Champion Hill Battlefield Tour: Vicksburg's 160th Anniversary

Often referred to as the most important battle of the Vicksburg Campaign, join us on our tour of the Champion Hill Battlefield with Kris White and Dr. Chris Mackowski. Learn more about our once-in-a-generation opportunity to buy, and protect forever, almost 32 acres of the remaining pieces of the Vicksburg Campaign, including land at Champion Hill. bit.ly/43GNhGj
This video is part of our commemoration of the 160th Anniversary of the Vicksburg Campaign. Videos will be added from now until the beginning of July. To view the full set of tours, visit: • Vicksburg Campaign: 16...
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@oldgeezerproductions]

My great grandfather came to America (Wisconsin) from East Prussia (after WW2 it no longer exists) with his family when he was 16 years old. When he turned 21, the war had just started and like so many German immigrants, he immediately volunteered to defend his adopted country from those who would destroy it. He and his regiment (the 29th Wisconsin), although new to war, did very well, especially while taking Champion Hill. Afterwards he was ordered to participate in the ill-fated Red River Campaign where he fell deathly sick and had to be evacuated down river. He was sent to the big military hospital at Cairo, Ill., but he only got worse. Eventually he was sent home to Wisconsin to die, but he slowly recovered and a couple of years after his unit was discharged from Federal Service, he married a German gal and that's why I'm here today.

[@scotlndr]

Great to hear about other members of the 29th. I had three Ggreat uncles [Elon Tyler, Holland Graham and Brooklyn Graham-who died there] in that regiment. One died as mentioned, in the battle and is buried at Vicksburg. One of the others [Elon Tyler] was wounded three times and yet survived. Proud of their service and sacrifice.

[@oceantree5000]

Love this. The Vicksburg campaign is probably the most fascinating of the war, to me.

[@McNair39thNC]

Thank you so much for doing this guys! You two make the best tag team on these tours! Kris and Chris!

[@cjm2968]

We are beginning to see the genius of Grant. In January 1863, Grant's headquarters were located on Porter's flagship on the Mississippi north of Vicksburg. This afforded Grant an excellent opportunity for daily face-to-face meetings with his subordinate commanders and to establish the unity of command and the command and control relationship among his subordinates. In an effort to refine his command and control organization, Grant restructured his subordinate commanders, and combined his forces by giving Sherman command of one Corps and McClernand command of another, thus placing them on the same level. This negated McClernand's seniority over Sherman and kept both subordinate to Grant.

[@Bodiddley788]

I'm a college instructor out for the summer, and have become addicted to these videos. My GG Grandfather fought with the Mississippi 7th Company I.

[@mitchw4802]

My great great great uncle was in Company E of the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry and fought at Champion Hill, and most likely at the Big Black River Bridge the following day.

[@terryeustice5399]

Kris and Chris you guys are awesome in History of these battles. Thank you! 💯👊👍

[@johnnystir9796]

My Great Great Grandfather fought in the 67th Indiana at Champion Hill.

[@user-xn8nr8cw8f]

I had an ancestor in the 39th GA, Newton A.T. Carrell (spelled Carroll in records) wounded and captured at Champion Hill.

[@BJHinman]

Did he ever find his way back to his home?

[@user-xn8nr8cw8f]

@@BJHinman No. I believe he got to Alton, IL, worked for a newspaper, and married. Found him on "Find a Grave" buried outside Rochester, NY.

[@kenanacampora]

When I visited Vicksburg, the shocking realization happened when I saw the NAVAL cannons they aimed at each other on land. Redan was also a new word. Thx for your great video series. Hello to mr. Alderman.

[@ChuckG92]

I had a bunch of family members with Stevenson in the 56th GA INF. I need to get out there.

[@dadsongs]

Great presentation always. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge Ed Bearss. He was a huge part of the Ken Burns series, which is how I got to know about him and his work.

[@cjm2968]

January 1, 1863 Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. July 4, 1963 Grant makes it a reality. The city of Vicksburg became a beacon of freedom in the heart of the Confederacy. This is an earlier rendition of Juneteenth.

