Coker House/Tilghman Monument

The Coker House is one of the few remaining structures associated with the battle of Champion Hill. This one-story Greek Revival house was built about 1852 by H. B. Coker, a popular citizen and farmer. The interior layout follows the traditional central-hall plan and has two rooms on each side of the hall. Bullet holes in the front door and jambs, and cannonball holes on the westside of the Coker House remain today as evidence of the battle of Champion Hill.

Coker House-privately owned

Early on the morning of May 16, 1863, Confederate troops under General Loring were deployed on the ridge facing east. Union forces advancing from Raymond formed line of battle about 1,000 yards east and unlimbered their artilley. For hours a sporadic artillery duel ensued with little damage to either side. In mid-afternoon Loring was directed to send two of his three brigades to the endangered Confederate left, near Champion Hill. His remaining brigade (Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman's) was withdrawn to the next ridge west of the Coker House. Immediately following the withdrawal of Confederate forces, Union troops took possession of this ridge. Six guns of the Chicago Merchantile Battery were unlimbered and assumed a position between the Raymond Road and the Coker House. The Coker House was utilized as a field hospital for soldiers of both North and South.

Tilghman Monument site	This small stone is the only other monument on the Champion Hill battlefield. It marks the spot where Confederate General Tilghman was killed on the afternoon of May 16, 1863. To cover the Bakers Creek ford, the only avenue of escape left the Confederate army, Tilghman's Brigade pulled back from the Coker House to this ridge, known as Cotton Hill.
Company G, 1st Mississippi Light Artillery (Cowan's Battery), straddled the road with two guns to the north and four guns to the south. General Tilghman, dismounted, was giving personal directions at one of the guns north of the road when he was struck by a shell fragment and instantly killed. Frederick and Sidell Tilghman, sons of the general, erected this stone at the turn of the century.	Tilghman Monument

Yeiser House

The Yeiser House is situated between two huge Magnolia trees. After being struck by a shell fragment, Confederate General Tilghman was placed in an ambulance and brought to this home. Surgeons examined the general and pronounced him dead. His remains were conducted to Vicksburg, accompanied by his son, Lloyd Tilghman, Jr., and his personal staff.

General Tilghman was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, but in 1902 his remains were disinterred at the request of his sons and reburied in New York City.

	Last update: Friday, November 05, 1999 http://www.nps.gov/vick/vcmpgn/coker.htm Editor: G. Zeman