were given.  Drawings of the line of attack, orders for supports, all and everything was foreseen and given in writing, with personal explanations to commanders of divisions, brigades, and even commanders of regiments.  Indeed, the commanding general, always careful as to detail, left nothing to chance, and with experienced and ordinate officers we would have succeeded, for the troops were good.  The general plan involved a feint on our left toward Haines’s Bluff, by the navy, under Admiral Porter, with whom we were in constant communication, while between him and General Sherman perfect harmony existed.  On the right a demonstration by A. J. Smith was to be made.  The Second Division (Stuart’s) was to cross the sand-bar, and the Third (General Morgan’s) was to cross on a small bridge over the dough at the head of Chickasaw Bayou, and, supported by Steele, was to push straight for the Bluff at the nearest spur where there was a battery in position, and to effect a lodgment there and in the earthworks.  General Sherman gave his orders in person to Morgan and Steele.  I understood Morgan to promise that he would lead his division in person, and he seemed to expect an easy victory, and expressed himself freely to that effect.  The aides were sent out, until I was left alone with the general and a couple of orderlies.  He located himself in a position easy of access, and the most convenient afforded to the point of attack.  He directed me to see what I could, and report if I met anything that he should know.  I galloped as fast as possible to the right, and found part of the Sixth Missouri pushing over the sand-bar covered by the Thirteenth Regulars with a heavy fire.  We supposed, if once across, they could get up the bank and turn the levee against the enemy, and left with that impression.  Being in heavy timber, I was not quite sure of my way back to the general, his location being new, and therefore pushed full gallop for Morgan’s front, catching a good many stray shots from the sharpshooters behind the levee, as I was compelled to keep in sight of the bayou to hold direction.  Something over half-way along Morgan’s division front, the commander of a Kentucky regiment hailed me and said he must have support, as he was threatened by a masked battery, and the enemy was in force in his front, and might cross any moment.  I answered, rather shortly, ’How the devil do you know there is a masked battery?  If you can’t get over, how can the rebels get at you?’ He insisted on the battery, and danger.  I finally told him the bayou was utterly impassable there, but, if he insisted the enemy could cross, I would insist on an advance on our side at that point.  Hurrying on to make up lost time, I soon reached Morgan.  He was making encouraging speeches in a general way, but stopped to ask me questions as to Steele’s rank, date of commission, etc.  I was very much disturbed at this, fearing want of harmony, and rode on to Steele, whom I found cursing Morgan so fiercely