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Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg
Winner, Non-Fiction, 2005, Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters
The Battle of Champion Hill was the decisive land engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign. The May 16, 1863, fighting took place just 20 miles east of the river city, where the advance of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Federal army attacked Gen. John C. Pemberton's hastily gathered Confederates.
The bloody fighting seesawed back and forth until superior Union leadership broke apart the Southern line, sending Pemberton's army into headlong retreat. The victory on Mississippi's wooded hills sealed the fate of both Vicksburg and her large field army, propelled Grant into the national spotlight, and earned him the command of the entire U.S. armed forces.
Timothy Smith, who holds a Ph.D. from Mississippi State and works as a historian for the National Park Service, has written the definitive account of this long overlooked battle. His vivid prose is grounded upon years of primary research and is rich in analysis, strategic and tactical action, and character development.
Champion Hill will become a classic Civil War battle study.
The Battle of Champion Hill was the decisive land engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign. The May 16, 1863, fighting took place just 20 miles east of the river city, where the advance of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Federal army attacked Gen. John C. Pemberton's hastily gathered Confederates.
The bloody fighting seesawed back and forth until superior Union leadership broke apart the Southern line, sending Pemberton's army into headlong retreat. The victory on Mississippi's wooded hills sealed the fate of both Vicksburg and her large field army, propelled Grant into the national spotlight, and earned him the command of the entire U.S. armed forces.
Timothy Smith, who holds a Ph.D. from Mississippi State and works as a historian for the National Park Service, has written the definitive account of this long overlooked battle. His vivid prose is grounded upon years of primary research and is rich in analysis, strategic and tactical action, and character development.
Champion Hill will become a classic Civil War battle study.
520 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2004
63 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Timothy B. Smith
37 books22 followersA former NPS ranger at Shiloh, Timothy B. Smith teaches history at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 24, 2025
Good insight into what appears to be an overlooked battle of our Civil War. Author goes to great lengths to rectify that and in my opinion makes an excellent case that Vicksburg became the success it was for the Union because of the way this battle unfolded.
That said in its completeness of the account of fighting/which unit was exactly where at X time some parts became fairly dry and unfortunately some unit numbers became switched or mislabeled in the editing process, the latter errors costing it a star.
That said in its completeness of the account of fighting/which unit was exactly where at X time some parts became fairly dry and unfortunately some unit numbers became switched or mislabeled in the editing process, the latter errors costing it a star.
July 22, 2020
It’s been quite a while since I’ve worked thru a book as quickly as I did this. This is an extremely readable narrative focused on The Battle of Champion Hill. The overall Vicksburg campaign is touched on lightly in order to place the engagement in the correct context, and this was sufficient enough to not only provide a backdrop for the battle but also to pique my interest in the campaign as a whole. The presentation of the battle itself is well done, easy to understand, and the maps are exceptional (huge plus, trust me). This does not suffer from the same issues one might have with a Cozzens book, and Smith doesn’t drag the reader along with a monotony of unit designations and positions that are impossible to follow. I highly recommend this for readers looking to enjoy a quick read on a relatively unknown battle that ultimately had lasting consequences on the outcome of the war.
August 19, 2015
Everything you wanted to know about Champion Hill but were afraid to ask... This is an exhaustive and fair account (although the Pemberton bashing can get tiresome) with lots of detail. Prose is dry but clear and the maps are a blessing although a bit uneven and redundant in places. Has a refreshing take on McClernand that is also in evidence in Ballard's account. One quibble though. Smith takes Pemberton to task for being detached during the battle, but arguably Grant was much more detached, a trait that hurt him in the Overland Campaign.
November 3, 2019
I don't know that there's another book that can fairly be compared to Timothy B Smith's outstanding 2006 book, Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg.
Often proceeding on a regiment by regiment basis, Smith's tactical chronicle recounts the story of the deadly action that transpired as the Federal army of US Grant and the rebel army of John C Pemberton clashed on this critical piece of Mississippi real estate on 16 May 1863. Located a mere 30 miles east of the Vicksburg National Military Park, to this day this small battlefield remains at best obscure to most Americans. Mostly its story remains unknown because the carnage that unfolded here was so soon overshadowed by actions in and around Vicksburg itself (not to mention in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), and also because almost none of the battlefield has ever passed out of private ownership. Only a small handful of national park signage occurs on the site today, along with one recently restored Civil War-era building. All of the relevant hallowed ground slumbers on today in a ravine-ridden Mississippi brushwood bristling with NO TRESPASSING signs. All the more reason we can be grateful that Tim Smith has so vividly brought to life this terrain across which so few of us can ever hope to tramp.
