On Tuesday, the 6th inst., our troops on the Big Black checked the enemy in attempting to cross to the
Vicksburg side.
Upon the first attempt proving a failure, the
Yankees fell back, and made no more effort to reach the north side of the stream.
Our troops are occupying a position at Red
Bane, which is the extreme outpost of our lines.
At this point no successful defence can be made, and the place is merely held for the present to watch the movements of the enemy.
Some few adventurous Yankees have been reconnoitering in that vicinity, but as yet no considerable force has crossed the Big Black.
A letter from
Vicksburg to the Mobile
Register says:
‘
The original plan is now being carried into effect, by which the city is to be assaulted under a combination of movements from three different points.
While
Grant is marching his army up from
Warrenton, on the road running parallel with the river and close to it, the fleet is to come up and shell our batteries, as well as cover the land forces.
While this is going on, the fleet from above will come down and assault our upper batteries, and the battle-line will extend a distance of ten miles up and down the river.
By thus stretching out our lines — engaging every point at the same time — it is hoped that our troops may be diverted by the enormous extent of our line, and thus expose a weak point, which they hope to carry by storm.--That this is now the plan is evident from the appearance of the gunboats below.
Farragut's two vessels and seven of
Porter's gunboats are on hand to convey the land army along the river from
Warrenton to
Vicksburg, and while the army engages our men in the trenches the navy is to be occupied in shelling our batteries.
This plan has been foretold ever since the first commencement of work on the canal a year ago. To land a force and to march it against
Vicksburg under cover of the fleet has been the great aim from the beginning.
Part first of this programme has been accomplished — his army is landed on the
Mississippi shore, and now the fleet indicates distinctly that the movement is to be a junction of the fleet with the troops in a joint attack by land and water, and both above and below the city.
While this combined attack is being made on our defences below, the gunboats above are to engage our upper batteries and shell the city.
It is quite probable that the extreme right of the line of battle may extend from the point of the river above to the
Yazoo, including the old battle-ground of
Chickasaw bayon.
This tremendous extent of our defences will have to be manned at every point at the same time.
It will not do to leave exposed any part in order to concentrate at any other point.
It may be readily imagined that by the time we place a full complement of troops along this extensive line, we shall have none to spare.
’
