The Carnage at Champion Hill May 16 - 1863
Dordak's view of my Brigade in Action
the 49th Indiana Double Quicked to fill the gap
Today me and Dordak played a game of SOW, this time we choose Champion Hill Battle on May 16, 1863. Part of Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.
RESULT - Confederate Victory
Cook's Brigade Strength - 1,340
Brigade Loss - 1 thousand and 40 casualties
AAR Report of Cook's 1st Brigade of 9th Division
Spoiler
I took the 1st Brigade of 9th Division as Brig Gen Theophilus Garrad. (118th Illinois, 7th Kentucky, 49th and 69th Indiana Union Brigade)
As Dordak took Divisional Command as Osterhaus. We had two infantry brigade and a battery. Colonel Lindsey leading the 2nd Brigade. We begun the battle as I wheeled my brigade to face the incoming Rebel threat. I received my order from General Osterhaus to advance and slam the rebel. My brigade moved out as we were on parade ground, half way there, I ordered a double quick to hurry my Brigade before the momentum is lost. We arrived the position and engaged the Rebs but unfortunately everything went south. The 3rd Union Division collasped and retreated leaving my Right Flank seriously exposed and ripe for flank. As Rebel Division converged into my Brigade position. I felt like 5th NY at 2nd Manassas. But my Brigade held on and 69th IND broke rank after suffering two rebel regiment charge. I ordered 49th IND to fill the gap and we were success at holding the rebel division back as a fresh union division arrived to press the rebel on.
However the battle was far from over, General Lindsey has take over the push as my Brigade took a rest and resupplied. I was ordered to engage 6th Arkanasas who broke but reformed in our rear. I successfully repelled the 6th ARK and rejoined the division. But then i was ordered to engage and drive Rebel battery out. Which i successfully did and one gun got away and deemed useless threat. The 6th ARK returned, I ordered 118th Illinois to engage them and drive them out. However 6th ARK was strong this time and due to my luck, A new Union division was marching directly behind 6th ARK. I was glad to order the Illinois boys to retreat back to the brigade and the 6th ARK enjoyed their false victory until 33rd Illinois fired a fierce volley to 6th ARK's rear and successfully put the Hurt in them.
I rejoined my Division only to find the division heavily damaged and my boys ordered into the battle once again against huge rebel division. Lindsey broke ranks and his Brigade deemed to nothing leaving me with 118th ILL, 69th IND and 7th KY. (49th IND broke and routed for good)
The Georgia Brigade with Mississippi Brigade successfully crushed my Brigade to full route and a brand new Union Division arrived but choose to watch us die instead of sending support to crush the LAST confederate brigade to claim victory. I rode back to HQ with utter bitter and depressed to see my Brigade starting off 1, 340 strong and in the end, only 300 men in my brigade made it out alive.
It was the most Brutal and Ugliest battle on SOW I ever seen.
- Signed,
Colonel Cook of 1st Brigade - 9th Division
