February 5, 2025 • 19 mins
At the Battle of Champion Hill, 16 May 1863, CPL Ephraim M. Anderson and the 2nd Missouri (Confederate) rush north along with their entire division to bolster the Confederate left flank which was crumbling under an advance by the Union Army of the Tennessee. After forming in line of battle, the Missourians charged and successfully routed this first Union line, and advanced toward Champion Hill where a second Union line formed.
Sources used for episode:
Anderson, Ephraim M. Memoirs: Historical and Personal; Including the Campaigns of the First Missouri Confederate Brigade. St. Louis: Times Printing Co., 1868. https://www.fold3.com/memorial/658505066/ephraim-m-anderson-civil-war-stories.
Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 24, pt. 2: Reports. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077723033&view=1up&seq=3.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:22):
Hello, everyone.
My name is Bill Coghlan, andwelcome to First Person Civil
War Podcast, which retells thestories of the soldiers and
officers on the ground in thebattles of the Civil War.
Episode 41 is entitled, CorporalEphraim M.
(00:42):
Anderson and the 2nd MissouriConfederate at the Battle of
Champion Hill and relies on hisbook, Memoirs, Historical and
Personal, including thecampaigns of the 1st Missouri
Confederate Brigade, which hepublished in 1868.
Ephraim McDowell Anderson wasborn in 1843 in Knoxville,
(01:06):
Tennessee, and according to 1860census records, he moved with
his family to a farm in Union,Missouri, which is approximately
50 miles west of St.
Louis.
By May of 1861, Ephraim lived inthe small town of Middle Grove,
which is 35 miles north ofColumbia.
(01:28):
As South Carolina and otherstates seceded from the Union,
Ephraim Anderson claims therewas a majority sentiment of
neutrality among Missourians,until an incident on 10 May
1861, just outside of St.
Louis.
On that day, several Unionregiments marched out of the
(01:48):
city toward Camp Jackson andarrested members of a
secessionist militia unit.
As the men marched back to thecity arsenal, Pro secessionists
gathered to oppose them.
What followed was gunfire andseveral days of rioting within
St.
Louis, but greater ramificationsacross Missouri.
(02:09):
In its wake, men, such asEphraim Anderson, cast their lot
with the South.
This, at once, was invasion.
Outrage.
War.
Indicating a fixed determinationto trample on all the rights,
laws, securities, and guaranteesof the state.
(02:30):
It proved the beginning of agrand and unscrupulous system of
violence and plunder,persistently carried out in
Missouri.
This is in reference to thebattles, skirmishes, and
partisan fighting across thestate during the entirety of the
war.
And he continues, the call ofthe governor for 50, 000 men
(02:50):
went forth.
It swept over the wide borderlike the breath of the storm,
and the flash of the lightning.
Ephraim Anderson joined acompany of men that formed in
Middle Grove, and fought at theBattle of Boonville, just west
of Columbia.
The company remained togetherand eventually mustered into
(03:12):
service in St.
Clair County as Company G, 2ndMissouri.
Private Anderson and the 2ndMissouri Confederate were
present at battles such as PeaRidge and the Second Battle of
Corinth.
Following that battle, theSecond Missouri Confederate was
reassigned to the defenses atGrand Gulf along the Mississippi
(03:35):
River.
By late April into early May1863, After almost four months
of operations against Vicksburg,Major General Grant, and the
Army of the Tennesseesuccessfully crossed the
Mississippi River south of GrandGulf and can now march upon the
vital city of Vicksburg from thesouth.
(03:57):
Enlistment records areincomplete.
But at some point, EphraimAnderson promoted to corporal,
and the 2nd Missouri Confederatewere assigned to the All
Missouri 1st Brigade, commandedby Brigadier General Francis M.
Cockrell, which abandoned theirposition and linked up with
Lieutenant General John C.
(04:17):
Pemberton's Department ofMississippi and East Louisiana,
and assigned to BrigadierGeneral John S.
Bowen's division.
For over half a month.
Major General Grant marched hisarmy East toward Jackson,
Mississippi, and contended withelements of general Johnston's
forces.
