The New York Herald Newspaper, January 18, 1863, Page 2

‘THE BATTLE OF CHICTISAWBAYOU. | Driving the Rebels from a Position. 3 GENERAL STEELE IN THE SWAMP: CHANGE OF BASE. ASSAULTING THE HILL Gallantry of Generais Blair ’ and Thayer. | OUR FORCES RiPULSED. SOME ONE BLUNDERED.,, General Sherman Orders an Evacuation. LEAVING THE YAZOO, LOSSES IN THE BATTLE, SPECIAL REPORT TO THE NEW YORK HERALD, xe, &e., &. Om Boaro Stmamur CoxriwexTAt, Bont Wino, Tweresyra aun Corre, t channel of the Yagvo for adietange of four miles i ternod aharply eo theright,and, after nexrly doubling ou itself, entered its present channel just above the bluifs at Vicksburg. This portion of the course of the Yazoo ts known as Old river, and most of the pilots speale of the Ya2e as terminating at the embouchure of tho Stream into the oid channel cf the Mississippt river. Some of the officers proposed asconding Old river as far aa josaivie, und there landing (or operations upon the town. Genera) Sherman opposed this niwvement, as well ag the movement upon Haines? Blofs. There is every probability that otther of tho Jatter attacks would have proved a suc- cess. up the ATOUT TO DERARK, About noon on the 26th the expedition reached the land- ing at Jotison's plantationyand under Cover of the gun boats the men were pit on shore. No (races ot the enemy wero seen, though it w ascortainod that they had recently kept a pic at the landing, The point where the troops were Lande Was ut Lhe plantation of the rebel General Albort Sidug: Johoston, whe paid the penaity of hit treason by hi “dearh at Shiloh, At the time the gunbouts first ascended the river the rebels had 9 battery near the house of Gen, Johnst u, and distlayuishod themselves by firing at the trou-c! ‘The battery was stleacod and the men trom the gunboats and sot fire w tho buildings. From the appearance of the rutns and the grounds the establishment muct have been one of considerable vulie. ‘Th estaie supported upwards of 800 negroes, nearly all of whom wero taken to Coutral Missisaippt at tho thie our gunboats obuined posse sion of Memphis. Tho (4.08 is now @ perfect picture of desolation. LANDING. ‘The firstitroops thrawn on shoro were Gen. Blair's brigade of Gon, Steel's division, and a brigade each from tho divisions of Gen, M. 1. Smith and Gon. Morgan. ‘These brigades were ordered to advance two miles into the © uutry aud mike a thorongh reeounoissance tn the direo- ton the biaffs whore it was propored to make the at- tucks In the advance of Gon. Blair brigade was Colonel Jobn B, Wyman, with tho Thirteenth Tiilnois iufantry. Coi. Wyman found a pleket of the euemy’s infantry within satie of thu landing, at a point whore they hud evidently been careully watching all our movements. He did not succood in capturing avy of the yebols. Before the brigade haited for the bight thice other pickete wore encountered, from one of whom two horses and a sxidlobag full of papers and tere were captured. None of tho enomy were seen force by Gooeral Biair, MOVING INZAND. On Genoral Blair's right a brigade was thrown out from Geueral M, L. Smith's division to the distance of two miles from the landizg. It did uot succeed in tnding any trace of the enemy. Tue brigade from Gen, Mo:qan’s division succeeded in finding the evemy in forco, with infantry aud artrilery, #out two miles irom the landing, AS Geperal 8 .erman's orders were imperative to engagement brorzht on that evening, the brigad changed « fow rilis ahots with the exemy, aud then termurched to the landing. There was uo alarm du the uight, avd the troops arose in ibe morning ready anc Mugakuy’s Bano, La, ‘Twenry-rive Muze Avove Vicxsucna, Misa., Jan. 3, 1863, On Tucaday morming last 1 mailed to tho Hunarp a ful) account of the operations of the right wing of the Thir- ~centh army corps from tho time it loft Memphis to date. at letter, enclosed under cover to private partics in 1:0, was placed in the mail on Lourd tho ateamor Forest «Queen, General Sherman’s lag bout, and was supposed to bo safe from harm, Colonel A. H. Markland, spocia! agent of the Pustal Department, was tn chargo of tho -| ™ mails. I haye ascertained that his clerk, by Colonel Markland’s order, teok that letter from tne mail and qurned it over to Generul Sherman, It was opeued at the hoadquarters of the Major Genera! Commanding, aud has since been porused by his stafand by various officers of the army. If General Shorman has obtained from it any facts that may aid him in making up his ollictal report he Lire to the lottor, Upon his proceeding i the rt make nocomment, 1 simply give the facts of the qase. Major J. H, Hammond, chief of General Sherman’ gtaff, has been promivont in the war upon the journulisty ‘by direction of his commanding officer, Had they aly aoted as earnestly and persistently against tho rebois as against the representatives of tho pross, thoro 4s little doubt that Vicksburg would, oro this, have been in Union bands. APOLOGETIO. ‘The account I sent would have made six columns of the ‘Bisrarp, and was acoompanied by full mays of the coun try and diagrama of the butte field, My notes are de groyed, and I am obiiged to rewrite from momory. trust 1 may be pardoned Uf I do not succeed in remember tng all the events of the past two weeks, LRAVING MEMPIG. On Sunday, the, 2ist Decomber, the expedition tof, Memphis for Heleva, and thouce on Monday for Friar’s Point, the frat placo of rendesvous, The Anal divisions of the ai bad gone forward, and the bo:ts of the whvle expodition comprising some seventy bvals, did not unite until they rorched Gaines’ Landing, oue hundred and fifty miles bolow Holeua, On shore at Gaines’ Landing severs! houses were burned without orders, for which a drum- ho.d ovurt martial was ordered upon the offenders. GUERILLAS ON BHORM. At Wood Cottage Landing a party of guorillw fred ‘upon ono of the beats of General Morgan's command, and In avcordaaco with the orders to that officer from Gexeraj Shorman, a rogiment landed and burued the houses near | sith “I)) scene of thie outrage. The suidiers