[@tomdynia9951]

Great video! I enjoyed it very much. Years ago I spent about a week in the Vicksburg area including a trip the Champion Hill. Of course in those days not so much had been preserved and marked and I hadn't acquired as much reference material as I have now. Hope to get back there some day.

[@nickgiordano2096]

Sid Champion V is the surviving ancestor who still lives in the area. Great video guys!

[@artlochrie1069]

Sid is a great guy! Gave me a private tour years ago. Really great experience!

[@cjm2968]

TWO JACKSONS. In May of 1863 the Confederacy lost two Jacksons, Stonewall and Jackson, Mississippi. The LCM (Lost Cause Mythmakers) don’t seem to mention Jackson, Mississippi surrendering, as they would say, to “The Drunk” or “The Butcher”. Grant’s Masterpiece, the Vicksburg Campaign, was begun around the same time of Chancellorsville, “Lee’s Greatest Victory” where the ANV lost more killed and wounded than the AOP. The LCM likes to talk about the brilliant flank attack where Jackson’s hubris driven fiasco gets himself killed. The LCM still thought the Civil War was an event that occurred in a 100 mile square in Virginia. After 160 years of myth and demonizing, it is time to shine a little light on the truth. Stonewall died on May 10, 1863 the same day as Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston was sent to Jackson for an ill-fated defense of that city, surrendering it on May 14, 1863 to the greatest General in American History, Ulysses S. Grant.-- Chris McLaughlin

[@timfrye3586]

BASED AF

[@rweezy6246]

The CBB (Carpet Bag Brigade) is proud of you son...

[@cjm2968]

@@timfrye3586 ??

[@cjm2968]

@@rweezy6246 I don't understand

[@timfrye3586]

@@cjm2968 it means 'Good point. ' It's something the kids say

[@lucyslaich8804]

Love this -- love the Ed Bearss story, too. I've donated in memory of Lloyd J. Tilghman, Brig. Gen., C.S.A. and his son, Lt. Lloyd J. Tilghman, Jr., of Talbot County, MD.

[@davidhulse395]

You guys must have been on Buck Reed Road. That road was like a bomb zone. I drove about a half mile on it, got out and walked about 200 yards and then went back to the lower crossing and on to Edwards. Had to limit Champion Hill to The Coker House area it was so bad. Supposedly The Shaifer Road is the worst but it is hard to believe anything could possibly be this bad.

[@born2bwildne744]

Tiny Battle Publishing has a game The Hill of Death: Champion Hill designed by Hermann Luttmann for those so interested....

[@scott1395]

My gg grandfather and his brother were captured there from the 57 ga infantry! His brother was shot in the lung but survived! They were released and walked back to wilkinson co ga where they took one month off and reformed at savannah ga and were present at the battles of atlanta! Gg grandfather deserted from a madison ga hospital when he learned of shermans troops all around his home area! Later became sheriff of wilkinson co in the 1870! Robert Issac Carr and brother William B (Billy) Carr!

[@EthiopianAndAmericanTradFamily]

The true turning point

[@PRCoolBreeze]

The land following the Jackson Rd going north towards Champion Hill is preserved by the Trust and the state of MS but there are still "POSTED no trespassing" signs up. Just for clarification, is it ok to walk past those signs and follow the Jackson Rd?

[@craiggleason8386]

Know what you mean about the roads. Last time I was there I never found it

[@BillCuddy]

How bizarre. I was just at Champions Hill, or just to the north of it anyway along the Champion Hill Rd two weeks ago. I was going by Google maps and noticed there was virtually nothing on the roads that told you where the battlefield was. We just happened to see a couple of historical signs north of the road that my wife just managed to see in the foilage. That told us that the hill across the road (on private property) was Champion Hill. Anyway, while I was there I was thinking that the American Battlefield Trust needs to buy up land here so this important battle can be better commemorated. And I see this video and find out they are already doing it! BUT, I have no idea WHERE they are filming this, I never saw that sign they are standing by.

[@josephcashia9359]

Just found this. I own the 42nd Georgia Fowler guard flag captured at Champion Hill

[@rweezy6246]

You guys do such a service to these warriors. Much appreciated.

[@texigander5]

My wife and I visited two summers ago but could not find how to get in. We ended up at the crossroads only.