(04:38):
before he turned his army westto march on Vicksburg itself.
By mid May, Lt.
Gen.
Pemberton marched his army outof Vicksburg to harass Union
supply lines, and instead metMaj.
Gen.
Grant's Army of the Tennesseeeast of Bakers Creek on a
plantation owned by Sidney S.
Champion.
(05:00):
On 16 May 1863, the 2nd MissouriConfederate formed with their
brigade with the expectationthat they would soon encounter
the Union Army advancing fromthe east.
On that morning, CorporalAnderson's company joined two
others on the picket line andbriefly advanced east toward
Jackson Creek before beingrecalled after sighting what was
(05:23):
most likely the 17th Ohio LightArtillery.
This formidable array of metalopened, firing over our heads.
Which was ten guns from theMissouri Brigade.
With a tremendous crash upon theenemy before his guns were
(05:45):
fairly unlimbered, at thedistance of perhaps 1, 000
yards.
He succeeded, however, ingetting into position.
And replied in a brisk andspirited manner with six fine
parrot guns.
The most splendid artillery duelfollowed that I have ever
witnessed in open fields.
(06:06):
Where both parties were in fullview.
This lasted 30 minutes, duringwhich time, the guns on both
sides, were handled in the mostskillful and scientific manner.
While Corporal Anderson watchedthe artillery duel in the center
of the battlefield, theConfederate left flank was
(06:26):
crumbling.
Soon, Bowen's division receivedorders to rush north to bolster
the Confederate line.
As Corporal Anderson and theMissourians arrived, they passed
through the shattered remnantsof the Confederate left flank
and formed in line of battle.
Cockrell rode down the lines inone hand, held the reigns and a
(06:49):
large magnolia flower.
While with the other, he waivedhis sword and gave the order to
charge with a shout of defianceand with gleaming bayonets and
banners pointing to the front.
The gray line leapt forward, andmoving a quick time across the
field, dislodged the enemy witha heavy volley from the edge of
(07:12):
the woods and pressed on.
Receiving the volley and chargeof Corporal Anderson and the 2nd
Missouri Confederate, was the1st Brigade, 12th Division of
the 13th Corps, commanded byBrigadier General George F.
McGinnis.
The rebels were driven about 600yards when, being strongly
(07:36):
reinforced, they turned upon usand made a most determined
stand.
At this point occurred one ofthe most obstinate and murderous
conflicts of the war.
For half an hour, each side tooktheir turn in driving and being
driven.
Corporal Anderson agrees withBrigadier General McGinnis as to
(07:59):
the magnitude of the fight whenthese two brigades met in
battle.
The battle here, raged,fearfully one.
Unbroken deafening roar ofmusketry was all that could be
heard.
The opposing lines were so muchin the woods and so contiguous
that artillery could not beused.
(08:19):
The ground was fought over threetimes, and, as the wave of
battle rolled to and fro, thescene became bloody and
terrific.
The actors, self reliant anddetermined, do or die, seemed to
be the feeling of our men, andright manfully, and nobly, did
they stand up to their work.
(08:42):
In this Clash Bowen's divisionrouted the Union 12th Division.
The Confederates continued theirmarch north toward Champion
Hill, and prior to his commandbreaking for the rear.
Brigadier General McGinniscalled upon any available
reinforcements to his position,which brigadier General
Marcellus m Crocker's seventhdivision of the 17th Corps
(09:05):
responded marching into positionto oppose the Missouri Brigade
was the Division's 3rd Brigade.
Commanded that day by ColonelGeorge B.
Boomer.
This brigade was instantly facedabout, and moved by the left
flank double quick up the hill,through a scorching fire, the
(09:26):
93rd being in advance, followedby the 10th Iowa, 26th Missouri,
and 5th Iowa, pushing forwarduntil the whole line was on the
summit of the ridge.
The brigade was ordered to moveby the right flank and commence
firing, which was done steadily.
(09:46):
Whether Corporal Anderson andthe Missouri Brigade, as well as
the 26th Missouri Union knew itor not, but at this point in the
battle, men from the same state,but on different sides of the
conflict, were firing at eachother.