supposed, ac- ‘ ugly, Uhat everything was to be destroyed, and.hence ucendiarism @t Gaines’ Lauding. No one was exe for the offence. ‘The burning was repeated at Miili- Bend, tho next point of landing, and Goveral zhorman 2 to supprens tt. AT MILLKEW'S BKXD, The expedition reached Millikea’s Bond on the nigh; o, the 24th, and tho bouts remained tied up to the shore during (be day-on the 26tb. A detachment was sent to ' ‘ out the Vicksburg and Texas Railroad ata point ton op | groud was cleared of timber, Oftoen miles west of tho terminus, opposite Vicksburg: t Wan undor command of Colonol Clark Wright, of the Tonth Misuourl cavalry—an officer woll known i Missou.! and Arkansas for his daring exploita during the war Colne: Wright proceeded to Daliag and Dgihi stations, on this iimo of railway, and succecded in moving #0 rapidiy as to evade nl! the 60 uts and spies of the enomyy gua to take everything by surpriso, He burned the towas Of isting nud Delt, and destroyed three hundred bolts of sheeting on its way to Vicksburg to be manufactured Into Confederate tents, He committed four hundred bales of cotton wo the flames, and with them a cousidomie amount of commissary stores. He also tore up a mile of raliway traék, burned baif a milo of trestle work, took twe-ty prisoners end about forty horses and mule, and retuned to Muliken's Bend without losing a man, The | 2/3 position on Only hot fired during the expedition was at a prisover wh. was nttompting t» escape. Colonet Wright deserves wich credit fur the afulr, PLANNING THR ATTACK, At Militken’s Bond it was ascertained that tho rebels | blair mov had only ten or twolve thousand men 1m Vicksburg, and that the capture of the piace would be a’comparatively easy aflair with the force we were taking agniust it. uly Question was on the matier of a prompt attack at the Proper point, aud on the latter subject there wus @ diffor- once of opinion Some of tho division generals wore in favor of landing above the town, on the Missisaippi shore, Whi o others advised the ascent of the Yaxuo as far ap ny did not roach Friar's Point until the advauce | Most of tho The | fire upon our adva andivus for moving upon (he enemy's works. ORDERS OF MOVEMENT. The order for moving from tho landing to attack tho Huo of biuffs wher w. the euemy’s stronghold was situated ral Stecle was to have the Stich the extreme right. { blorgan was to hold the le:: centre, and Geueral . L. Smith the right centre. The whoie were to converge at (he lulls su na to wake w strong ottack. DASCRIPTION OF 1Mi COUNTRY. + Let the reader imagine before him an inverted V, with Haines’ Bluif§ ot the apex, Johnston's plautution t the left hand corner, and Vieksburg at the right, and with tho sides of the tetter about ve or Afteen miles long. long the left hand rups the oo river, aud on the Fight 4g tho range of hills trom Haiues' Bluds to Viekeburg. Tho interveuiug spaco la the jow bottom Jaud of the Yaxvo. Jt ts.uow dry, but to high water is submerged teu or fitteon (cet. Alittle rainat the presont time woyld render the roads impassable. CHICKABAW NaAYOU. About one-third the way from Johnson's plantation to Hewes’ Bluis a bayou puts off {rem the Yazoo, and enters thy Mississippt just above the town of Vicksburg. This bayou wirds across the low laud directly towards the bluit-, and then follows along the buag of the blufl until it strikes the Mississippi. Tho banks are quite steep avd not far trom two hundred fect apart. At pi ‘e is but little water in tho bayou, though ina wet geuson it is navigable for boats of considerable siz It is Kuown to the natives as Chickasaw bayou, and on its backs (he battic was fought. SLOUGH LAKB. Parallel with it, and from # quarter to a half mile dis- tunt, is @ deep slough, differing only from the bayou In having no conuection with Fiver. At one point it widena intoa lake of threo or four bundred yards in width. Aa ft approaches the base of the bluff 1s makes a sharp tur and enters Chickasaw bayou whero latter sukea its angle as it strikes the in the latter part of its extent 1s cont ‘ut Little water, pwnd ite bottom Wh cplekgene ta wales fe to mako a footing. water is stagnsu} ip al and is 4he resort of alligatore aud other ‘laxuries of Guilt Yaz00 SWAMP, The botvom land of the Yazoo ig covered Of cypresa trees, much of it while in others it basa ¢} heavy growth of trees, the thick und like pendant inoss, aud. with the . oonay more gloomy by bluilstut the back o€ Jitls and ridges which ‘othecs they slope wif highest of them attsin At the point where they reich the banks are quite sicop and are easy CHANGE OF PLAX. In consequence of the pea-arrival 's divisiun, and the fall the 26th, the ordor of battle was Genoral Blair's brigade in the centre, and the remainder of Goneral Stepio’s division on the extremo left. General Stevle's two Fr y , under Generals Thayer and Hovey, were re-embared on the transports and taken above Chickasaw bayou to operate on that part of the line. ne buyou would thus*be besweou General steele and any pport from General Morgan on his right. It was de- wigned that he should join Geveral Morgun at Mrs, Lake’s piani.tiov, moar tho point where the payou bends noar the tace of the bluffs. Tho road to be iollowed by Goneral oivele waa upon the levee runving along the slough north of Chickasaw bayou. For haif a mile ‘rom the dd was one immense ot cckle burs. Beyond that the read pinged {nto thick forest, ORNERAL STEELS CHANGING Bast. ‘Tho boats carrying General Steole’s command «tid not reach the appotuted landing until the morning of the 27th, ‘and tho entire day was coneumed tn getting tho troops on shi ‘Whe bauk was thickly overgrown with brush, and round 80 oft that it was a long work to build roads for moving the wasons and ar ay, By dark the com- mand was two wiles from shore, and ha the enemy. As the shades of night were ulraady deepen- jug Over the forest; the howd of the column countermarch- ed after a brief skirmish with tne advanced riflemen of tho rebel trout, s VIGHT KEAR MRA, LAKW'S HOUSE. Jn tho