The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-15
THE GRAND BATTLE.
Our Army Correspondence.

Our Army correspondence.
YAzoo RIVER, Miss, Dec. 30, 1892
ninoe my last communication tho progress Of events
Asse has bssn decidedly slow and all operations Of
N exceedingly desutory character
rsRCEs READY ATTACK THE ENEMY.
Our forces have been put in position and ready
70 attack the enemy their stronghods Tho effort
obtain these positions has been raught with great diff
Acutss at every step and skirmishng OF light
has been constant Al various points along the llnes
e. AZ rnK ESKMYs POSITION.
The diagram send you with this win disclose 70 you
the exceedingly strong character OF the cneys position
The advance Of lines TO close proximity u hose Of
the enemy has shown Us that they arc equally
~ strong in their rear as in their front Nature
has furnished them tho groundwork for inprsguable
defence, and, anticipating movements with
shrcwdnees that does them credit they have thrown up
Notifications, dug rifle pits and planted batteries ia their
rear TO such extent y render The attempt nank
them most hazardous and desperate AT vicksburg p,
per- or little below as viii be seen by the diagram tho
bluffs upon which the city rs partially built take ,bci
risc. These bluffs extend In north nor iheast a,,cc
tion from the point below vcksburg, where thcv take
their rise 70 Haincs Bluffs tho Yazoo cr ds,arce
Of twelve or fifteen miles, and for sea throughout
their entire length The ous front .te Mississippi and
the Yazoo rivers having an .hr,r, - ,,.,Ir,
ttSus ascent. Back of 80. ~ ,ro,,e !,
high and broken, somew<sst rolling. flnpg az
gradually the Big Black river Tho ouy land approach
70 vcksburg from up s.e Mississippi Il by climbing Tho
face Of these BLUFFS.
~ TIN yazoo RIVER,
which hnds ~. way INTO the Mississippi about ten mites
ibovo vcf .sburg, through what 10 known as the Old
rlveygppcssd once to have been The main channel OF
ehoMlAsssppi-is crooked and narrow, very deep and
hiss hut intc It's general course as u approaches
ws mouth 10 from northeast 10 southwest Folowng ts
- ..Nar 49, - .rfs1
range q blus above audcd 20, beirg, az the junction q
she Yazoo proper with Old river about miles from
them. and gradually approaching then until, At Hanes
q Dvumgooid's Bluffs, AZ they srcl called on
some maps. ne river and blus together Ths poin
h nine miles from vickseurg by the roads ieadsa
along the foot q the biuns--sbown the dagrsm-and
twcniy three miles from the Mississippi by the course
she Yazoo river. We thus have piece triangular
tom land east of tho Yazoo river, nine miles length
one sdc the other the third aide being irregular
though being straight, about the same length as tb
With the purpose Of getting in the o. vcksburg ant
canning tina, position BY such movement
nAYers RIVER.
From the Yazoo above its junction with Old river ane
a tho uppcr half Of the distance 10 Haines' BIafr
swo bayous set 10 70 this triangular plec
q bottom land. As they approach tue base Of III
buns they ntsrscci third that leads along near,
parallel with the base Of The hs divergns from them
a approaches It's outlet into tho Mississippi At which
point il s about ono mile from them.
rHr PLAIN AND KEEL knirr.
Behind this latter bayou, and between u and tho ous
A plain, the timber upon which has been fced to fosn
n abats. This plain 10 cut up by deep goiles, which
furnish admirable shelter TO tho sharpshooers OF ih
enemy and are fully appreciated by them. Along th
49, q ths Dlus throughout their entire length, ~
rebels have dug ride pits, which defended b.
snss zup batteries stationed IN the face Of the tlat