Though successful in their firstcharge, Corporal Anderson
recognized that the 2nd MissouriConfederate could not stay in
(10:08):
this second position for long.
By this time, hostile columnswere closing in upon our flank.
The troops, which at first wereconfronted by us, finding
nothing to oppose their advanceafter we marched to support
Stevenson, had moved, not onlyon fleche, a French term meaning
(10:29):
to soar, But we're immediatelythreatening our rear, and at the
end of all this hard anddesperate fighting, this gallant
and triumphant advance, itseemed to be necessary to fall
back.
Our position was compromised,and the dense gathering of lines
of the enemy threatened us onthree sides.
(10:53):
Having successfully checked theConfederate advance, Colonel
Boomer sent the 26th MissouriUnion to pursue Corporal
Anderson, the 2nd MissouriConfederate, and the rest of
their brigade.
The enemy, by this time beingchecked, were breaking and
commenced their retreat.
The 26th Missouri, upon beingfaced to the front, commenced
(11:16):
firing.
They, being in plain view of theenemy.
were also exposed to theflanking fire, and were ordered
to change front to the rear, andgave the regiment a position
somewhat sheltered by a gully inthe side of the hill, from which
they kept up a constant fireupon the enemy, materially
aiding the two regiments on ourleft in checking them.
(11:39):
Their position again becomingexposed to a flank fire, they
were ordered to fall back untilthe crest of the hill.
A few yards distant, againchanging front which position
they held until their cartridgeswere exhausted, and they were
ordered to the rear forammunition.
The Second Missouri Confederate,still a cohesive unit.
(12:03):
retreated to a third and finalConfederate line, which
consisted of the remnants of twoConfederate divisions who had
already sustained heavycasualties.
Corporal Anderson, now in thecenter of this line, witnessed a
disheartening sight.
The arrival of still more freshUnion troops onto the
battlefield.
(12:26):
In front on our flank, andapproaching the rear, we're now
at least 30 to 40, 000 men.
The whole of the center of onewing of General Grant's army.
And I feel confident that thelast figure is nearer correct
than the first.
Under the circumstances, we wereordered to fall back, and this
(12:47):
was a necessity.
Brigadier General Cockrell,commander of the Missouri
Brigade, argued in his report asto why he kept his brigade in
the third line longer than heshould have, as he hoped
Confederate reinforcements couldarrive to bolster their lines.
At this time, I received noticethrough Captain Pittman of
(13:10):
Brigadier General Greenstaffthat there was an order to
retreat, which I delayedcommunicating.
Hoping that Major GeneralLoring's division might still
arrive in time to push forwardthe successes and advantages so
gallantly and dearly won.
Having met with and beeninformed by the Lieutenant
General Commanding and answer tomy request for reinforcements
(13:33):
that he had not a man untilGeneral Loring should arrive.
Covering the retreat of CorporalAnderson and the 2nd Missouri
Confederate toward Bakers Creekwas one of the internal
batteries of the MissouriBrigade.
As we came near the edge of thewoods in our retreat, and we're
(13:53):
about entering the field, afederal column that had reached
our rear rushed down toward theforks of the road and fired a
volley at us.
But, coming in range of thebattery, the indomitable Landis
opened upon it.
The thunder of his guns wasglorious music to us.
(14:16):
And we had the pleasure ofseeing the head of the column
reel and scatter in the woods oneither side of the road.
Even Corporal Anderson noted theabsence of Major General
Loring's division, who delayedsending his brigades north until
the Confederates were already inretreat from the Union's final
assault.
(14:38):
Up to this time, I do not thinkthat Loring's division could
have been engaged by any extent.
If it was, the din of battle andthe clash of arms had prevented
our hearing the guns.
But now, about a mile back upthe road, it was fighting.
In fact, it was only one of histhree brigades.
(14:58):
Whether Loring's division sharedin this action, I am unable to
say.
But quite a battle took place atthat point, In sight of the
road, which we were retreating,And which led back to Edwards
Depot.
As the Confederates crossedBaker's Creek that evening, the
Battle of Champion Hill ended.
