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you…evidently an old channel of the Yazoo。 On our right was another wide bayou； known as Old River； and on the left still another； much narrower； but too deep to be forded； known as Chickasaw Bayou。 All the island was densely wooded； except Johnson's plantation； immediately on the bank of the Yazoo； and a series of old cotton…fields along Chickasaw Bayou。 There was a road from Johnson's plantation directly to Vicksburg； but it crossed numerous bayous and deep swamps by bridges； which had been destroyed； and this road debouched on level ground at the foot of the Vicksburg bluff； opposite strong forts； well prepared and defended by heavy artillery。 On this road I directed General A。 J。 Smith's division； not so much by way of a direct attack as a diversion and threat。
Morgan was to move to his left； to reach Chickasaw Bayou； and to follow it toward the bluff； about four miles above A。 J。 Smith。 Steele was on Morgan's left； across Chickasaw Bayou； and M。 L。 Smith on Morgan's right。 We met light resistance at all points； but skirmished； on the 27th； up to the main bayou； that separated our position from the bluffs of Vicksburg； which were found to be strong by nature and by art； and seemingly well defended。 On reconnoitring the front in person； during the 27th and 28th； I became satisfied that General A。 J。 Smith could not cross the intervening obstacles under the heavy fire of the forts immediately in his front； and that the main bayou was impassable； except at two pointsone near the head of Chickasaw Bayou； in front of Morgan； and the other about a mile lower down； in front of M。 L。 Smith's division。
During the general reconnoissance of the 28th General Morgan L。 Smith received a severe and dangerous wound in his hip； which completely disabled him and compelled him to go to his steamboat； leaving the command of his division to Brigadier。 General D。 Stuart； but I drew a part of General A。 J。 Smith's division； and that general himself； to the point selected for passing the bayou； and committed that special task to his management。
General Steele reported that it was physically impossible to reach the bluffs from his position； so I ordered him to leave but a show of force there； and to return to the west side of Chickasaw Bayou in support of General Morgan's left。 He had to countermarch and use the steamboats in the Yazoo to get on the firm ground on our side of the Chickasaw。
On the morning of December 29th all the troops were ready and in position。 The first step was to make a lodgment on the foot…hills and bluffs abreast of our position； while diversions were made by the navy toward Haines's Bluff； and by the first division directly toward Vicksburg。 I estimated the enemy's forces； then strung from Vicksburg to Haines's Bluff； at fifteen thousand men； commanded by the rebel Generals Martin Luther Smith and Stephen D。 Lee。 Aiming to reach firm ground beyond this bayou； and to leave as little time for our enemy to reenforce as possible； I determined to make a show of attack along the whole front； but to break across the bayou at the two points named； and gave general orders accordingly。 I pointed out to General Morgan the place where he could pass the bayou； and he answered； 〃General； in ten minutes after you give the signal I'll be on those hills。〃 He was to lead his division in person； and was to be supported by Steele's division。 The front was very narrow； and immediately opposite； at the base of the hills about three hundred yards from the bayou； was a rebel battery； supported by an infantry force posted on the spurs of the hill behind。 To draw attention from this； the real point of attack； I gave instructions to commence the attack at the flanks。
I went in person about a mile to the right rear of Morgan's position； at a place convenient to receive reports from all other parts of the line； and about noon of December 29th gave the orders and signal for the main attack。 A heavy artillery…fire opened along our whole line； and was replied to by the rebel batteries； and soon the infantry…fire opened heavily； especially on A。 J。 Smith's front； and in front of General George W。 Morgan。 One brigade （DeCourcey's） of Morgan's troops crossed the bayou safely； but took to cover behind the bank； and could not be moved forward。 Frank Blairs brigade； of Steele's division； in support； also crossed the bayou； passed over the space of level ground to the foot of the hills； but； being unsupported by Morgan； and meeting a very severe cross…fire of artillery； was staggered and gradually fell back； leaving about five hundred men behind； wounded and prisoners； among them Colonel Thomas Fletcher； afterward Governor of Missouri。 