forenoon +f the 27th Genoral Morgan, General Biair and Geverai Morgan L. snsith advanced their com. niands i the direction of Mrs. Lako's plantation. it was not desircd to push tho enemy with vigor util General fteole had come up into the left. Tho advance was there- (ore made slowly acd with caro, aud about three P.M. oral Morgau’s aud Goneral Blair's advance came in lit of the rebel frout. Near Mrs. Lake's house rye open field, which has been devoted to the culture of tion, but is now stripped and bare General Mergan advanced upon the side towards tho river, while General upon ft ina direction to fisuk tho position of tho at Mrs, Lake's plantation, The rebels had two picces of ileld artillery, with a tempo- reastwork near the house, from which they opened ig troops. General alr promptly replied with Hoffman ‘s@ubio battery, an) succeeded in siicncwg it. The advance infantry bad & drief en, meat with two regiments of rebol infantry, and drove them back to the rear of the house. As Mrs. was appomted for the j netion of General Btee! forces that had moved south of the bayou, jt was thought proper to make a further advance uuttl the for. Haines’ Bluff, Generel Snerman decided on moving to | mor vificer arrived. attack the high ground midway between Haluce’ Biull and Vicksburg. ~ CTRITMAS FeaTIVIriNS. Curlrtmas ow’ board the woats of the expedition was | Of pened to an festive a manor as was possible under the giroumstances. Roast turkeys, pastry and champagne @raced the tables iu most of tho cubine, aud to many of | the soldiors’ meseer chickens and other good things ap- | from tae south side of the Peared, Tho evenmg was one of merriment on | the entire region of the all sides, aod, ae everything bid fair for « prow porons (uture, there waa nothing to mar the pleasures of (he Oooasion, Could we have foreseen the events of the woek, and roallzed tho mismanagement in store for the | ad whole afair, there would have been more of sudacss than morriment, Fortunately for human happiness, man is not | of fence rails, which wore lnpervirus Eifted with the powor of ponotrating the futuro, MOVING OP THE T4200, Ou the evening of the 25th General Shorman issued orders (or the boats to be ready tomove up tho Yazoo on jhe ‘ollowing morning. Genoral A. J. Smiih's division was to be toft at Milliken’s Beud to wait for the roturn of | set wo work. i ott cy run ats ov Seeeae, At ton Yunday a rebel battery opened Biair nod Gen. ed the bank of the pt dn Lake's Y r wag but litle damage this = cannonade, the it echoed through the timber, wae The affair ended with the expulsion of bayou, and banks of the bayou rn ite were Soren Noa ene bayou furutshed poet nent | our Gen, Blair ordered ap man" Uhicket. The rebels Bad ip several places A discharge of grape and sboll sent these ratis the air, aud acattered the rebels who were crouching neath them, BRIDGING THR BATOU. 'y to bridge the near Mre. Lake's wr the bank was ol Of rebel sharp: shooters 4 detachment from Gen. Blair's brigade was The rebels roon discovered their object and Tt was nec house, and Colonel Wright from cutting the Vicksburg and Ternessco bs age shelling the point where the men had commenced Railroad. The plan was to move up tio Yaroo as far as -Jouneon's plantation and there land for operatious againat ‘ye town, From the point of debarkation {¢ was supposed uw be more than six miles to Vicksburg in @ dircct ve, Or about ten miles by the windings of the road, | were posted was m full view from dre. poral Shorman was coniident that the town dould be | 20 Attempt was mado to angail 1 until the following ‘ondtly taken Crom that point, TYE GUNROATS. \ portion of the gunboat feet wad lying at tho mouth of + Yaoo, and on the afternoon of our errival several of » light dranght boats ascouded the stroam as far as it * eafo for thom to go, For two wooks or more the 4 had been surveying the rivor, taking woundiags of Yaroo, and attompttg to remove the torpedoos that had planted there, In ibis orvice the gua. Cairo was destroyed. The river was in out eee ae fer up 8 Heine Blog twouty. iree rifles frofm the month. At ibis point the rebels had &) Sight qum battery, thit the boats had ougaged nad ot Meupied lO capture, bat without- success. be ich Praught boats had failed to go within range, nnd only + fou-clads had taken part in the action. LOWER PORTION OF Tum Taroo. The prevont mouth of the Yazue te now four miles be tow ita former position. At the polut whore the oy b Doat S00 Row enters the Miesiaaipyi the wsior strgam formerly ran | aud we unt how labors. The latter coutiiued to though the bell ell thiek and fast among them.” Bevorel men were wounded aud two killed by sbelle; bub the balauce of the detachment remained unconcerned. The bridge was completed, aod two rogimenta of infantr; Were thrown across. The hill or iu where the 1 Lake's house; but ‘day. DEATH OF COLONR!. WYMAN At the opening of the Might at Mrs. Lake's house, Colonel John B. Wyman, of the thirteenth Lilneis tnvaatey, wa Killed at the Lead of hie regiment, whit leading i into action. He had just arPived within range of the enemy's Fifles, and wan in (uo act of drawing his 8 ord and gi the order to fire, when a Minto batt struck bim in the pletely through his body and Shoulder blade, He was im. medsatoty taken to the roar, and tenderly cared for b Dr. lin, brigade surgeon to General Blair; but hi wound #4 (oo scvers by Admit of & hope oF hia recovery He expired iu about two hours. Colonel Wyman w: . of the first men fe Mitnvls to rawe a regiment for the war and Be bad been in service fora your and e hal? he had ‘but a single action previous to the pressnt ex, edition upon Vicksburg. 1118 earnestness in prossing | forward up a the Feb ls was Joubtioss the cyyee of his dow’. COLONRL WOMAN'S REMOTE Colonel Wy man wae a Baty’ the latter art of bie res de: co in that Stace yor mii not Central and tigen Ate L woh Known ae mypt and ot emmy ay hou of a | id come ju Fizht of RY lle jj SWAMP LB _OP CEN, B—Genera! Taayor’s route in tho assault. D-Blair’s brigade before the aasault. ¥F—Heavy battertes of the enemy. H—Bridges over Chickasaw Bayou. STEELE DEC. 22 06, STEELE OTH 20.06 E—Tha: REFERENCES. A—Willow copse reached by the Thirteenth [livois and Twenty nthth Missourt regiments. ‘C—Gonera! Blatr’s route in the assault. ‘a brigade before the assault. G—Point reached by Colonel De Courcey. 