(15:19):
Lieutenant General Pemberton'sMen fought the next day at the
Battle of Big Black River Bridgeand by 18 May, we're back inside
the fortifications of Vicksburgand surrounded by the Army of
the Tennessee.
Upon the surrender of Vicksburgon 4 July 1863, Corporal
(15:39):
Anderson and the 2nd MissouriConfederate received paroles,
which meant they could remain asa unit, but were forbidden to
fight until being exchanged.
The regiment was officiallyexchanged on 13 September.
And because of the years offighting, the 2nd Missouri
consolidated with the 6thMissouri.
(15:59):
And Corporal Anderson remainedin the ranks through the Atlanta
Campaign, the Franklin NashvilleCampaign, and finally, the
Battle of Fort Blakely on 9April, 1865.
which was one of the lastbattles of the Civil War.
Following the war, EphraimAnderson returned to Missouri
(16:22):
and in 1868 published memoirs,historical and personal.
Including the campaigns of the1st Missouri Confederate
Brigade.
Just as I highlighted CorporalLeander Stillwell's explanation
in the introduction episode ofthe podcast, Ephraim Anderson
gives a similar justification asto why he wrote his book.
(16:47):
My motive in writing is partlyto illustrate the life of the
soldier.
The military memoirs andhistories of the day appear to
be devoted exclusively to thelives, characters, and exploits
of distinguished chiefs, and themost important events connected
with their career, or calculatedto embellish general history.
(17:09):
I wish to introduce the readerto, Reader into the tents, and
around the campfires of thecommon soldier, to scenes with
which I was long familiar, whileat the same time we will go with
him in the ranks, upon thosefields made memorable and
glorious by his courage and hisdevotion.
(17:31):
Thank you for listening to the41st episode.
The link to Corporal Anderson'sbook is now available on the
podcast website.
First person Civil Warpodcast.com.
On Facebook, Instagram, x, andLinkedIn.
This week you will find adrawing of the final Union
(17:51):
assault upon Confederatepositions at Champion Hill.
I encourage everyone to follow,like, and subscribe to the
podcast on whatever platform youuse.
Links to all social mediaaccounts can be found at the top
of the podcast's website.
Also, check out the podcast onYouTube, as I've started posting
(18:14):
shorts on that platform.
In two weeks time, PrivateHerbert W.
Beecher, of the 1st ConnecticutLight Artillery Battery,
provides next episode's firstperson account at the Battle of
Secessionville.
(18:35):
My name is Bill Coghlan, andthank you for listening to First
Person Civil War Podcast.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Bill Coghlan, andwelcome to First Person Civil
War Podcast, which retells thestories of the soldiers and
officers on the ground in thebattles of the Civil War.
Episode 41 is entitled, CorporalEphraim M.
(00:42):
Anderson and the 2nd MissouriConfederate at the Battle of
Champion Hill and relies on hisbook, Memoirs, Historical and
Personal, including thecampaigns of the 1st Missouri
Confederate Brigade, which hepublished in 1868.
Ephraim McDowell Anderson wasborn in 1843 in Knoxville,
(01:06):
Tennessee, and according to 1860census records, he moved with
his family to a farm in Union,Missouri, which is approximately
50 miles west of St.
Louis.
By May of 1861, Ephraim lived inthe small town of Middle Grove,
which is 35 miles north ofColumbia.
(01:28):
As South Carolina and otherstates seceded from the Union,
Ephraim Anderson claims therewas a majority sentiment of
neutrality among Missourians,until an incident on 10 May
1861, just outside of St.
Louis.
On that day, several Unionregiments marched out of the
(01:48):
city toward Camp Jackson andarrested members of a
secessionist militia unit.
As the men marched back to thecity arsenal, Pro secessionists
gathered to oppose them.
What followed was gunfire andseveral days of rioting within
St.
Louis, but greater ramificationsacross Missouri.
(02:09):
In its wake, men, such asEphraim Anderson, cast their lot
with the South.
This, at once, was invasion.
Outrage.
War.
Indicating a fixed determinationto trample on all the rights,
laws, securities, and guaranteesof the state.
(02:30):
It proved the beginning of agrand and unscrupulous system of
violence and plunder,persistently carried out in
Missouri.
