The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-08-07
CHICkASbW BLUFFS.
Sherman'S Attack on the Rear of
VickSburg.
fny Frank D. Mason and JnO. W. Fts. 42d ohio.l

The operations Of Gen. Sherman's expedition
during the five days from the Goth OF Dec,
1862 until the LIST Of Jan, 1863. gave TO the
history of the war a chapter which has since
been the theme of vigorous dispute. 1t WAS
desperate assault, hrayely and tenaciousiy
made but 1T failed, and was justly regarded in
the North a serious and ill-timed disaster 10
the Union cause. Thirteen years after that
event the commanding officer of that expedi-
ton published a narrative attempting to fasten
the responsibility of his failure upon his troops
especially upon Col. John T. DE Courcy's bril-
gade comprising the 10th and AID Ohio, ed
Ky, 54th Ind, aud Fosters LIST Wis. battery.
LANDING THE TROOPS.
On the morning of Dec. 20 fleet of trans
ports carrying Gen. Shermau's army steamed
up the Yazoo River between 10 and - miles,
aud landed on the southern or left bank, under
protection OF the gGnboats, which were further
mp the stream. The feet was extended two or
three miles up and down the shore, and along
the front infantry lines were thrown out sew
eral hundred yards back from the river TO
cover tire discriminating of the army and its
equipment De Courcy's brig ade, which land
ed at a point known as Jamcs's Plantation, was
included IN this temporary line of defense.
The men lay ON their arms during the greater
part of the day, while large details were un-
leading the artillery and other membranes
from the boats. Late in the afternoon the
road leading in the direction of Yicksburg.
Just before night it encountered a cavalry
picket Of the enemy, which, after a brief Skin
mish. was driven in, and DE COurcy's command
birouacked for the night in a cold, dismal rain.
In order 10 comprehend inteligently the diff
culiics Of the attack upon Chickasaw Bluffs,
clear, specific understanding OF the ground is
essential The ailuEial plain upoa which Gen.
Sherman army had landed is a triangle some
- miles long by five ia breadth. The northern
line of this triangle is the Tazoo River flowing
westward into the Mississippi, which it inter-
cepts at a point 10 miles above Yicl1sbnrg.
Below the mouth Of the Yazoo the Mississippi
bears strongly to the eastward, forming an
acute angle with the line Of the Yazoo Across
this acute angle, and forming the third and
shortest side of the triangle, runs Chic1asaw
Bayou, deep. tortnous, sluggish stream, de-
bouching at one end into the lazoo. and at the
other into the Mississippi. The bayou is in
fact the central ditch or channel of a cypress
swamp extending from the Tazoo below
Haincss Bluff across 10 the Mississippi, forming
sort OF short cut for the waters Of the former
stream during the food season.
The triangular island is rich, mellow bot
tom land subject 10 overflow, and about equally
divided between heavy timber and open cotton
fields. lit was at that time soft and miry from
the late Autumn rains. East Of the bayou, and
extending parallel with it in northerly di-
rection from Nicksburg TO the Yazoo River, is
range OF bills. The point where this line of
hills inteTsects the Yazoo River is called
Eainess Bluff. Nearer the city the elevation
is known as Walnut Hills bat 10 Sherman's
army the whole range was known as Chicka-
saw Bluffs.
Along this commanding position, behind a
series Of strong infrenchments, lay large num-
bers Of the enemy and being hourly strength
ened by the arrival Of re-enforcements from
jackson, Mobile, and from Pemberton's army
- II
was heavily and permanently fortified on its
Hazoo front, and from there along the entire
ridge 10 the parapcts Of Kicksburg ran system
Of trenches and batteries which made its nat
urally strong position practically impregnahle
against attack in front. Had the ground at
the foot of the bluff been firm and solid: had
no other obstacle than the high ridge, scanned
with trenches and manned from end to end by
q superior force, confronted Shermans army,
the task OF capturing Nicksburg from that d.
rection would have been a weli-nigh impossi-
bic one. Add to these difficulties the fact that
between the Confederates ia their trenches on
the hills and the Federais on the plains below,
lay the deep bayou. at some places 50 feet in
width, hanked on either size by cypress swamps
the heavy timber Of which had been slashsd
down in confused heaps and Eindrows of logs
and brush, and the difficulties Of the assault
become still more obvious.
With this brief glance at the battlefield, we
II.
advance guard, along the road from James's
Plantation to Nieksburg and mile from the
1Rzoc River. During the forenoon of the 9th
the column moved forward across wide open
space, and by noon had reached the margin OF
heavy wood, along which ran creek, flow
ing IN the direction Of our march and empty
ing, as we afterward learned, into Chickasaw
Bayou. As ne reared this wood line of Skin
mishers came ont 70 meet US, and. as our front
was covered with strong skirinish line, q
spirited little encounter took place. The reb-
els made no definite stand there, but fell back
across the creek into the woods, and the col
unn, following the farm road along the stream,
soon encountered more serious opposition.
About O'Clock IN the afternoon A. j. Smiths
division, advancing perhaps, a mile TO our
right by parallel route, struck the enemy In
force at the edge of the woods which skirted
the bayou and swamp. Saith used his artil-
lery 10 drive them out Of the dense thickct in
his 'front.'. Gen. Morgsn's column halted for a
few mements, strengthened its advance guard
and again pushed forward TO where the road
turned into the sgampy woods.
A HOT ENGAGEMENT
Here the enemy was encountered in strong
force and hot engagement ensued. Fosters
battery, which had been kept well up to the
front in support Of the skirmish line. unIirn-
bered and began firing over the heads of the
Ekirmishers with percussion shell and after.
ward with canister. But the rebels, strongly
posted behind large trees and the shelving
bank OF the creek, held their ground stub
b0rnly, keeping themselves covered, while the
Federals were exposed on open ground. Al
one time The enemy worked round under cover
Of the thick underbrush, and firing across the
creek, attacked Gen. Morgan In flank at very
short range. The infantry, which had been
marching by the flank, simply faced 10 left
forming line Of battle and rakcd the thicke i
with a volley that drove the enemys Skin
nishers out.
BY this time the short December day wa,
nearly foue Smith, division, on our right, had
been lighting desperately since early in theafter
noon- Morgan threw out a brigade 10 the
right, pushed it forward into the edge Of th.
woods, driving the enemy back into the swamp
where the thick underground and the darkness.
obscured their movements and made furthel
pursuit az that time impracticzble. The troops
bironacked in line where they stood at tn,
close OF the fighting, and Lamphere's batter,
was posted in g position SO as as 10 be ready 70.
sttack or defense. Fosters battery of six 20
FOUNDER PARROT guns was posted in rear O
DeCourcys brigade, near the margin of tn,
woods. About O'Clock in the evening the s2C
Ohio was withdrawn from the front line anc
set 10 work to build an carthwork around Eos
tiers battery. The men worked briskly, ans
by o'clock in the morning the earthwork wa
finished, and the six PARROTS grinned on
through embrasures neatly reyetted and read,
Tor the morrow. The night was too cold 70
sleep, and, as the 5zth Ind. had taken TIN
Mace of the 12d Ohio IN, ha frapf line <Tav.