The National tribune., 1901-11-28


was an irregular strip or bench of table
land, on which was constructed n series
| of fitie-pits and batteries, and behind that
high. abrupt range Of hills, whose
Scared sides were marked all the way
up with rife trenches, and the crowns OF
| the principal hill presented heavy batter
| les"
Gen. Steele in making his attack fol
lowed an old levee from the Yazoe River,
but found upon approaching the foothill
a long causeway through the swamp as
the only practicable route and enfilated
by a battery. Gen. Morgan L. Smith
took with him a pontoon train and at
night threw bridge across a bayou, and
proposed making his attack across this
! bridge, at the same time using q ford at
another point; but the bridge did not
span the main bayou, which was encoun-
/ tered on the 2Sth. 1t was at this point
early on the morning of Dec. % that Gen.
| Morgan l.. Smith was seriously wounded
! while accommodating his front. Gen.
Steuart succeeded to the command.
Gen. Sherman was determined to spare
no effort to make a lodgment on the main
land. He concentrated his efforts upon
the eneny's center near sGhickasa1y Greek
at the head of bayou of the same name.
Every division was represented in this
movement on Dec. %, A. j. Smith on the
right to push his attack across a narrow
sandbar and up narrow path; this at
tack being really a diversion to aid the
min assault. Before the infantry moved
forward their front was swept by the
Union artillery.
The assault was made at midday, and
a lodgment was made on the table-land
near the county road leading from FiekS-
burg to YaZoo City, which ran along the
base of the ridge. The heads of the as
saulting columns reached different points
of the enemy's works. The Notifications
!
actively served with grape and canister,
while the Confederate infantry poured
whitening fire into the advancing columns.
The heroic resistance offered to the Union
forces was more than human nature could
stand; the column faltered and retired to
the points from which they started. That
night rain fell in torrents and this de-
day, without shelter, without dry spot
to stand upon. were drenched by the Win
ter rain.
Gen. Pemberton had been kept fully
advised of every movement Of the Union
forces. He had retired to Grenada with
his army and there awaited the effect Of
Van Dorn's raid. The withdrawal of the
Union trops from the Yocknapatalfa
River led him to believe that the capture
Of Holly Springs would cause Gen. Grant
to abandon his forward movement. Hay-
ing been informed Of the movement Of
gunboats and transports down the river
from Memphis on Dec. 81, he at once
concluded that an attack would be made
lpoD Vicksburg. He now felt safe in
sending reinforcements to that strong
hold The first troops sent forward was
Gen. Vaughan's Brigade of East Tennes-
seeans.
On Dec. "a Gen. John Grigg's Brigade
was started to Yicksburg and these
troops were Immediately followed by the
!, Ja Of Cau Saith NJ Parton
On Dec. % Gen. Pemberton in person
left Grenada and arrived at Yicksburg
by noon next day, ordering en- route Col.
Coleman's 10th Ala. to Vicksburg. Gen. |
Pemberton assumed command of all the
forces and exerted his best efforts of gen
eralship to beat back the Union attack.
While the Natior ] hotilla was nayi- |
eating the Yazoo River it was found that
torpedoes had been placed at various
points for its defense. When it was dis |
covered that the river had been abstructed /
with & raft, and the position defended |
with to=9edoes, parties were sent out IN
boaIs by the navy to search for and re- I
move them. under the protection Of |
gunboat This plan was tsund &c ne too
hazardous: the men in the boats were |
Dicked off by sharpshooters and the gun /
boat Cairo" was blown up by Z torpedo /
while trying to protect the men in the
boats. At this juneture CO.. Charles IT. /
t4iief. commanding Ine rum meet, Nttu ttle
sanction of Admiral Porter, undertook the
task of clearing the river of torpedoes
With the assistance OF George w. An
drews, the carpenter OF the Monarch,
an immense rake was attached to the bow
Of the steam ram "Lioness"; two heavy /
spars 80 feet long were securely framed
together, with q crossbeam at the front
25 feet long; this frame was fastened to
he vessel and extended so feet beyond
the boat; heavy iron rods with hooks ex-
tended 10 feet into the water from the
crossbeams, designed 10 catch the cords
by which the torpedoes were exploded,
and either disable or explode the t9rae-
does.
Col. EIlets idea was that if a torpedo
was exploded it would be so far in ad-
vance of his vessel that she would not be
injured. On the night Of Dee. %, after
the repuIse of his forces, Gen. Sherman
and Admiral Porter agreed to make an
attack the next morning at O'Clock upon
he rebel works at Snyder's Bluff.
Col Ellet was to lead the way on the
,team ram "Lioness" with a picked crew
# 35 men, to clear the river of tOrpedoes.
She carried alongside in an open barge
10 barrels of gun-powder, which he in
ended to explode upon the raft
During the night dense fog arose,
which necessarily prevented the execution
u this desperate movement az the hour
lgreed upon. After further consultation
Admiral Porter decided that the attack,
made at all, must be made in daylight;
len. Sherman finally concluded, after
more careful examination of the enemy s !