The National tribune., 1904-07-21

chapter which has since been the theme OF
vigorous dispute 1t was a desperate as
sault. bravely and tenaciously made; but
it failed. and was rightly regarded in the
North Il serious and ill-timed disaster to
the Union cause. Thirteen years after
ward, the commanding officer of that eX-
petition published n narrative, which lays
the blame of his failure upon his troops.
especially upon the brigade of which the
I'D Ohio formed part. Justice to the
dead and to the living. and fidelity to the
truth of history alike. require that the his
tory of those terrible FIVE days be carefully
and impartially written.
On the morning of Dec. 26, the feet of
transports. carrying Gen. Shermans army,
steamed up the Yazoo River between 10
and II miles, and, under protection OF the
gunboats, which lay still farther up the
stream. promptly effected landing on the
southern, or left bank of the river. The
feet was extended two or three miles up
and down the shore. and along this front
infantry lines were thrown and advanced
several hundred yards from the river. 20
cover the ground necessary for disembark-
ing the army and its equipment. DE
Courcy's Brigade, of which the 42d ONO
formed a part, landed at point known as
James Plantation, and was included In
this temporary line of defense. 1t lay on
it's arms during the greater part of the
day, while strong details of men were un-
loading the artillery and lmpedlments
from the boats. Late in the afternoon, the
brigade advanced, perhaps two miles,
along plantation road leading in the d.
rection of Nicksburg. Just before night
- alr, oGnf nf
enemy. which, after brief skirmsh, was
driven in, and DeCourcy's command
bivouaeked for the night in Il cold, dismal
rain. which greatly increased the drearl-
ness and discomfort of the situation.
In order to comprehend intelligently the
difficulties of the attack upon Chickasaw
Bluffs, a clear, specific understanding of
the ground is essential The alluvial plain
upon which Gen. Sherman's army had
landed is a triangle. some II miles long by
four or five in breadth. The northern line
of this triangle is the YazoO River, flowing
westward into the Mississippi, which it
intersects at point nine or 10 miles above
NickSburg. Below the mouth of the YaZoO
the Mississippi bears strongly to the east
ward. forming an acute angle with the
line of the YazOo. Across this acute angie,
and forming the third and shortest side of
the triangle. runs Chickasaw Bayou. a
deep, tortuous, sluggish stream, debouch-
ing at one end into the YazOo, and at the
other into the Mississippi. The bayou is,
in fact, the central ditch or channel of n
cypress swamp tonce, no doubt, the main
bed of the YaZoO), extending from the
YazOo. just below Haine's Bluff, across to
the Mississippi, sort of shortcut for the
waters of the former stream during the
food season. The triangular island is rich,
mellow bottom land. subject to overflow,
and about equally divided between heavy
timber and open cotton fields. at that time
soft and miry, from the late Autumn rains.
East of the bayou, and extending parallel
with it. in a northeasterly direction, from
Vicksburg TO the YaZOo River, is range
of hills. AT the point where this line of
hills intersects the GazoO, it is called
Haine's Bluff Near the city the elevation
is known as Walnut Hills; but to Sher-
mans army the whole ridge was known
from first TO last as the Chickasaw Bluffs.
Along this commanding position, behind a
series of Entertainments. more or less for
midable. as the ground required, lay the
enemy, already strong in numbers, and be-
ing hourly strengthened by the arrival of
reinforcements from Jackson. Mobile and
PembertOn's army at Grenada and Holly
Springs. Haine'S Bluff was heavily and
permanently fortified on its Yazoo front;
and from there. along the entire ridge, to
the parapets of Nicksburg. ran a system
of trenches and batteries which made the
StiohE pOSItlpI
pregnable 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 an equal
force. confronted Sherman's little army.
the task of capturing Nicksburg from that
direction would have been a well-nigh i'm
possible one. Add to these difficulties the
fact that between the rebels i'm their
trenches on the hills. and the Federals on
the plain below. lay the deep bayou-at
some places 50 feet i'm widtl-hanked on
either side by cypress swamps the heavy
timber Of which had been felled in con-
fused heaps and windows of logs and
brush. and the difficulties of the assault
become still more obvious.
With this brief glance at the battlefield.
i return to the 42d Ohio. bivouacked as
advance guard along the road from James
Plantation 10 Ficksbnrg. and a mile from
the fazoo River. Dec. q dawned clear,
warm and beautiful, and, as usually hap
pens. the favOring weather dspelled the
expressing gloom of the situation and put
the troops into more c0ntented and hope
full frame Of mind. During the afternoon
the column moved forward across n wide.
open space. and by noon had reached the
margin of a heavy wood, along which ran
small creek. flowing in the direction of
our march. and emptying. as we afterwards
discovered. into Chickasaw Bayou.
AS we neared this wood n line of Skin
mishers came out to meet us, and as orr
front was covered with strong skirmish
line spirited little encounter took place.
more snowy and picturesque than serious.
In this part of the days work the 42d
Ohio bore part. Cos. A and G 1.-THE
latter my company being deployed as
skirmishers during the day The rebels
made no definite stand there. but fell back
across the creek into the woods. and the
column, following the farm road along the
stream. soon encountered more serious OBJ
position. Ahont 2 o'clock i'm the afternoon.
Smiths Division. advancing perhaps n
mile 10 our right by parallel route. struck
the enemy in force ut the edge OF the
woods which skirted the bayou and
swamp. Smith used his artillery To drive
the enemy ont of the dense thicket in his
front. Gen. Morgan's column halted a
lew moments. strengthened it's advance
guard. and again pushed forward 10 where
the road. still following the margin of the
creek turned into the swampy woods Here
the enemy was encountered in Strcng force
AMI hot Engagement enSued. The 1St
Wis. Battery. which had been kent well
mp TO the front in support of the skirmish
line. unllmbered and began firing over the
heads Of the skirmishers with percussion
shells. and afterward with canister But
the rebels. strongly posted behind larp.
trees and the shelving bank of the creek
held their ground stubbornly. keepiny
themselves covered while tho Eadnr. Il.