The Union start their attack on Champion Hill which will carry the position.

In May, 1863 Gen. Grant decided to isolate Vicksburg and take the city. He planned to cut the railroad that linked Vicksburg with Jackson by a swing to the Northeast. Meanwhile Gen. Johnston was attempting to concentrate his forces in the area of Jackson. On the 14th of May Gen. Sherman captured Jackson and stopped the build up of Confederate forces.

Leaving Sherman's Corps to destroy Jackson's rail system, Grant marched on Vicksburg. In the mean time Gen. Pemberton had marched out of Vicksburg with four of his five divisions.

The two forces met at The Battle of Champion Hill. Initially the Union had the upper hand, dislodging the Confederates from the top of the hill and inflicting severe casualties on the Confederates.

Later in the day the division of Bowen was launched in a counter-attack and re-took the hill. Unfortunately for the rebels they did not have enough troops to exploit the initial success of the attack. The Union forces re-took the hill and advanced, making the postions of the Confederates untenable. They withdrew giving the Union the victory for The Battle of Champion Hill.

Pemberton withdrew his forces into Vicksburg. The siege would last a long time. However, when the city eventually fell it made the Mississippi river a Union waterway and cut the Confederacy in two, thus marking the beggining of the end for the Confederacy in the civil war.

TIPS

Although greatly outnumbered the Confederates can win this by using one factor of this battle to their advantage; the Union player really has no idea where you are.

The biggest decision you have to make it where to send Bowen, either North or South.

If he goes North, and Stevenson gives ground, both divisions can counter-attack at the same time and have a good chance against the Union.

If he goes South, he can link up with Loring and have a very good chance of destroying the Union brigades there.

Either way, try to hide where you are going and launch a surprise attack somewhere. Hopefully where the Union player least expects it.

The Union player has to do the opposite, get out there and find the Confederate player's units and engage them before they disappear. If you detect the reb is moving south, you must chase after him or your units to the south will be destroyed.

Moving Logan directly south through the woods is also very effective. It threatens the Jackson road and also the flank of any units defending Champion Hill.

You also have to take at least the two top most objectives. And once you have occupied them, don't take it for granted you will keep them. You never know where a Confederate brigade may turn up.

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