the path of the ball. Of course it was knocked off, but the tones were all left... "
Sgt. Thomas B. Marshall, 83d Ohio Infantry

[Captions]
Top right: (below) Illustration of the Battle of Champion Hill and (left) illustration of the action at Bakers Creek, Harper's Weekly.
Bottom left: Theo Davis, journalist/artist for Harper's Weekly, saved these sketches (above right) and published them thirty years after the war.
Bottom right: Portions of General Grant's army moved west toward Vicksburg along the Raymond-Edwards road, which passes in front of the Coker House.

Erected by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 16, 1863.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 32° 18.244′ N, 90° 33.714′ W. Marker was near Edwards

View of marker, in kiosk, looking north on Adams Lane. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

2. View of marker, in kiosk, looking north on Adams Lane.

, Mississippi, in Hinds County. It was on Adams Lane south of State Route 467, on the left when traveling south. Located just north of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: Adams Lane, Edwards MS 39066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 location, measured as the crow flies: The Vicksburg Campaign (here, next to this marker); Indecision! Indecision! Indecision! (here, next to this marker); 1863 Vicksburg Campaign (here, next to this marker); Artillery Duel (within shouting distance of this marker); A Narrow Escape (within shouting distance of this marker); Lloyd Tilghman (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Battle of Champion Hill (approx. 2½ miles away); Champion Hill Battlefield (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwards.

Other markers no longer nearby. Architecture and Renovations (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing); A Refugee Family (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Chicago Mercantile Battery – Artillery in the Yard (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); The Death of General Tilghman (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. The Coker House. (Submitted on November 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The Coker House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2017

3. The Coker House

2. The Battle of Champion Hill. (Submitted on November 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,400 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.