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 grants federal army attacked gen john c pembertons hastily gathered confederates. The battle of champion hill fought may 16 1863 was the pivotal battle in the vicksburg campaign of the american civil war 1861 1865 smith timothy b champion hill decisive battle for vicksburg el dorado hills ca savas beatie 2004. 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 grants federal army attacked gen john c pembertons hastily gathered confederates. Champion hill decisive battle for vicksburg on the other hand allocates 279 of its 592 pages and 31 of its 39 maps specifically to the battle of may 16 1863 this important civil war battle deserves the attention given it by this book. Champion hill is a detailed tactical level description of the battle which occurred on may 16 1863 on the eponymous hill located over 20 miles east of vicksburg this is no new history book filled with the social or political aspects of champion hill and its results