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t of his division； supported by the remainder； and by Blair's brigade of Steele's division cooperating。 The attack was to be simultaneous； by the four divisions； on a signal。
Morgan's answer to you was that； when the signal was given； he would lead his attack； and with his life he would be on the bluffs in fifteen minutes。 He seemed of positive knowledge； and as sure of success。 You then retired to a central point； to be in easy communication with Steele and Morgan L。 Smith。 The attack was made； and developed； in the case of Steele； M。 L。 Smith； and A。 J。 Smith； that to cross the bayou was impossible； if opposed by any force； and in each they were by s strong one。 Morgan's attacking force succeeded in getting across the causeway and marsh； but he did not go with it； nor support it with more men； and a large number were captured from Blair's brigade after gaining the enemy's last line of works covering the bayou。 At the time everybody blamed and criticised Morgan with the failure。 You felt from the advance of his attack it must be successful； and； as it pushed forward； you sent me to urge on M。 L。 Smith； as Morgan was over； and he； Smith； must aid by persistent attack； and give Morgan as good a chance as could be to make his lodgment。。。。
I am； etc。； L。 M。 DAYTON Late Colonel of the Staff； now of Cincinnati； Ohio General W。 T。 SHERMAN； St。 Louis； Missouri
＇COPY。＇
〃 。 。 。 。 The expedition was wonderfully well provided with provisions； transportation； and monitions； and even axes； picks； and shovels； so much in use later in the war； evidenced the forethought that governed this force。 The boats； from their open lower deck construction； proved admirable for transports； but their tinder…box construction made fire…traps of them； requiring unremitting vigilance。 These points were well understood； and the readiness with which the troops adapted themselves to circumstances was a constant source of wonder and congratulations。
〃The fleet collected at Friar's Point for final orders； and there the order of sailing was laid down with great minuteness； and private instructions issued to commanders of divisions； all of whom had personal interviews with the commanding general； and received personal explanations on pretty much every point involved。 Our headquarters boat； the Forest Queen； was not very comfortable； nor well provided； but General Sherman submitted cheerfully； on the grounds of duty； and thought Conway a fine fellow。 I was only able to concede that he was a good steamboat captain。。。。
〃Our camp appointments were Spartan in the extreme； and in their simplicity would have met the demands of any demagogue in the land。 The nights were cold and damp； and General Sherman uncomfortably active in his preparations； so that the assistant adjutant…general had no very luxurious post just then。 We were surrounded with sloughs。 The ground was wet； and the water； although in winter； was very unwholesome。 Many of our men； to this day； have reminders of the Yazoo in ague； fevers； and diseases of the bowels。 Cavalry was useless。 One battalion of Illinois cavalry was strongly suspected of camping in the timber； until time passed enough to justify the suspicion of having been somewhere。 Really the strength of Vicksburg was in being out of reach of attack。。。。
〃My orders were to learn and report what was going on on the right； particularly to try and form an idea of the enemy's force in front of M。 L。 Smith's division； and at the sand…bar。 Leaving my horse close in the rear of the Sixth Missouri； when the fire became too heavy for riding； I succeeded； by taking frequent cover； in reaching unhurt the verge of the bayou among the drift…logs。 There； by concert of action with Lieutenant…Colonel Blood； of the Sixth Missouri； his regiment； and the Thirteenth Regular Infantry； kept up a heavy fire on everything that showed along the levee and earthworks in front。 The enemy were behind the embankment； not over one hundred and fifty yards across the bayou。 Several officers； including Colonel Blood； Colonel Kilby Smith； and myself； managed； by getting on the piles of drift； to see over the levee through the cleared fields beyond； 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 acrosssay three hundredshould 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 were given。 Drawings of the line of attack； orders for supports； all and eve