1—Causoway swopt by the rebel batteries. a not aware of the exact whon the movement r take place, as. ad given none but m vi indo- it is morally cortala it could md ng own permavent force of 1 was folly position ; pig. ‘The regiments wore not strong cnough W attempt their capture without a prompt, sad gowerrel support. For them it bad truly been a) mar Into the jawa of death— } Into the thot Heli. ‘; ‘ Gey! ruivaa's ASSAULT. _baye boon tried Wilhout the most perfect Almont iinullanadally with the movement of Géneral | and with at Lonst one half the ont‘re ierce of tists Blatr on tho left, Gonoral Thayor recotved his command | The double mismanagemons was-the cause of our double to go forward. ‘He had previously given orders to ali his | defeat. J i 4 regiments in column to follow each other whonever the OPERATIONS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE LINE. first moved forward, He accordingly placed himself at | On tho right centre, Genesal Stuart commanding, the head of his advance regiment, the Fourth Iowa, and |: General Morgwn'L. Suite diviai oo found tt impoastdie te his ordor—*\‘orward, seoond brigadel"—rapg out clear | bridge the bayou in sexsin'to folu in the assavit, though above the tumult. Colonel Williamson, commanding the | tn fact be didnot have notice of tho thtenled mov: Fourth Jowa, moved it off in splendid stylo, Goderal | ment. ' The: position’ yore Bim was & very etrong one, and the bayou was fer some time unor the enemy's fire, Thayer suppuwed that all the othor regiments of his bri a were following in geen his in- | He finally succeeded in taking po session of a certain EeEBsE rE structions. ivuay issued. Ho wound through ot on bayou and holding it uncor cover of hie the, tints’ skiesilie the bayou, crossed. at» tho | Eitanéey and artillery. He accom ishod the task of sane bridge where Goneral Blair had passed | bridging’ itand crossing over oe regimont (the sixth but few minutes before, made bia way through the | Missourt) to tho east side of the-bayou. At this time the ditch and both lnesof abatis, doilected therixht und | rebols cpered a fire of heavy guns fron the bill, and ascended tle sloping platex: tn the direction of tho rifle |b be ear pbeery, force,6i intant y, ‘The rebel inf pe auaultaneously wit Genoral Blair and about two | obtalacd a flanking ts eggy 86 bf to fire upon thi undred yards vo his right, in case more tropa shouldbe crossed. Under bap Shae: 2 mutA . cover of tho hewy artillery they ommanded When General payer roached the rife pits, After | the bridge, a 4 Gensfal Stuart round tt tinpossible hard fighting and a -hoavy. loss, hoe found to his hor- | eithor.to bring baek the Sixth Missouri or throw over ror that tho Fourth Iowa had fuiiewed tim, tho | -otherregimenta to thoirsasistance.. The .mcy were or- wooded nature of oie place baying proventod his ascur- |, dered to Ho down afd temain concealed ns) it before. Sadly disheartened aud with Hite | could until might shonld enable them to return. Under taining hopo of gucceas, ho still pressed forward and fought bis | covor of the tarkueas they.wero brought back to the west way to the sovond-lino at the same timo that Gen. tial | ‘shore of the bayou, haying’ lost in the whole novemca’ reached it op the left. Colonel Williamson's regiment | uiuety-four men. Genera) Stu srt comm: ‘ was*faat falling. be!ore the concentrated fire of tho rebels, | works ‘uring the day; bat night found him tg the 94: and with am auxioug heart Gouoral fhayer looked around | p #!tiow he ocoupied in tnorming, and with ao poTat forvaid, Down tho hill, crouched in the line of rifle pits near the tase, lay the Tweuty second Kent and the Gaines! save the ainglo ohe of having thrown a bridge over the bayou, Bixteonth Obio, the only regiments of Morgane divisi a " Tan. RIORT WING. that had attompted “to make the assault. v- | On the extreme right Gonoral A. J. Smilth accomplished fog the Fourth Iowa with its gallant Goionel to | nothing during the entire day. Ho was not notified of the hold the position that had beon so dearly bought, Gen. assault. and would probably have beon unable ini ti doug! Thayer rushed down to where these two’ regiments lay. In vain ho implorod, urged, ordeted aud eutroated part bad ne knewnof i. He tay within a milsef Vicksburg; but tho woike of the Shea crore Ro stroag them to go to his assistance. Move thoy would not, al. [ that any attempt on his part would havo'resultod ina re- ‘ates a8 an oxoues tht their brigade mander, Colcue! ‘Aé confined himself to cecasionai-rounils of artil- De Courcey, was not there lo commaid. In vain ho ng eaipay the rebel balterios wud tog few encounters pointed out the reboi guns trained u; them and raking | with thelr infautry. The suin of his labors can be eet the rife pits; nothing avafied to them furtherup the | down as—nothing. ‘ascent. While Generat Phaycr was begging them to go to hhig asa!siance ho waa joined by Genera! Biair on (uo same ‘ovricens Uxuer. Nono of. the geveral llicom Or any mem- errand, the latter Colonel De Gourcey in porson,” bors of “thelr” personal ‘alata, wore “injured dur- death ances and friends.» SUNDAY NIGHT—ORNERAL M. L. SMITH WOUNDED. Night closed on the 28th on the ground south of the bayou, with our troops in full possession of that bank, and with one bridge thrown acroaa and two othors in procese of erection. .General Morgau had with him @ pontoon bridge which ho had not then thrown over. Geueral Morgan L. Smith’s division was in. position, and throwmg~ its bridge across the bayou, directly under (be face of the bluff, While reconnoitering the ground and directing the movement of some infantry for dislodging the revels from the bruehwood, Genera! Sm!th waa