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The Civil War Preservation Trust is in the process of attempting to save some property at Champion Hill, Mississippi. Why is this important to Missourians?
Because it is the ground that Cockrell's Missouri Brigade crossed in their attack on the Union line. It is where they crushed all opposition as they moved forward. The land encompasses much of their advance and the high-water mark they reached before they were forced to fall back due to dwindling ammunition and lack of support.
The Missouri Brigade - a unit that historians consider to be one of the elite units of the war. A brigade that was seen by its enemies and comrades in the same light. A unit that seems to get lost in the shuffle because they were from Missouri - a state that seems to get lost in the shuffle of Civil War study. A true orphan brigade - once transferred across the river to help at Iuka and Corinth, they never returned to their home until after the war; and they were few in number. A unit whose battle honors are long indeed and whose reputation made it feared by its enemies and admired by its friends.
We don't get too many chances to do something about where these men fought and died. Now we have one.
While I would encourage all to help save this parcel, it behooves Missourians in particular to step up and take an active part in preserving this property where many from our state fell and built on the reputation they had of being the shock troops of the AOT.
Because it is the ground that Cockrell's Missouri Brigade crossed in their attack on the Union line. It is where they crushed all opposition as they moved forward. The land encompasses much of their advance and the high-water mark they reached before they were forced to fall back due to dwindling ammunition and lack of support.
The Missouri Brigade - a unit that historians consider to be one of the elite units of the war. A brigade that was seen by its enemies and comrades in the same light. A unit that seems to get lost in the shuffle because they were from Missouri - a state that seems to get lost in the shuffle of Civil War study. A true orphan brigade - once transferred across the river to help at Iuka and Corinth, they never returned to their home until after the war; and they were few in number. A unit whose battle honors are long indeed and whose reputation made it feared by its enemies and admired by its friends.
We don't get too many chances to do something about where these men fought and died. Now we have one.
While I would encourage all to help save this parcel, it behooves Missourians in particular to step up and take an active part in preserving this property where many from our state fell and built on the reputation they had of being the shock troops of the AOT.
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