This is in reference to thebattles, skirmishes, and
partisan fighting across thestate during the entirety of the
war.
And he continues, the call ofthe governor for 50, 000 men
(02:50):
went forth.
It swept over the wide borderlike the breath of the storm,
and the flash of the lightning.
Ephraim Anderson joined acompany of men that formed in
Middle Grove, and fought at theBattle of Boonville, just west
of Columbia.
The company remained togetherand eventually mustered into
(03:12):
service in St.
Clair County as Company G, 2ndMissouri.
Private Anderson and the 2ndMissouri Confederate were
present at battles such as PeaRidge and the Second Battle of
Corinth.
Following that battle, theSecond Missouri Confederate was
reassigned to the defenses atGrand Gulf along the Mississippi
(03:35):
River.
By late April into early May1863, After almost four months
of operations against Vicksburg,Major General Grant, and the
Army of the Tennesseesuccessfully crossed the
Mississippi River south of GrandGulf and can now march upon the
vital city of Vicksburg from thesouth.
(03:57):
Enlistment records areincomplete.
But at some point, EphraimAnderson promoted to corporal,
and the 2nd Missouri Confederatewere assigned to the All
Missouri 1st Brigade, commandedby Brigadier General Francis M.
Cockrell, which abandoned theirposition and linked up with
Lieutenant General John C.
(04:17):
Pemberton's Department ofMississippi and East Louisiana,
and assigned to BrigadierGeneral John S.
Bowen's division.
For over half a month.
Major General Grant marched hisarmy East toward Jackson,
Mississippi, and contended withelements of general Johnston's
forces.
(04:38):
before he turned his army westto march on Vicksburg itself.
By mid May, Lt.
Gen.
Pemberton marched his army outof Vicksburg to harass Union
supply lines, and instead metMaj.
Gen.
Grant's Army of the Tennesseeeast of Bakers Creek on a
plantation owned by Sidney S.
Champion.
(05:00):
On 16 May 1863, the 2nd MissouriConfederate formed with their
brigade with the expectationthat they would soon encounter
the Union Army advancing fromthe east.
On that morning, CorporalAnderson's company joined two
others on the picket line andbriefly advanced east toward
Jackson Creek before beingrecalled after sighting what was
(05:23):
most likely the 17th Ohio LightArtillery.
This formidable array of metalopened, firing over our heads.
Which was ten guns from theMissouri Brigade.
With a tremendous crash upon theenemy before his guns were
(05:45):
fairly unlimbered, at thedistance of perhaps 1, 000
yards.
He succeeded, however, ingetting into position.
And replied in a brisk andspirited manner with six fine
parrot guns.
The most splendid artillery duelfollowed that I have ever
witnessed in open fields.
(06:06):
Where both parties were in fullview.
This lasted 30 minutes, duringwhich time, the guns on both
sides, were handled in the mostskillful and scientific manner.
While Corporal Anderson watchedthe artillery duel in the center
of the battlefield, theConfederate left flank was
(06:26):
crumbling.
Soon, Bowen's division receivedorders to rush north to bolster
the Confederate line.
As Corporal Anderson and theMissourians arrived, they passed
through the shattered remnantsof the Confederate left flank
and formed in line of battle.
Cockrell rode down the lines inone hand, held the reigns and a
(06:49):
large magnolia flower.
While with the other, he waivedhis sword and gave the order to
charge with a shout of defianceand with gleaming bayonets and
banners pointing to the front.
The gray line leapt forward, andmoving a quick time across the
field, dislodged the enemy witha heavy volley from the edge of
(07:12):
the woods and pressed on.
Receiving the volley and chargeof Corporal Anderson and the 2nd
Missouri Confederate, was the1st Brigade, 12th Division of
the 13th Corps, commanded byBrigadier General George F.
McGinnis.
The rebels were driven about 600yards when, being strongly
(07:36):
reinforced, they turned upon usand made a most determined
stand.
At this point occurred one ofthe most obstinate and murderous
conflicts of the war.
For half an hour, each side tooktheir turn in driving and being
driven.