Part of Thayer's brigade took a wrong direction； and did not cross the bayou at all； nor did General Morgan cross in person。 This attack failed； and I have always felt that it was due to the failure of General G。 W。 Morgan to obey his orders； or to fulfill his promise made in person。 Had he used with skill and boldness one of his brigades； in addition to that of Blair's； he could have made a lodgment on the bluff； which would have opened the door for our whole force to follow。 Meantime the Sixth Missouri Infantry； at heavy loss； had also crossed the bayou at the narrow passage lower down； but could not ascend the steep bank； right over their heads was a rebel battery； whose fire was in a measure kept down by our sharp…shooters （Thirteenth United States Infantry） posted behind logs； stumps； and trees； on our side of the bayou。
The men of the Sixth Missouri actually scooped out with their hands caves in the bank； which sheltered them against the fire of the enemy； who； right over their heads； held their muskets outside the parapet vertically； and fired down So critical was the position； that we could not recall the men till after dark； and then one at a time。 Our loss had been pretty heavy； and we had accomplished nothing； and had inflicted little loss on our enemy。 At first I intended to renew the assault； but soon became satisfied that； the enemy's attention having been drawn to the only two practicable points； it would prove too costly； and accordingly resolved to look elsewhere for a point below Haines's Bluff； or Blake's plantation。 That night I conferred with Admiral Porter； who undertook to cover the landing； and the next day （December 30th） the boats were all selected； but so alarmed were the captains and pilots； that we had to place sentinels with loaded muskets to insure their remaining at their posts。 Under cover of night； Steele's division； and one brigade of Stuart's； were drawn out of line； and quietly embarked on steamboats in the Yazoo River。 The night of December 30th was appointed for this force； under the command of General Fred Steele； to proceed up the Yazoo just below Haines's Bluff； there to disembark about daylight； and make a dash for the hills。 Meantime we had strengthened our positions near Chickasaw Bayou； had all our guns in good position with parapets； and had every thing ready to renew our attack as soon as we heard the sound of battle above。
At midnight I left Admiral Porter on his gunboat； he had his fleet ready and the night was propitious。 I rode back to camp and gave orders for all to be ready by daybreak； but when daylight came I received a note from General Steele reporting that； before his boats had got up steam； the fog had settled down on the river so thick and impenetrable； that it was simply impossible to move； so the attempt had to be abandoned。 The rain； too； began to fall； and the trees bore water…marks ten feet above our heads； so that I became convinced that the part of wisdom was to withdraw。 I ordered the stores which had been landed to be reembarked on the boats； and preparations made for all the troops to regain their proper boats during the night of the 1st of January； 1863。 From our camps at Chickasaw we could hear； the whistles of the trains arriving in Vicksburg； could see battalions of men marching up toward Haines's Bluff； and taking post at all points in our front。 I was more than convinced that heavy reenforcements were coming to Vicksburg； whether from Pemberton at Grenada； Bragg in Tennessee； or from other sources； I could not tell； but at no point did the enemy assume the offensive； and when we drew off our rear…guard； on the morning of the 2d； they simply followed up the movement； timidly。 Up to that moment I had not heard a word from General Grant since leaving Memphis； and most assuredly I had listened for days for the sound of his guns in the direction of Yazoo City。 On the morning of January 2d； all my command were again afloat in their proper steamboats； when Admiral Porter told me that General McClernand had arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo in the steamboat Tigress； and that it was rumored he had come down to supersede me。 Leaving my whole force where it was； I ran down to the month of the Yazoo in a small tug boat； and there found General McClernand； with orders from the War Department to command the expeditionary force on the Mississippi River。 I explained what had been done； and what was the actual state of facts； that the heavy reenforcements pouring into Vicksburg must be Pemberton's army； and that General Grant mu