This kind of regimental-scale tactical battle study can easily become bogged down in an overwhelming sea of detail that reflects little more than the author's erudition and the size of the libraries available to him. Smith definitely marshals and deploys his facts in coercive force, but always he keeps the blow-by-blow balanced by reference to human personalities and the personal stories of those involved. If you've read enough Civil War books you'll come away from this one with a conviction that the maps presented here are extraordinary. Furthermore, almost 50 small images are provided of the many major officers involved in both sides of the conflict, and glances at them continuously reminds the reader that these events involved real flesh-and-blood human beings caught up in extraordinary circumstances. I find it rather amazing that a publisher allowed so many excellent maps and images to appear in a book. It makes a world of difference.
To this point I'd managed to keep an open mind about Pemberton's qualities as a field commander and as a military figure in general and as a man. Because of the case Tim Smith presents, I now have strong opinions about all these matters. I also formed stronger opinions about Pemberton's subordinates than I'd had before, who were so often insubordinate to one degree or another: one of the chronic curses of the rebel forces in the Western theater. My opinion of Jefferson Davis as a commander in chief has not been helped by this book. For me, the jury is still out on the case of Joseph E Johnston. I learned a great deal reading this book, not only about the many stories of the participants that Smith provides but about the battle itself, which story I guess has not been so properly and enticingly told in a century. Truly I don't think it's extravagant to say that this book of a vitally important day in history is also itself a service to history.
At this point in a review it's traditional to point out a few areas where the book could have been improved, but in fact nothing of the sort comes to mind.
Often proceeding on a regiment by regiment basis, Smith's tactical chronicle recounts the story of the deadly action that transpired as the Federal army of US Grant and the rebel army of John C Pemberton clashed on this critical piece of Mississippi real estate on 16 May 1863. Located a mere 30 miles east of the Vicksburg National Military Park, to this day this small battlefield remains at best obscure to most Americans. Mostly its story remains unknown because the carnage that unfolded here was so soon overshadowed by actions in and around Vicksburg itself (not to mention in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), and also because almost none of the battlefield has ever passed out of private ownership. Only a small handful of national park signage occurs on the site today, along with one recently restored Civil War-era building. All of the relevant hallowed ground slumbers on today in a ravine-ridden Mississippi brushwood bristling with NO TRESPASSING signs. All the more reason we can be grateful that Tim Smith has so vividly brought to life this terrain across which so few of us can ever hope to tramp.
This kind of regimental-scale tactical battle study can easily become bogged down in an overwhelming sea of detail that reflects little more than the author's erudition and the size of the libraries available to him. Smith definitely marshals and deploys his facts in coercive force, but always he keeps the blow-by-blow balanced by reference to human personalities and the personal stories of those involved. If you've read enough Civil War books you'll come away from this one with a conviction that the maps presented here are extraordinary. Furthermore, almost 50 small images are provided of the many major officers involved in both sides of the conflict, and glances at them continuously reminds the reader that these events involved real flesh-and-blood human beings caught up in extraordinary circumstances. I find it rather amazing that a publisher allowed so many excellent maps and images to appear in a book. It makes a world of difference.
To this point I'd managed to keep an open mind about Pemberton's qualities as a field commander and as a military figure in general and as a man. Because of the case Tim Smith presents, I now have strong opinions about all these matters. I also formed stronger opinions about Pemberton's subordinates than I'd had before, who were so often insubordinate to one degree or another: one of the chronic curses of the rebel forces in the Western theater. My opinion of Jefferson Davis as a commander in chief has not been helped by this book. For me, the jury is still out on the case of Joseph E Johnston. I learned a great deal reading this book, not only about the many stories of the participants that Smith provides but about the battle itself, which story I guess has not been so properly and enticingly told in a century. Truly I don't think it's extravagant to say that this book of a vitally important day in history is also itself a service to history.
At this point in a review it's traditional to point out a few areas where the book could have been improved, but in fact nothing of the sort comes to mind.
August 14, 2022
I have a keen interest in the Civil War, but have read no - or few - detailed battle histories; I've focused heretofore on either the human experience (e.g., Wiley's "The Life of Johnny Reb" and "The Life of Billy Yank"), the broad sweep of war (e.g., Shelby Foote's epic series), or the politics (various Lincoln bios and such, though not yet "Team of Rivals"). This book, though, is a traditional "battle history" - delving deeply into the detail of the little-known, but crucial, Battle of Champion Hill (also known as the Battle of Baker's Creek). This battle interested me not only because of its crucial role in the Vicksburg campaign, but also because my great-great-grandfather fought in the battle (for the 31st Alabama infantry regiment) and was wounded and captured there. Though I visited what's left of the battlefield recently during a trip to the nearby Vicksburg National Military Park, there's not much to see and my understanding of the battle was still rudimentary.