se- verely, though not seriously, wounded by a Minto bail through his left hip. He was disabled from.continuing the command, though he a the surgeon to allow him to retalu his saddle. . command develved upon Brigadier General David Stuart, the ouly Trobe] “oificer in the division under General Smith. Smith entered tho service as colonel of tho Eighth Mis- souri infantry—a regiment raised by himself in St. Louis. and Shilon he waa especially mentioned for irk and shortly after the Iattor battie was pro- Present position. None moro than he was edogerving of the honor. His division was exctedingly un- fortunate in losing his services 80 paris oa aciion. MOVIMRNTS OF GENERAT, 2 As Goneral Stcolo, on the extrome leit, was entirely |99- Jated from any: other part of our forces, and the enemy having full access to his left-dank and-rear, there was .. In order to guard fear that he ld be Keay tn Nilsasier ‘it we orm. He has since hauled of the gunboats took upa range on Halos’ Bluffs, an ie at intervals of ten nfinutes upon the road from the binils to the low ground. cx. ‘Your correspondent led Gen. St:ele’s columa from the landing north of Chickasaw bayon, aad moved out by the lowor road with that officer on the evening of the 27th. The night was spent in bivouac, and a more uncomfortable one I have not experienced during tho war. No fires. wore ed, as they reveal our position to our watchful enemy. The night was quite cold, with a@ severe frost, and blankets were not abundant. The ground was damp and cold. In summer }t abounds in copperheads, moocason: and cane snakes ad libitum. The recollection of these did not tend to quiet and peacefulddreams, and the night was not passed in sweet and rofreshing slumber. A dozen horses wore loose and running about camp, four of which manifested thoir regard by passing dirvctly over me at a brisk trot, A teamstor Jed a quartette of mules over me ‘as had wrapped my blanket around my hoad and len into a doze. In return for my mild remonstrances on the subject the mule driver offered the consoling apolo- “Damn it | Le 7S was @ stump!” Ashell Biting about daybreak within a few yards of my biyouac gottiod tho question of rest. A ulght ina Yazoo swamp furnishes more horrors than can be procured elsewhere for the samo yA SUNDAY WITH GENERAL STAKDN, - The day was ushered Iu with « torriiie cannonade from the rebois in our front, General C. &. Hovey's brigade was in the advance, and {is commander was anxious to encounter theanemy. Me had not been tn action since ‘the affair of Cache river, Arkansas, tn July last, ta which ho won his star of a brigadier general, and he now showed ‘a most earnest desire to bring on tho engagement. He did not have long to wait; for the heavy buttery tn front of his position opened in full voice, and bid iair tto enfliade his whole line a3 soon as it could get tho range. Ono gun of this battery was especially moted for its ep double report, unlike all tho othor gums on the hillside, aud, until the’ siege was raised, this strango-toped monster coulinually beichot forth its thunder. The shalisfrom this piece were prox Jected to an enorraoua distance, some of thom fall a ‘the rear of the ambulance train, fully two and a ral'eg from Gon. Hovey’s advance. Tho first explosions croated the impression that tho rebels had come upon our rear and opened a batiory, Thy effect of such a belief was mot at all agrecabio. A TERRIER ROAD. The robels appeared in atrong force tn our front, and opened fre with both infantry aod artiliory. The Ly on the right was deep and im; bie and on the left the ground Decame swampy and full of small pools, so that it was utterly impassable. The only line of approach to the bluff was od the levec—a narrow causeway half a mile in length~ only wide enough for four men to walk causeway was raked and cross.swopt from ond to.end by the enemy's artiilery—no leas than eight i pioces, with as mavy heavy guns, bearing upon it. mado to the causeway— once under Gen, Hovey , once under Gen. and once under Gen. Steele in poreon; buf ench time the officer {a command decided 1 would be death to man ate tempting it, The bridge of Lodi—famous in ‘* time—was as nothing compared to this dreadful caiee. ial i : se if Bs g é i F i af i ~£e8 i olay of General Smith, and various covtradictory orders of u ‘Sher. thing appeared |p (ho utmost confusion, an svore aware of what waa being done on immediate right or left, Nearly all division officers were compelled to acton thelr own jidgmont, aa they falod vo feoolve proper orders from the commanding general, At dark on Sunday the situation was as fol ral Mo gan waa in porition on the routh sido of ayou, near Mra. Lake's house, and on bia tinmediate right was Gone. al Biair’s Deigade. Ou the right contre waa General Morgan L. Smith’s division, in command of everal Ihwid Etoart, and moving upon the extreme right was one: A. 4, Senin Goueral Steele wea vo bis way to come up , bo much lamented ina large circle of acqualat- | on ¢ho loft and act as a roserve tn roat of Goneral Morgan at Mra. Lake’s plantation. Tho army organization was nearly as follows RIGHT WING, THIRTRRNTH ARMY CORPS. W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding. FS Firat division , three brigades , Brigadier Goneral George W. Morgan. Second division, three brigades, Brigadier General Mor Brigadier Gonoral L, Smith, ing. 4 Thirddiviston, threo brigades, Brigadier General A. J, Smith, r thing of panic. General ‘ihayer came back to | Of staff to General Sherman, vial ed #e of the tran snore Fourth division, four brigades, Brigadter Gonorat Frod. | 9! former, plaoe, ta the ‘re of Govern, Mor, | end managed to gt ito & row via ihe’ ase tant ber. RAL 7 ‘ gins ~ post » & more ring gountéhance | keeper. per was drunik—il 16 bo roisiaking Oytng to the Soatncies Uurowt In my. way by General | 1 would be dificult to maging, Had the other rogiiants }. that. ‘The evadition of AL yor Liamimnd I will not nivem, Sherman and by Generai Morgan and Gcioral A. Jesmith, | of bis brigade followed bim, or