Karen and Glenn Taylor, re-enactors, greet gate at Champion Hill Baptist Church and ask for donations

Rebecca Drake addresses opening crowd on the grounds of the church

The 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Champion Hill drew a large crowd from many different states

Union infantry commanded by Charles Tucker at opening ceremony

Confederate infantry commanded by Mike Beiser at opening ceremony

Honored guest, Terry Winschel, Parker Hills and Johnny Lewis, seated on the front row.

From left to right: Dr. Timothy Smith, Terry Winschel, Parker Hills and Johnny Lewis, battlefield property owner.

Rebecca Blackwell Drake, author, historian and board member of the Champion Heritage Foundation greets the crowd and honored guests

Dr. Timothy Smith, author of CHAMPION HILL: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg relates how the battle was fought "to the hour and to the day" of the May 16th, 2009 anniversary event

Terry Winschel, historian of the Vicksburg National Military Park, greets the crowd and recognizes the significance of the anniversary day

Brig. Gen. Parker Hills (Ret.), historian and battlefield tour guide introduces the speaker, Dr. Timothy Smith

Timothy Smith presents Johnny Lewis a signed copy of his book, CHAMPION HILL: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg

Parker Hills and Terry Winschel, historian of the Vicksburg National Military Park, unveil marker at opening ceremony

Historic marker donated to the Champion Hill Battlefield by the Champion Heritage Foundation, 2009

Old Jackson Road leading to The Hill of Death

Soldiers march to the Hill of Death

Pictured on the Hill of Death left-to right:  John Champion and his daughter, Kelly, Rebecca Drake, Andy Olmsted and his mother, Jenny Bearss

Crowd gathers at the base of the Hill of  Death to hear Parker Hills speak

Over two hundred participants either strolled to the Hill of Death or took a tractor-pulled trailer to reach the site

Six-year old boy plays Confederate general

Parker Hills explains battlefield maneuvers on the Hill of Death as Union reenactors prepare to charge the Confederate battery                                         Photograph by Fred Pitts

Union charge on the Hill of Death

Confederate countercharge on the Hill of Death

Taken by surprise, Jenny Bearss meets her life-long family friend, Fred Pitts from Joplin, Missouri, on the Hill of Death

Photograph by Fred Pitts

Timothy Smith visits with the crowd

Grady Howell, Jr., noted author and historian

Reenactor browses through Civil War books

Henry and Paula Little work the sales table

Young girl draws winning number for gun raffle

Tim Cupit -  winner of the gun raffle

The prize for the winner of the gun raffle

Reenactors on the grounds of Matilda's House

Glenn and Karen Taylor greet guests at their campsite

Rebecca Drake signing books on the grounds of Matilda's House

Grady Howell, Jr. visits with Parker Hills while selling books on the grounds of Matilda's House

Grady Howell Jr. sets up table display for book sales

Elizabeth Joyner, author of The USS Cairo, and Rebecca Drake share a visit

Timothy Smith signing books

Medicine man exhibits collection of
Civil War medical instruments

James Clark plays Amazing Grace on the  bagpipes
while Rebecca Drake prepares to give a memorial to
Margie Riddle Bearss

Rebecca Drake at the Margie Bearss' Memorial Stone
erected in 2006. The marker reads, "Margie Riddle Bearss, Author, Historian and Friend of Champion Hill."

Rebecca Drake pays tribute to Sid & Matilda Champion while Karen Taylor lays flowers on the graves of  Champion family members during the "Laying of the Flowers"

Buried in the Champion Family Cemetery, established in 1867, are Sid S. Champion 1st, William Balfour Champion, Matilda Montgomery Champion, and Wallace M. Champion

James Clark, bagpiper

Grady Howell helps Jerry McWilliams unveil painting

Jerry McWilliams unveils his new painting, Colonel Cockrell, CSA, Leading a Charge at Champion Hill

The grounds of Matilda's House with a rain storm threatening