In short, I found the book to be excellent! First and foremost, Smith portrays the battle itself in vivid and comprehensive detail, drawing on innumerable sources and using copious and clear maps. His descriptions are highly readable and they flow cleanly and clearly, and the editing is very tight - crucial when describing units and leaders...a single mistake can lead to lots of confusion, and I found no such examples. I found a few minor glitches in the index, but nothing too glaring (I also noted an "affect" where it should have been the - admittedly rare - "effect-as-a-verb," but that hardly bears mention these days).
Smith also spent time - but not burdensomely so - situating Champion Hill withing the broader Vicksburg campaign (Grant's prior failures, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, etc.). I also appreciated his brief biographical sketches of virtually every leader involved - this really added depth and was done in such a way that it didn't disrupt the flow of the book at all. And the included photos - both personal portraits and locale photos - were both interesting and done in such a way that they complemented the text rather than distracting from it.
Finally, I found Smith to be blunt, but even-handed and well-reasoned, in his judgment and evaluation of commanders and units; and attentive to using confirming (or refuting) data where it was available. I came away with what I believe to be a fair understanding of the achievements, and the failures, of all parties involved. Indeed, the book confirms that Pemberton's sad reputation was fairly earned, but not him only!
The appeal of a book such as this is, by definition, pretty limited. But, if you have an interest in this battle, for whatever reason, you can't go wrong with this wonderful little book (411 pages of text, not including an order-of-battle, bibliography, index, and landscape photos). I unreservedly recommend it.
In short, I found the book to be excellent! First and foremost, Smith portrays the battle itself in vivid and comprehensive detail, drawing on innumerable sources and using copious and clear maps. His descriptions are highly readable and they flow cleanly and clearly, and the editing is very tight - crucial when describing units and leaders...a single mistake can lead to lots of confusion, and I found no such examples. I found a few minor glitches in the index, but nothing too glaring (I also noted an "affect" where it should have been the - admittedly rare - "effect-as-a-verb," but that hardly bears mention these days).
Smith also spent time - but not burdensomely so - situating Champion Hill withing the broader Vicksburg campaign (Grant's prior failures, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, etc.). I also appreciated his brief biographical sketches of virtually every leader involved - this really added depth and was done in such a way that it didn't disrupt the flow of the book at all. And the included photos - both personal portraits and locale photos - were both interesting and done in such a way that they complemented the text rather than distracting from it.
Finally, I found Smith to be blunt, but even-handed and well-reasoned, in his judgment and evaluation of commanders and units; and attentive to using confirming (or refuting) data where it was available. I came away with what I believe to be a fair understanding of the achievements, and the failures, of all parties involved. Indeed, the book confirms that Pemberton's sad reputation was fairly earned, but not him only!
The appeal of a book such as this is, by definition, pretty limited. But, if you have an interest in this battle, for whatever reason, you can't go wrong with this wonderful little book (411 pages of text, not including an order-of-battle, bibliography, index, and landscape photos). I unreservedly recommend it.
February 5, 2022
Required Reading
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Much more than I thought I would and much more than the countless others I’ve read about the war. The author does a fantastic job of presenting the details without the minutiae and other worthless material added to simply add to the number of pages. I also truly appreciated the short, “one paragraph” biographies of the participants that add just the right amount of color and context to the story, again without detracting from the main story of the battle. And this brings the final point. Other than a truly great read, it is an important story that needed to be told and long overlooked by the more glamorous and famous battles. Thus, this book should be required reading for any serious student, scholar or history buff. Finally, a few years ago I toured the Vicksburg park and of course, not knowing anything about Champion Hill, drove right by it. You can be certain that when I visit next, Champion Hill will be the first stop.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Much more than I thought I would and much more than the countless others I’ve read about the war. The author does a fantastic job of presenting the details without the minutiae and other worthless material added to simply add to the number of pages. I also truly appreciated the short, “one paragraph” biographies of the participants that add just the right amount of color and context to the story, again without detracting from the main story of the battle. And this brings the final point. Other than a truly great read, it is an important story that needed to be told and long overlooked by the more glamorous and famous battles. Thus, this book should be required reading for any serious student, scholar or history buff. Finally, a few years ago I toured the Vicksburg park and of course, not knowing anything about Champion Hill, drove right by it. You can be certain that when I visit next, Champion Hill will be the first stop.