Corporal Anderson agrees withBrigadier General McGinnis as to
(07:59):
the magnitude of the fight whenthese two brigades met in
battle.
The battle here, raged,fearfully one.
Unbroken deafening roar ofmusketry was all that could be
heard.
The opposing lines were so muchin the woods and so contiguous
that artillery could not beused.
(08:19):
The ground was fought over threetimes, and, as the wave of
battle rolled to and fro, thescene became bloody and
terrific.
The actors, self reliant anddetermined, do or die, seemed to
be the feeling of our men, andright manfully, and nobly, did
they stand up to their work.
(08:42):
In this Clash Bowen's divisionrouted the Union 12th Division.
The Confederates continued theirmarch north toward Champion
Hill, and prior to his commandbreaking for the rear.
Brigadier General McGinniscalled upon any available
reinforcements to his position,which brigadier General
Marcellus m Crocker's seventhdivision of the 17th Corps
(09:05):
responded marching into positionto oppose the Missouri Brigade
was the Division's 3rd Brigade.
Commanded that day by ColonelGeorge B.
Boomer.
This brigade was instantly facedabout, and moved by the left
flank double quick up the hill,through a scorching fire, the
(09:26):
93rd being in advance, followedby the 10th Iowa, 26th Missouri,
and 5th Iowa, pushing forwarduntil the whole line was on the
summit of the ridge.
The brigade was ordered to moveby the right flank and commence
firing, which was done steadily.
(09:46):
Whether Corporal Anderson andthe Missouri Brigade, as well as
the 26th Missouri Union knew itor not, but at this point in the
battle, men from the same state,but on different sides of the
conflict, were firing at eachother.
Though successful in their firstcharge, Corporal Anderson
recognized that the 2nd MissouriConfederate could not stay in
(10:08):
this second position for long.
By this time, hostile columnswere closing in upon our flank.
The troops, which at first wereconfronted by us, finding
nothing to oppose their advanceafter we marched to support
Stevenson, had moved, not onlyon fleche, a French term meaning
(10:29):
to soar, But we're immediatelythreatening our rear, and at the
end of all this hard anddesperate fighting, this gallant
and triumphant advance, itseemed to be necessary to fall
back.
Our position was compromised,and the dense gathering of lines
of the enemy threatened us onthree sides.
(10:53):
Having successfully checked theConfederate advance, Colonel
Boomer sent the 26th MissouriUnion to pursue Corporal
Anderson, the 2nd MissouriConfederate, and the rest of
their brigade.
The enemy, by this time beingchecked, were breaking and
commenced their retreat.
The 26th Missouri, upon beingfaced to the front, commenced
(11:16):
firing.
They, being in plain view of theenemy.
were also exposed to theflanking fire, and were ordered
to change front to the rear, andgave the regiment a position
somewhat sheltered by a gully inthe side of the hill, from which
they kept up a constant fireupon the enemy, materially
aiding the two regiments on ourleft in checking them.
(11:39):
Their position again becomingexposed to a flank fire, they
were ordered to fall back untilthe crest of the hill.
A few yards distant, againchanging front which position
they held until their cartridgeswere exhausted, and they were
ordered to the rear forammunition.
The Second Missouri Confederate,still a cohesive unit.
(12:03):
retreated to a third and finalConfederate line, which
consisted of the remnants of twoConfederate divisions who had
already sustained heavycasualties.
Corporal Anderson, now in thecenter of this line, witnessed a
disheartening sight.
The arrival of still more freshUnion troops onto the
battlefield.
(12:26):
In front on our flank, andapproaching the rear, we're now
at least 30 to 40, 000 men.
The whole of the center of onewing of General Grant's army.
And I feel confident that thelast figure is nearer correct
than the first.
Under the circumstances, we wereordered to fall back, and this
(12:47):
was a necessity.
Brigadier General Cockrell,commander of the Missouri
Brigade, argued in his report asto why he kept his brigade in
the third line longer than heshould have, as he hoped
Confederate reinforcements couldarrive to bolster their lines.
At this time, I received noticethrough Captain Pittman of
(13:10):
Brigadier General Greenstaffthat there was an order to
retreat, which I delayedcommunicating.
