General Sherman’s army consisted of four divisions, the first of which contained three brigades, under Brigadier-General Geo. W. Morgan; the second, three brigades under Brigadier-General A. J. Smith, and the fourth, four brigades, commanded by Brigadier-General Frederick Steele, whose Brigade-Generals were Frank P. Blair, John M. Thayer, C. E. Hovey, and Colonel Hassendurbel. The division of General Steele was the largest one on the ground. Blair’s brigade was detached, and after making a landing, pushed forward inland under General Morgan L. Smith. The rest of the division, under General C. E. Hovey, was sent three miles further up the Yazoo River, to penetrate the rear and get at the railroad near Vicksburg. He landed above Blake’s Bayou, and within two miles, he encountered the heavy guns of the enemy on the high bluffs, in front of a lagoon or bayou which it was impossible to cross without boats or bridges, and he returned to Chickasaw Bayou, where General H. H. Morgan had already landed. In taking position General A. J. Smith took the right, General Morgan L. Smith the right centre, General Steele the left centre, and General G. W. Morgan the extreme left. The Federal line was formed in this order parallel with the bluffs, and in the edge of the timber that skirted the abatis, bringing it about a mile from the rebel lines. To reach this position from the point of debarkation on the Yazoo River, the forces had to cross a series of bayous, or deep ravines, which were then filled and unfordable. These crossings had to be made by pontoon bridges, the building of which was stoutly resisted by the rebels, occasioning a continual skirmishing throughout the day, though with no very serious results. In addition to this difficulty roads had to be cut in most instances; the old roads—where any existed—having been destroyed by the rebels or blockaded with fallen timber, while in most directions no roads existed at all. The Confederate batteries opened fire on General Morgan’s position at an early hour on the 29th, which continued for about an hour, with but slight effect. On Monday morning the great effort was to be made to gain the heights, and all the forces were ordered to move at daylight. The morning dawned with a dense fog upon the face of the country, so thick as to utterly prevent any movement. Lying in the middle of the little narrow Yazoo, it was impossible to distinguish the timber on either shore. Any movement made under such circumstances was, of course, attended with great hazard; any firing was at a venture, and as likely to hit friend as foe. It was eight o’clock before the fog lifted. The gunboats which were to shell the rebel batteries and encampments on the left, at Milldale, having obtained their ranges on the previous day, did not wait for the fog to clear away, but were at work at the appointed time, drawing a brisk response from the enemy.