even to the foot of the bluff. The chips and
twigs flew around lively enough, but we staid up long
enough to make sure that the enemy had as many men
behind the levee as could get cover. We saw,
also, a line of rifle-pits in the rear, commanding
the rear of the levee, and still beyond, winding along
the foot of the bluff, a road worn by long use deep
into the side-hill, and with the side next us strengthened
with a good earthwork, affording a covered line of
communication in the rear. The fire of our men
was so well maintained that we were able to see all
these things, say a minute or more. Some of those
who ventured were wounded, but those mentioned and
myself escaped unhurt. I advised that men enough
to hold the position, once across—say three
hundred—should make a rush (protected as
our lookout had been by a heavy fire) across the sand-bar,
and get a footing under the other bank of the bayou,
as the nucleus of an attacking force, if General Sherman
decided to attack there, or to make a strong diversion
if the attack was made at the head of Chickasaw Bayou,
in front of Morgan. General A. J. Smith, commanding
First and Second Divisions, approved of this.
While returning to General Sherman, I passed along
the Second and part of the Third Division. On
the left of the Second I found a new Illinois regiment,
high up in numbers, working its way into position.
The colonel, a brave but inexperienced officer, was
trying to lead his men according to the popular pictorial
idea, viz., riding in advance waving his sword.
I was leading my horse, and taking advantage of such
cover as I could find on my course, but this man acted
so bravely that I tried to save him. He did
not accept my expostulations with very good grace,
but was not rough about it. While I was begging
him to dismount, he waved his sword and advanced.
In a second he was shot, through the chest, and dropped
from his horse, plucky to the last. He died,
I was told, within the hour. Many of the regiments
were new and inexperienced, but as a rule behaved well.
The fire along the bayou was severe, but not very
fatal, on account of the cover. I was constantly
asked what news from Grant, for from the moment of
our arrival in the Yazoo we were in expectation of
either hearing his guns in the rear, or of having
communication with him. This encouraged the men
greatly, but the long waiting was disappointing, as
the enemy was evidently in large force in the plenty
of works, and a very strong position. Careful
estimates and available information placed their force
at fifteen to twenty thousand men. I returned
to headquarters about the middle of the afternoon,
and made my report to the general. We were busy
till after midnight, and again early in the morning
of the 29th, in preparing orders for the attack.
These were unusually minute in detail. It seemed
as though no contingency was left unprovided for.
Urgent orders and cautions as to rations and ammunition