News Release

Champion Hill Battlefield Transfer Announced

Ceremony announcing the land transfer

NPS PHOTO

News Release Date: July 3, 2019

Contact: Bill Justice, 601-619-2902

Contact: Scott Babinowich, 601-642-6881

Vicksburg, MS:  On July 2, 2019 the State of Mississippi, the National Park Service, and the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign announced the impending transfer of over 800 acres of the Champion Hill Battlefield from the State of Mississippi to the National Park Service. This will be the largest expansion of Vicksburg National Military Park in its history and will create the first of three a new units of the park.
 
“This transfer marks the largest expansion in the 120-year history of Vicksburg National Military Park,” said Robert A. Vogel, southeast regional director of the National Park Service. “The park is now better positioned to tell the story of the vital campaign for Vicksburg, how it changed the course of the Civil War and how its legacy continues to shape American culture. We thank the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Congressional delegation and the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign for supporting this effort.”
 
Mississippi Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, and US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith were present and offered remarks. The ceremony, hosted by the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign, highlighted the strong need for continued community involvement to help preserve and interpret Mississippi history.

Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign President Brigadier General Robert Crear announced a three million dollar capital campaign to raise funds for visitor use facilities for visitors at Champion Hill, Port Gibson, and Raymond, and to support interpretation at these new units. Crear announced $500,000 in lead gifts for the campaign, $250,000 each donated by John Nau of Houston, Texas and Don Barrett of Lexington, Mississippi. John Nau gave remarks about the importance of enhancing the visitor experience and interpretation in addition to preservation of the important sites.
 
Champion Hill was the site of the pivotal battle of the Civil War Campaign for Vicksburg. On this battlefield 32,000 Union soldiers under the command of Major General Ulysses S. Grant and 22,000 Confederates under Major General John C. Pemberton fought the largest and bloodiest action of the Vicksburg Campaign. The Union victory at Champion Hill forced General Pemberton to retreat into Vicksburg and helped seal the fate of the river city.
 
The expansion of Vicksburg National Military Park to include the Champion Hill, Port Gibson and Raymond Battlefields was authorized by Congress in 2014. Limited visitor facilities currently exist at the Champion Hill unit. Please contact the Vicksburg National Military Park Visitor Center at 601-636-0583 for more information.