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ed heavily； especially on A。 J。 Smith's front； and in front of General George W。 Morgan。 One brigade （DeCourcey's） of Morgan's troops crossed the bayou safely； but took to cover behind the bank； and could not be moved forward。 Frank Blairs brigade； of Steele's division； in support； also crossed the bayou； passed over the space of level ground to the foot of the hills； but； being unsupported by Morgan； and meeting a very severe cross…fire of artillery； was staggered and gradually fell back； leaving about five hundred men behind； wounded and prisoners； among them Colonel Thomas Fletcher； afterward Governor of Missouri。 Part of Thayer's brigade took a wrong direction； and did not cross the bayou at all； nor did General Morgan cross in person。 This attack failed； and I have always felt that it was due to the failure of General G。 W。 Morgan to obey his orders； or to fulfill his promise made in person。 Had he used with skill and boldness one of his brigades； in addition to that of Blair's； he could have made a lodgment on the bluff； which would have opened the door for our whole force to follow。 Meantime the Sixth Missouri Infantry； at heavy loss； had also crossed the bayou at the narrow passage lower down； but could not ascend the steep bank； right over their heads was a rebel battery； whose fire was in a measure kept down by our sharp…shooters （Thirteenth United States Infantry） posted behind logs； stumps； and trees； on our side of the bayou。
The men of the Sixth Missouri actually scooped out with their hands caves in the bank； which sheltered them against the fire of the enemy； who； right over their heads； held their muskets outside the parapet vertically； and fired down So critical was the position； that we could not recall the men till after dark； and then one at a time。 Our loss had been pretty heavy； and we had accomplished nothing； and had inflicted little loss on our enemy。 At first I intended to renew the assault； but soon became satisfied that； the enemy's attention having been drawn to the only two practicable points； it would prove too costly； and accordingly resolved to look elsewhere for a point below Haines's Bluff； or Blake's plantation。 That night I conferred with Admiral Porter； who undertook to cover the landing； and the next day （December 30th） the boats were all selected； but so alarmed were the captains and pilots； that we had to place sentinels with loaded muskets to insure their remaining at their posts。 Under cover of night； Steele's division； and one brigade of Stuart's； were drawn out of line； and quietly embarked on steamboats in the Yazoo River。 The night of December 30th was appointed for this force； under the command of General Fred Steele； to proceed up the Yazoo just below Haines's Bluff； there to disembark about daylight； and make a dash for the hills。 Meantime we had strengthened our positions near Chickasaw Bayou； had all our guns in good position with parapets； and had every thing ready to renew our attack as soon as we heard the sound of battle above。
At midnight I left Admiral Porter on his gunboat； he had his fleet ready and the night was propitious。 I rode back to camp and gave orders for all to be ready by daybreak； but when daylight came I received a note from General Steele reporting that； before his boats had got up steam； the fog had settled down on the river so thick and impenetrable； that it was simply impossible to move； so the attempt had to be abandoned。 The rain； too； began to fall； and the trees bore water…marks ten feet above our heads； so that I became convinced that the part of wisdom was to withdraw。 I ordered the stores which had been landed to be reembarked on the boats； and preparations made for all the troops to regain their proper boats during the night of the 1st of January； 1863。 From our camps at Chickasaw we could hear； the whistles of the trains arriving in Vicksburg； could see battalions of men marching up toward Haines's Bluff； and taking post at all points in our front。 I was more than convinced that heavy reenforcements were coming to Vicksburg； whether from Pemberton at Grenada； Bragg in Tennessee； or from other sources； I could not tell； but at no point did the enemy assume the offensive； and when we drew off our rear…guard； on the morning of the 2d； they simply followed up the movement； timidly。 Up to that moment I had not heard a word from General Grant since leaving Memphis； and most assuredly I had listened for days for the sound of his guns in the direction of Yazoo City。 On the morning of January 2d； all my command were again afloat in their proper steamboats； when Admiral Porter told me that General McClernand had arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo in the steamboat Tigress； and that it was rumored he had come down to supersede me。 Leaving my whole force where it was； I ran down to the month of the Yazoo in a small tug boat； and there found General McClernand； with orders from the War Department to command the expeditionary force on the Mississippi River。 I explained what had been done； and what was the actual state of facts； that the heavy reenforcements pouring into Vicksburg must be Pemberton's army； and that General Grant must be near at hand。 He informed me that General Grant was not coming at all； that his depot at Holly Springs had been captured by Van Dorn； and that he had drawn back from Coffeeville and Oxford to Holly Springs and Lagrange； and； further； that Quinby's division of Grant's army was actually at Memphis for stores when he passed down。 This； then； fully explained how Vicksburg was being reenforced。 I saw that any attempt on the place from the Yazoo was hopeless； and； with General McClernand's full approval； we all came out of the Yazoo； and on the 3d of January rendezvoused at Milliken's。 Bend； about ten miles above。 On the 4th General McClernand issued his General Order No。 1； assuming command of the Army of the Mississippi； divided into two corps； the first to be commanded by General Morgan； composed of his own and A。 J。 Smith's divisions； and the second； composed of Steele's and Stuart's divisions； to be commanded by me。 Up to that time the army had been styled the right wing of （General Grant's） Thirteenth Army Corps； and numbered about thirty thousand men。 The aggregate loss during the time of any command； mostly on the 29th of December； was one hundred and seventy…five killed； nine hundred and thirty wounded； and seven hundred and forty…three prisoners。 According to Badeau； the rebels lost sixty…three killed； one hundred and thirty…four wounded； and ten prisoners。 It afterward transpired that Van Dorn had captured Holly Springs on the 20th of December； and that General Grant fell back very soon after。 General Pemberton； who had telegraphic and railroad communication with Vicksburg； was therefore at perfect liberty to reenforce the place with a garrison equal； if not superior； to my command。 The rebels held high； commanding ground； and could see every movement of our men and boats； so that the only possible hope of success consisted in celerity and surprise； and in General Grant's holding all of Pemberton's army hard pressed meantime。 General Grant was perfectly aware of this； and had sent me word of the change； but it did not reach me in time； indeed； I was not aware of it until after my assault of December 29th； and until the news was brought me by General MeClernand as related。 General McClernand was appointed to this command by President Lincoln in person； who had no knowledge of what was then going on down the river。 Still； my relief； on the heels of a failure； raised the usual cry； at the North； of 〃repulse； failure； and bungling。〃 There was no bungling on my part； for I never worked harder or with more intensity of purpose in my life； and General。 Grant； long after； in his report of the operations of the siege of Vicksburg； gave us all full credit for the skill of the movement； and described the almost impregnable nature of the ground； and； although in all official reports I assumed the whole responsibility； I have ever felt that had General Morgan promptly and skillfully sustained the lead of Frank Blair's brigade on that day； we should have broken the rebel line； and effected a lodgment on th