Chickasaw Bayou

[JohnG0609]

Is there a good overview/sketch of naval gunfire support operations conducted at Chickasaw Bayou? More specifically, did the guns on the ironclads have sufficient elevation to reach the bluffs or were they limited to shelling the plain in front of the bluff? How did the gunboats support the actual troop landings? I presume they weren't able to offer much fire support during and after the landings, but what did they do to support the operation?

 

[huskerblitz]

Is there a good overview/sketch of naval gunfire support operations conducted at Chickasaw Bayou? More specifically, did the guns on the ironclads have sufficient elevation to reach the bluffs or were they limited to shelling the plain in front of the bluff? How did the gunboats support the actual troop landings? I presume they weren't able to offer much fire support during and after the landings, but what did they do to support the operation?

If you get a chance you can pick up "Fight for the Yazoo" by Myron Smith, Jr. I have the section on Chickasaw Bayou scanned but it's been a few years since I've read it.

Amazon.com

 

[huskerblitz]

So in short, yes, the gunboats did fire inland to help the troops move closer to the bluff. But they really didn't play a part in the Dec. 29th assault. Seems most of the shelling was concentrated at Snyder's and Drumgold's bluffs as a diversion and to keep reinforcements from being shifted to the main Confederate line.

 

[Stryker65]

Battles and Leaders devotes only one paragraph to the action, but it seems that the majority of the fleet stayed out of range.

 

[RedRover]

From the official records, Navies...

Admiral Porter's report.

Admiral Porter recalled during the withdrawal of Sherman's command back to the fleet, Sherman was out of sorts, but quickly cheered up when he discovered Porter game for Arkansas Post...

 

[Biscoitos]

Basically the ironclads attacked the Confederate fortifications at Snyders/Haynes Bluffs. This was several miles upstream from the infantry battleground and had no effect on the battle. Some of the tinclads did a little fire support for the Federal infantry, but with little or no effect .
The Chickasaw Bayou battle was almost totally Federal infantry and field artillery against Confederate infantry and field artillery.

 

[tony_gunter]

The Yazoo River is about 3 miles from the Confederate works at Chickasaw Bayou