[@TheLeftIsYourEnemy]

The Confederacy had a wealth of great generals. How is it they couldn't come up with anybody better to command such an important task as defending Vicksburg than John Pemberton. He was even a NORTHERNER!

[@oldgeezerproductions]

In my opinion, the South had a wealth of famous generals, but very few who came up to the standards of the many, more prosaic Union generals. Like, everybody knows about the dashing, romantic and hansom Raphael Semmes, but dumpy old John Winslow and his crew of ordinary Navy seamen out sailed, out gunned and sent Semmes' ship down to Davy Jones' Locker.

[@EthiopianAndAmericanTradFamily]

​@oldgeezerproductions In that sense, the 60 captains Semmes left unemployed were pretty dumpy too 🔱

[@oldgeezerproductions]

@@EthiopianAndAmericanTradFamilyYou forgot to mention that those 60 unemployed dumpy guys were captains of unarmed merchant ships. Fortunately for them, the United States had a large shipbuilding industry and easily replaced the lost ships, but the Alabama could not and was not replaced. Semmes should have been court-marshalled and then hung for willfully risking and then losing this invaluable and irreplaceable military asset on the stupid basis of "The Personal Honor of a Southern Gentleman." Only a criminally stupid fool would risk losing his ship and crew under such circumstances and he should have received a military punishment for it, but instead, he's some kind of "dashing hero who escaped the jaws of defeat." But, oh, captain Winslow and crew would laugh and call him a coward.

[@Bayouboy5617]

Where was the confederate army of Louisiana buried? My great great great grandfather was with the 21st Regiment of Louisiana, F Company. We haven't found his grave yet. We do know that he did survive the war and was a pow of this battle. Later coming back to NewOrleans starting our family after his release. Between generations and time, his where abouts have been lost. To me personally on behalf of his family and mine, Im ashamed of my family for losing his grave.

[@williamsherman7811]

can we get more info on Old Abe during the Vicksburg campaign and Colonel John W. Jefferson mixed race grandson of Thomas Jefferson

[@michaelnewton5873]

You doing Big Black River?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Yes

[@petebethke1738]

Awesome video!! Thank You! Right behind you there is a posted sign, what does it say?? is it ok to go up there??

[@jeansalutz8422]

Uneven sound. At times even with it at full volume there was lot I couldn't hear.

[@marianmarek7299]

I’m researching a GR uncle that was in the Confederacy LA Calvary. He was under Col Ogden. I read Ogden was involved w Vicksburg. Is these any list of names that were in these units.

[@dianenorkus9906]

How can you can obtain the set of maps?

[@cjm2968]

The entire Confederate Army of the Mississippi was captured at Vicksburg. 30,000 surrendered to US Grant--- Union casualties for the battle and siege of Vicksburg were 4,835; Confederate were 32,697 (29,495 surrendered). Don't let Lost Case Mythmakers downplay those surrendered Confederates. Without those supposed Union captured at Chancellorsville it is a Union victory. Also, at Vicksburg, In addition to his surrendered men, Pemberton turned over to Grant 172 cannons and 50,000 rifles.

[@EthiopianAndAmericanTradFamily]

It was probably more in the neighbourhood of 18,000 captured. 18,000 was the figure used in the communications between Pemberton and Johnston before the siege commenced. Pemberton only had 11 infantry brigades plus other miscellaneous units like Wauls Legion and heavy artillery etc.

[@Joshua-rb2hv]

Why no leaves on trees and have coats on?it's june

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Truth be told we pre shoot a small number of videos. Good catch!

[@carolynduval6905]

Can I request to do a Deep Dive into pronouncing Gettisburg?

[@mikelamberth9975]

It's Mississippi, paved roads and drinkable water are luxuries.

[@fateagle4life]

Jeesh, if you want bad water and terrible roads, just go to Louisiana. You probably believe we don't have indoor plumbing and electricity too. 😅😂

[@claypurvis4577]

I love the bad jokes.

[@trespasserswill7052]

Coffee.

[@artlochrie1069]

Thank God the South had Joe Johnston! I believe God put him in place so the North would win the war... Also my grgr grandfather was in the 45th ILL, so Johnston's poor leadership helped secure my existence. 😊