Hoping that Major GeneralLoring's division might still
arrive in time to push forwardthe successes and advantages so
gallantly and dearly won.
Having met with and beeninformed by the Lieutenant
General Commanding and answer tomy request for reinforcements
(13:33):
that he had not a man untilGeneral Loring should arrive.
Covering the retreat of CorporalAnderson and the 2nd Missouri
Confederate toward Bakers Creekwas one of the internal
batteries of the MissouriBrigade.
As we came near the edge of thewoods in our retreat, and we're
(13:53):
about entering the field, afederal column that had reached
our rear rushed down toward theforks of the road and fired a
volley at us.
But, coming in range of thebattery, the indomitable Landis
opened upon it.
The thunder of his guns wasglorious music to us.
(14:16):
And we had the pleasure ofseeing the head of the column
reel and scatter in the woods oneither side of the road.
Even Corporal Anderson noted theabsence of Major General
Loring's division, who delayedsending his brigades north until
the Confederates were already inretreat from the Union's final
assault.
(14:38):
Up to this time, I do not thinkthat Loring's division could
have been engaged by any extent.
If it was, the din of battle andthe clash of arms had prevented
our hearing the guns.
But now, about a mile back upthe road, it was fighting.
In fact, it was only one of histhree brigades.
(14:58):
Whether Loring's division sharedin this action, I am unable to
say.
But quite a battle took place atthat point, In sight of the
road, which we were retreating,And which led back to Edwards
Depot.
As the Confederates crossedBaker's Creek that evening, the
Battle of Champion Hill ended.
(15:19):
Lieutenant General Pemberton'sMen fought the next day at the
Battle of Big Black River Bridgeand by 18 May, we're back inside
the fortifications of Vicksburgand surrounded by the Army of
the Tennessee.
Upon the surrender of Vicksburgon 4 July 1863, Corporal
(15:39):
Anderson and the 2nd MissouriConfederate received paroles,
which meant they could remain asa unit, but were forbidden to
fight until being exchanged.
The regiment was officiallyexchanged on 13 September.
And because of the years offighting, the 2nd Missouri
consolidated with the 6thMissouri.
(15:59):
And Corporal Anderson remainedin the ranks through the Atlanta
Campaign, the Franklin NashvilleCampaign, and finally, the
Battle of Fort Blakely on 9April, 1865.
which was one of the lastbattles of the Civil War.
Following the war, EphraimAnderson returned to Missouri
(16:22):
and in 1868 published memoirs,historical and personal.
Including the campaigns of the1st Missouri Confederate
Brigade.
Just as I highlighted CorporalLeander Stillwell's explanation
in the introduction episode ofthe podcast, Ephraim Anderson
gives a similar justification asto why he wrote his book.
(16:47):
My motive in writing is partlyto illustrate the life of the
soldier.
The military memoirs andhistories of the day appear to
be devoted exclusively to thelives, characters, and exploits
of distinguished chiefs, and themost important events connected
with their career, or calculatedto embellish general history.
(17:09):
I wish to introduce the readerto, Reader into the tents, and
around the campfires of thecommon soldier, to scenes with
which I was long familiar, whileat the same time we will go with
him in the ranks, upon thosefields made memorable and
glorious by his courage and hisdevotion.
(17:31):
Thank you for listening to the41st episode.
The link to Corporal Anderson'sbook is now available on the
podcast website.
First person Civil Warpodcast.com.
On Facebook, Instagram, x, andLinkedIn.
This week you will find adrawing of the final Union
(17:51):
assault upon Confederatepositions at Champion Hill.
I encourage everyone to follow,like, and subscribe to the
podcast on whatever platform youuse.
Links to all social mediaaccounts can be found at the top
of the podcast's website.
Also, check out the podcast onYouTube, as I've started posting
(18:14):
shorts on that platform.
In two weeks time, PrivateHerbert W.
Beecher, of the 1st ConnecticutLight Artillery Battery,
provides next episode's firstperson account at the Battle of
Secessionville.
(18:35):
My name is Bill Coghlan, andthank you for listening to First
Person Civil War Podcast.
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