General Sherman’s plan was to effect a landing on the Yazoo, and, by taking possession of the bluffs, sever the communication between Vicksburg and the interior.  It was thought the garrison of Vicksburg had been greatly weakened to re-enforce the army in General Grant’s front, so that our success would be certain when we once gained the bluffs.

A portion of our forces effected a landing on the 26th, but the whole command was not on shore till the 27th.  Fighting commenced on the 27th, and became more earnest on the 28th, as we crowded toward the bluffs.

In moving from the steamboat landing to the base of the bluffs on the 28th, our army encountered the enemy at several points, but forced him back without serious loss on either side.  It appeared to be the Rebel design not to make any resistance of magnitude until we had crossed the lower ground and were near the base of the line of hills protecting Vicksburg.

Not far from the foot of the bluffs there was a bayou, which formed an excellent front for the first line of the Rebel defenses.  On our right we attempted to cross this bayou with a portion of Morgan L. Smith’s Division, but the Rebel fire was so severe that we were repulsed.  On our extreme right a similar attempt obtained the same result.

On our left the bayou was crossed by General Morgan’s and General Steele’s Divisions at two or three points, and our forces gained a position close up to the edge of the bluff.

At eleven A. M. on the 29th, an assault was made by three brigades of infantry upon the works of the enemy on this portion of the line.  General Blair and General Thayer from Steele’s Division, pushed forward through an abatis which skirted the edge of the bayou, and captured the first line of Rebel rifle-pits.  From this line the brigades pressed two hundred yards farther up the hillside, and temporarily occupied a portion of the second line.  Fifty yards beyond was a small clump of trees, which was gained by one regiment, the Thirteenth Illinois, of General Blair’s Brigade.

[Illustration:  GENERAL BLAIR’S BRIGADE ASSAULTING THE HILL AT CHICKASAW, BAYOU.]

The Rebels massed heavily against these two brigades.  Our assaulting force had not been followed by a supporting column, and was unable to hold the works it captured.  It fell back to the bayou and re-formed its line.  One of General Morgan’s brigades occupied a portion of the rifle-pits at the time the hill was assaulted by the brigades from General Steele’s Division.

During the afternoon of the 29th, preparations were made for another assault, but the plan was not carried out.  It was found the Rebels had been re-enforced at that point, so that we had great odds against us.  The two contending armies rested within view of each other, throwing a few shells each hour, to give notice of their presence.