bad pe Lo Courcey | to give, as Twas not present, and do nut wish to write L have been unable toX.btain the full brigade organization | Come up, he feit certain that he could have taken poases- | from hearsay. Tho alfrir resulted in & few blows and the Of a portion of the army. As brigato commanders | can | 100 Of the robot bastories and held them until the other | suapping of pistol by tho Majur. No blovd wasabed, mention Gen, Burbeldge,. Col. De Courcey, Col Lindsey, | “ivistons of (nearmy could come to his assistance. All LCE OF TD UR Cat RCE, Col Landsat’ and others of equal or lesner ncte in the dl, | Was now loBt,aud the prize for wiiob he bad fought 5» | Throughout tho battlo the conduct of che gonoral off visions where those officers were to be found In Gen. | ¥¢!l was gove from his grasp. Tears stood in his oyes, nud | cers was exceliont, with a few expenitions. Genera? Sher Steolo'a division the brigades wore as follows i= hia mingted’grief and inaiznation so overcame him that } tan was so uxcuedingiy erratic that thé discussium, First brigade, Goneral Frank P. Blair, Jr. 5 RXPLAMATION OF A MisTAKN—SOMEBODY TO BLAME, with mach earnestiiess. General Murgun L. Sith, up to pac paired Just at the time Genoral ‘Thayer's, brigade. stacted up f'thStime of Lis bving wounded, contuotor timeair with Bed brigade, Colonel Hassendurbel. * ‘tho Lill, General Morgan sent ‘or a portion of it to sup. | bis usual cuviness aud discretion, Of, GenorahA, J. ‘Thts division comprised the best ion of the troopa him ou tho right. The request caine from General | 4nd General Burb: there ja but little y crn Ary te Sout tons nnd waa epe- | Morgan, and woueralsoclo at onoe diverted tao aooond | Morgan was cool and collected; bul he ’ ee ro regiment of Thayer's brigede. which was frasing af understand ‘the management of a large colamno” men. Se eee atiags Y |] enti po bang tun Aivried, io otn-ca | General Beco was ll i ime foromoat In dhe ney aK ln 1 Calender, orders pre- | the flying. alu aod sheli did nob dtscor ‘Teirtleth Miasourt infantry, Liout, Col. Utto Schadt, viously received from oom . Notico of tho | Teas. During the ussauit Le was wal t ‘Thirty-first Missouri iufaatey, vi. T. C. Fletcher. movement was sentio General Thayer; from sume | Monts from the ‘batvories op the bayou. ‘Generals Mate, ‘Thirty-second Missouri infantry, Colonel F, H. Manter, him, accounts | Hovey aad Phayvr-bave veow spokon of elsewhere. a v9 Col John By Wyman; for his being loft with nothing save the Foarth Iowa rex!- | csliniess und dixcriutuslion wero o le by. Gea. z f Bitzer. ret ‘ Once ae @ 894, oug, , Thetroops thus | Stuart was “unruttied at tho ‘around bim, ce ‘Olio battery. ib HEA turned of wore among the Dost that have yot been iy ac- command with abliity.” a a ‘With tho-axception of the last’ tw mentioned above, | tion, and had” ‘boon permitted Charge the etikmy ORSAATIVN OF HOSTILIFIES. «| * the colonels in General Batr’s brigade had all seen ser. | THdy would have wor for'themselves a briliiunt record, After the return of the tro. jps. Stops the ageen lh vice at Boonoville and Wilson's creek. Colonel Ditzor and |. Biaue’s MN OP THR HULL. oF importance occarred durlag balance of the Captain Hoffman wero at Shiloh, and Colonel Wyman saw | When Gon. Blair oatored the second line. of rifle pits, | THe dead and woundeatay’ upon the flold in tall-view rot cngnpem ens tt Wot Giua6, Mo., moro than a your | and, aftor vainly waiting for nupport, deacended in per: | 0th parties, the former caim aud atti «tor the outpeur- After his death the Thirtoenth [linois was com. | son’ to persuade Le Courcey to come up, his brigade | {4 of their lives for their gountry ;, the latter writhing i manded by Lieutenant Colonot continued to paraie the enemy ap tha hill, rue thir. | thelr agonias, of lying helpiass, and hopoleusty. GRNRRAT THAYER. toonth Illvois infantry was iv advanco, and fought with | thepain of their wounds. General UaAtt Genera! Thayor’s brigado consisted of the Fourth, | desperation to win its way tu the tho creat. Fifty | 80d out a fag of,trace, wg that hedid not wish the Nioth, Twonty-sixth, Thirtieth and Thirty-fourth tows | yards or more above tho nocond line of rille pits ig a | CDC™Y to kuow tho extent of our injury, oF Roy infantry regiments, and tbe Firat Lowa batsery, Captain } small clump of willows, hardly deserviug the name of | cltiu thit we bad to ask the privilogo of Pertti GriMebs a uri 4 * « ‘cornfela, iat ad offices after battle Gene. al une The Fourth and Ninth, formor under Goleuel | the bayou bolow presented the appearance of a green | (rom his front, but as there was. « a Williamson, and.(the latter ander Colonel Coy!, | hillock, To this copse many of the rebsis fled when they | as the dine, the, rebels fed npon it and ds faw service in Genoral Carr's brigade at Poa Rid, wore driven from the rifle pits, and they wore prompiiy | Bosrers back. During tho u ght there was & 6) Captain Griffith's battery also took part in that momo. | pursued by Gon. Blair’s men. The Thirtoonth met and | 'g rain, that, vo 5 "ot rable battle, Genoral Thayer entered the war as Coluvol | eagaged the robels hand to hand, and in tho encounter | 97 ® Soldier. Un the folivwing oye, wel Eee Tires Mobresinn taser, . emaceine pepenewye fothie bay were repeatedly crossed. Tt gained tho place, | M29 anotbor aitompt to send out 8 ting, bub as, val siilaitry 6: Duonloos and Shilob. OF late bo has boon ia | driving out the enemy: but as so0u as our men cocupied | Sherman had axain negioctod ¢ order ihe firing ts Ones al Curtis? Army of the Southwest. it Of a field battery was turned upon them and tho | slong the Kine the robsts would not receive 1, The bri two liltnois r igade | Goueral Hovey waa composed of the amt mA st WOUNDED LYIEO ON THK WILL SIDR. be i apgn he A FORTIIED KOAD. Third, ee te Seventecnth bees tag nenst ae ‘Tho road from Mis. Lake's plantation to the top of tho aoe br Be | Tenor ay the oon 4 tha Third Missouri, wav at Wilson's oreok with General | Bist Groumd. end thence to Viokav