November 3, 2020
Another winner from Tim Smith. Has everything you want in a campaign book: compelling narrative, clear communication of movements, good mix of personal accounts, discussion of impact of terrain, incisive analysis of commander decisions, excellent maps and plenty of them. This book imparts a complete familiarity with what happened at Champion Hill, when and why, as well as situating it in the context of the campaign, with discussion of events preceding and following the battle. The final chapter is a unique "what happened to them later" series of each of the major figures discussed in the book.
I got this because I thoroughly enjoyed Smith's "Shiloh". This earlier work is just as rewarding.
I got this because I thoroughly enjoyed Smith's "Shiloh". This earlier work is just as rewarding.
June 24, 2022
A thorough treatment of an important but often overlooked battle. Editing missed some unfortunate mixing up of regiments with similar or reversed numbers, making some of the action with Barton’s brigade confusing to follow. The maps were extremely helpful and spaced appropriately and frequently enough to help visualize the movements.
July 21, 2022
Singularly the best book written on the subject of the Battle of Champion Hill. I was honored to be in attandance when the Champion Family donated Champion Hill to be preserved by what is now he American Battlefield Trust
November 29, 2024
Excellent book about the prelude to the siege of Vicksburg! The book lays to rest any doubts about Pemberton’s skill as a commander. I can see why many thought he was true to his yankee birth, allowing Vicksburg to fall.
December 23, 2020
An excellent book on the battle. It is extremely well researched and written. It makes understanding this seesaw affair easy. The maps are a big help.
July 19, 2022
A must have on the bookshelf for any student of the Vicksburg Campaign. Terrific book.
August 5, 2025
Maybe like 2.5 stars. Very thorough but so unbelievably boring and at times hard to follow. The mini biographies of participants totally broke up the flow of the narrative. Not super well structured and the first few chapters could’ve been condensed down into one. Still, considering this is one of the few book length studies of this battle, I guess the level of detail is appropriate.
February 23, 2023
If you read my review about Benjamin Grierson's Raid, you can skip a few sentences. I was a history major at a university and took a Civil War course. I chose the Vicksburg Campaign for the class research paper. I wrote a bit about the five battles that led to the Confederates being driven back to Vicksburg and wrote the most on Champion Hill. I did not go into great detail, but just went through the overall campaign. Years later I found on Kindle a book about Champion Hill, which I remembered I used as a source for my paper. I purchased it and loved the book. Timothy B. Smith is one of the best Civil War writers today. Champion Hill, many argue, was when the fate of Vicksburg was sealed and it was just a question of when for Pemberton to surrender. The book was action packed, had great sources and was well-written. Grant really accomplished five great victories within days, and Sherman that alone made the Vicksburg Campaign a success at that point.
If you are looking for a great read about a battle that does not get a lot of attention, i highly recommend this book.
If you are looking for a great read about a battle that does not get a lot of attention, i highly recommend this book.
January 27, 2013
Has to be one of least covered battles of the entire war, from a historical coverage. Fascinating battle, given the number of "swings" back and forth between the counter-attacks. Interesting to know the Union could have trapped and crushed the entire Confederate army under Pendleton, had they coordinated their attacks, and avoided the entire siege of Vicksburg. Interested in seeing if this battlefield site can be found when we visit Mississippi next year.
January 17, 2015
Tim Smith's research and writing paint an important picture of the completely neglected and overshadowed Battle of Champion Hill.
I had the privilege of touring some of the battlefield in 2012 and was inspired to read Smith's book and learn more. After reading the book, I am looking forward to walking more of the ground in the future.
I had the privilege of touring some of the battlefield in 2012 and was inspired to read Smith's book and learn more. After reading the book, I am looking forward to walking more of the ground in the future.
June 9, 2014
Once General Grant had defeated the Confederates at the Battle of Champion Hill, his further victory at Vicksburg was assured, all but sealing the South's fate. I'm not a big fan of reading about military battle movements, but this book is extremely readable and interesting. Having read it, I'm even more excited about visiting these Mississippi battlefields in September.
June 22, 2024
Excellent and detailed study, with plenty of maps and photos of the current battlefield. The author also included the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, and Jackson, all with good maps (although the text on the Port Gibson maps is a bit hard to read).
August 16, 2015
Very detailed book with lots of information on all the leaders involved in the battle. It was interesting but could have been a tad shorter.
September 19, 2016
I read over this book for a military staff ride of the Vicksburg campaign. This book is a very detailed account of the battle of Champion Hill.
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June 8, 2016great book!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews