Champion Hill Historical Marker (The Champion House site is not accessible to the public.)
NPS Photo
Union troops marching from Bolton reached the Champion House about 9:45 a.m. Quickly deploying from column into line of battle, the Federals advanced toward Champion Hill, approximately a half-mile to the southwest. As they moved across the fields and through the woods — with flags flying and bayonets glistening in the sunlight — they presented the pageantry of war. With General Grant watching the advance, the fields and woods between the Champion House and the Crossroads became the scene of the day's most severe and bloodiest fighting. By nightfall, the debris of battle was strewn across the fields, and the gruesome task of caring for the dead and wounded began. The Champion House was converted to a hospital, where amputations were performed with gruesome efficiency.