Tho ground was that tor which hore bul been #0 foroe & Lyon, and Iatterly was inthe march thnough Arkansae | asnont, coniest,apd, whlie we,could net take ossion 0: it, the with Gen. Cartis. In north si and Sev: ed in tl ra Tavern, MONDAY MOPYING. At dawn on Monday tho robels opened apon General Morgan with their beayy artillery, thoug effect. Most of the large shell: vation, burted thom plosion merely the tored fiself barmlessly on thoxe standing near. them fell in the bayou near Mra. Lake's house, and threw np an immenss column of capnonade continued for an was ronewod at lotervaly during the (orencon. bad a signal station on the crest of the hill overlooking ‘om this point they could obserys ail our the valley. movements, which they signal flag. Al! our movements, Not ar any direction without the fac ed. 01 their great elevation wa Uur sharpsbooters ropaatedly with their long range riiles, pression upon the group. WIGUTENG With 86) eral cosaations the by docastonal ongagements of robel regiments camo within reach of each othor. charges were mado during tho foronvba, but none cf them ait bging of morsiy local intoreat, possession of and holding small, of invch importan with reference to tak, insignificant pointe. ‘ora! detachments wore .t work | fund a good roud f.0m Geaorul Morgan's position direct! e tereous bridges across the bayou with tho design of | te the rille pits aud the face of the hill, ‘ibere wus x Sonriy eugene Wun taaay weeded’ susan: ans! Soe assaulting the bl. f ome ag ~~ — | Sad man Tolused to atow deen thrown across by rt near o's, an r waa in position at the foot “ot the Bill, with s sunait | Sid0.0f tho slope waa embanked, aud formed the beosst- | ¢,naubiini has to ko abere, tamKh ther detention te abattis aud a deep ditch between {ts position and tho point which it wished to assail reserve in the rear of General Morgan's ready at any moment te throw his vtire force upon the Morgan occupiod te ton at the it Deaton the wage otane watt bill. General where the bayou makes its ‘To bis right was General ‘over the PARPARING TO ARGAULE THM WILL. i ge they, ona of the bayou, Gen, HOvey’s brigade wes 1n the advance, and performed ita part croditably, Tho Twelfth th Missouri were at Pea Riage obarge upon McDonald's battery fren in the ground, and their ex. | *url, Colonel Cavonder, "belag tn tho advance, | Alou onthe cubes nat alt up abage pile ef carth, that scat- | Meantime the rebels frmed a largo foros 0. In- Jani ar SSisd ake ates aaibae aint y 4 ‘Ono of | fantry to Dring agains. thém, and when the Twenty. | iit aM privates at work on fortiie tous, witt Dull ay long they wofe gt :thont oF a batlery Waa soot ia Every aun fired waa almilarly reported, A bat! doren & sons stood throughout tue day by the si,ual offic: from ut failed to make any |) tial, aa it would have resuited in aoutbitation. Hy tus house 7" | (tmo'Genoral Disir had returned Crom bis unsucoeestul at | Say thos oa’ Ps I : in La] im DE AING MONDAY FONE WOOm. tempt to briug up DeConrcey's brigate, and as thore was u - Ly al Stuart, bus, rot bi ‘von, and on tbo oxtrome ti bt was er mk a ae oe away bia tine ia re J wo * where his troops cou! was tho situation up to the latter part of the’ ‘Their conjoined offurts Wore aliko {ruitiegs to move Colonel | ing the engagemonta, or wire ao unfortunate Do Courcey or his mon, aud they retugned to thelrgom. | as to auller capture. Major Henshaw nud: Maj r Mo’ ode =e mands, ; nll, of Generd. Blair's olait, were thrown from thew GENERAL THAYER PORCKH TO RETIRR, c] horses in the sasau!t, and received injuries of @ tempat ‘Tho rebels wore forming Lbres full regiments of Infantry Joutonant ‘Te to move down upon Gonerul fhayor, and wero massing & roportionately foraidabie furco against General Ulair. robel infant;y and artillory wero constantly in full play, aud two hoavy guns were raking tho riilc pits in Several. places. With nu hope of succor, tieneral Tanyor and by no means Berivud nature. is and Captain Woods accompaui d (iegoral Biair, bot camp out untouched. Dr. Burky, Medical Director of tho Fe division, was struck by 4 ploce of stiell, bat a9 slight, Dot lo abrade the skin. Gene-n! isair and General Thayer wore their fall uuitorms ta tho assxuit upon yho Lill, amd gave Lhe order for areturn down the hi! and buck to hig | by « micaoio escaped unhurt. Dariog the night after the Navid Stuart com: | righuabposition. Lhe Fourth lows, entering the fight Ave | battle Captate Green, chief of General Steele's stat, was hundred strong, had loat a tundrod and twouty men in injared by bis herse roaring and tatityy won him; bos his injury proved oniy 4 tewpurary incunveutence wo-the loan than thirty minutes, It foli back ata quick march, abpuk midnight Naar Hammond, ohiet but with {ts rapka unbroken and without any. | gailant Captatn, ‘he found tt dittioult to epouk. @ twelvemonth age with respect to his sanity waa reyivi It waa noe more tired upon and driven b ok. rebeia (ld Bot choose to woupy ti. ‘brenk, sunrise, vou, sunset aud alght, aud sill the wounded uncareé for, What ‘ust have beva their siforingal ‘On thi morsiageh Weta ‘otarg ‘dl the iN 5 the firing had beea entirely stop; sented to receive a fing of ed ed for wurying the dead ing away the wounded, and t the endo. tbe time the work was scocmplisned ‘A fow of the robes came oat and talked iree.y with tbe rhe lo with a breastwork, so that alight battery can bo taken anywhere along tho road and fired over the ombantmout. rem the poarest polut of this om! it & buttery, opened on the Thirteenth Illinois, was aided by a" hoavy battery on the Lill. Several men wore killo@by the sholl and grape that awept the 0) 6 TIGHTING AT THR WILLOW Coram. ‘The other rogiinents of the brigade came to the support of the Thi-teoath, the Twonty-nintn ‘n- of the 27th, on the ‘and partici- at Kik- hours were alw- with little is, being thrown from an oio- ninth reached tho copse th: rebcls wore alrea ly orgayiag the \caerai troops. The color bearer of tho Twolfth hat boou shot down, and somo one picked up the siandard vad plantod tt in front of the copse. Tho furee uf the re dels was too great (or our men to stand against thom, and they slowly tell back, Mghting stop by step toward the rifle pita, and taking thetr colors with them, The Twooty ninth iso fost its color bearer,and tho standard was twice picked up and its boarer ag mayy times shot down, Finally it was missed ia the confusion, aud when the re- imont reached the rite pits 1 was diwervercd that the ‘tad fallen {to the bauds of the rebels, The mea wore apcions 40 ruah up the bill and atvempt to ret ke their banver , Dat they wore restrained {rom inaking the chain, i retatiation for the emanci,a oa proskamason the Presi tent, They ex reseed tho utmost confidence thelr abUity to lv Id Vicksburg agafust the force now be foro it, From there staremonts 1 was invered thet Prios was fo comavaud at V) kal Aad that High ua de visiow Was 0 arrive chore that day, There wore evt- a reng grounds for ho,aa. They wore well posted as te our strengtit, aud ipiormed us of ths exact hamber of oar tansp ris and gunboats, aad gave the number of men in tho expediiiun with sarpiiinag ae curacy. ou Al! the siightiy as prisoners of war, and we were allowed to briog away water “as it exploded. Tho hour, ad thow ceased. 1t ‘Tho rebels telegraphed w ’ we oof yan pth ing tm t bolng promptiy talegenpt wk from harm. OLRCT OW THE WOUNDED, vunded had beon iaxea to Vicksburg ye perfectly safe endeavored to touch them io hope of ® port from apy quarter he gave the order to all back FINDISO & ROAD. Ta roturning to his old position Gonoral Biale took @ dif- ferent route and passed directly to the front of Geveral Morgan's lino. His aatonisbment was groat whou he capponads went ou, varied jufantry a8 the Union aud A tow tinued exposure, had teft lind the fac been taken out apd received Ou the afvernoonmaubsequeut to the battle, thore is litte doubt that many lives would have been waved. | octors Parke ase Frankilo attoudod as best they could to the " mba oversight 0 litte ptf m for bute un the part of hoxpttaia this regiow ts daily fatal to many lives. The caiy Knows reason (or his rotural is bia fear (hata knowledge bie mismanagement will reach the ; evpie of wwe North. PLAN FOR ANOLHRK ASSAULT, As soon as the assvuit of the 2th had been conciaded she avotber work from bouind which the enumy's ligt artiliery ope- raged. Tho bridge was [erie | covosaled by bruab 1 Genoral Thayer waa in arcund it, and had ivisioa, but Sete id readily mar a neterenger came ‘rom Gcbe f . ‘bim to powtpone his advance. 3 C.Pietcher, of the Thirty first Missouri, was wounded and Deen Poe Re i tn fey ‘OF wo. iy ma PASSE IP ce wan " tenant Colonel CHAWA OF nase. ‘Ezer, commanding it, was I may bere be per- Mf attack had proved © fait mitted to state that an attacbe of the army collected the Bow gave ailemtion to the rug: games of officers Killed or wonndex, and enclose:i che list, General Stecle bad from with no particulars of the battle and with no comment on AB Dear ag the occurrences, to the agent of the Assoctated Press at wo be nuded Can This list also taken from f the (ort, and as goon af Lore they were tostorm an@ be nigh ah | all the otber off- Anally vitai od the mametion of the Soy Seo ed was mer ‘ ver o= ‘THR RANE, FTORY. Weduesday after dark, and oma ked om Sremeporse ‘The Vicksburg papers of the morning of the 80th were ready for at two A. M.of thureday, The blot @xoredingly exnitant over the result of the battle. Thoy | were to be ted at daylight. «itm taneously with at tained to Rave and defeated fifteen thousand | aitack upwn the fort by the quvloais, & movoment apoD nap attack on @ third of thelr numger,captured five | the main bluffs by the remaining trope, and 6 bombard but and killed and wou four pare mont of the upper fort at Vicksburg. They also assoried that they had taken all the re- PRRAK OF TRE G/CKLASDINO ORNKRAL, gimental siandards of the at force. Tho truth ts For some upacoountabie recto General Sherman Meaved: mortiying enough; but the Vicks! journalists have | on order that no whistle sho: id be blows of bell rumg drawn the long bow to aa enormous extent. There were any of the, Boats ior twenty four hours, under pain Abou eight hundred mon lost in this brief assault, which | qeath, How be inferred that this order would was made by considerably men. | proposed It i difficult to Imagine. But one stand of colors eer end was the to Iaad ont of range of the fort, he there were but few muskets Was | od the Doilers of the teats to be" by bales of #9 wlow that moat of the considerabie por. , and thing of eapeatal tinportance C4 ton cf the arms were brought away. tobe removed A tousideranie puave waa oreated ain0ag INDIVIDUAL BRAVERT—THB ORDRAL. the steamboat men, and two vers <aserted from one There ware many inseances of bravery that | of the boats, A dense fog Aei'ling upon the-river pre I bad recorded in. my “ letter, and of which I | yented the departure of al Steele's forces and the hive retajned ae Sherman will doubtiess | oarry wat a the plan The Tauitor tad Beet bo freeuy aive them in bis officisi Goe in particular T oan } friccaef tues the enemy wore certain t0 know of now mention. — Private f Betlovitio, lil. , vy nnd was Auaily deciied ‘was promoted om the evening ‘engagement {or co paper ‘the Inet his coolness aad daring the anenult. on THe EER There wore But few cascs to mest the | General Sherman intied orders for the erection qvemy and encoun or ail the the terrible Aories nicng the Bayva in froat of the euem storm of Wad amt trou, 1s remombered that | from the moment of the repa'se be appeared nearly one-third the attacking Wet ine siaglo } on eae his tactics and acl on the defeasive, half hour, tire herceness De Fully un- | earthworks thas Re ordered had been erected we derstond.” Those who omerged from the forest to have beew able to held out against va vity bad little hope of returning uninjured trom | ops of making further : arb to bave 4 pprofeeoneat 5 thon falns, mneonenqaenee of the den ‘concluded that it would be best w