Bivouac, December 27, 1862.
In accordance with orders received on the 26th I moved my brigade (composed of the Sixteenth [Ohio], Twenty-second [Kentucky], Forty-second [Ohio], Fifty-fourth [Indiana], and Foster's battery) from the boat (left bank of the Yazoo River) and advanced toward the Chickasaw Bayou. In crossing the large open fields, which are known as Lake's farm, the enemy was found in the woods, on the other side of a deep bayou, parallel to my left. I changed front toward this woods with the Twenty-second Kentucky, Fifty-fourth Indiana, and a part of the Forty-second [Ohio]; opened fire with these regiments and the battery. After an engagement of two hours the enemy was driven from the woods on the left, and as by this time night had set in I bivouacked on the ground and ordered the brigade to sleep by their arms. During the night an epaulement was thrown by the Forty-second Regiment, for the protection of Foster's 20-pounder battery.

In this affair the following were the casualties: The Twenty-second Kentucky, 1 killed and 8 wounded; Forty-second Ohio, 2 men wounded; Fifty-fourth Indiana, 1 man killed; Foster's battery, 3 men wounded, 1 mortally, and 4 horses wounded.

Yours, respectfully,

JOHN F. DE COURCY,
Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade.

Lieutenant SAUNDERS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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DECEMBER 28, 1862.
SIR: This morning I resumed operations against the enemy, who had taken position in the woods on my front and toward my right. Lanphere's Michigan battery came to my assistance and enabled me, with the fire from the infantry, to drive the enemy back several hundred yards, but this only after he had offered stout resistance of about four hours' duration. As soon as I deemed it practicable to do so I advanced the brigade into the woods, and ordering a charge through it the enemy was immediately driven out of it, and I placed the brigade in position in the woods and near the abatis, facing the works on the Chickasaw Bluffs.

The casualties this day were as follows: The Sixteenth Ohio, 30 killed and wounded; Twenty-second Kentucky, 2 men wounded; Forty-second Ohio, 31 killed and wounded; Fifty-fourth Indiana, 30 killed and wounded; Lamphere's battery, 2 men wounded, 2 horses killed and 3 wounded. Lieutenant Stein, my acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Thomas, acting aide-de-camp, on my staff, had their horses wounded.

Yours, respectfully,

JOHN F. DE COURCY,
Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade.

Lieutenant SAUNDERS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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DECEMBER 29, 1862.
SIR: At about 11 o'clock this day I received the order to prepare to advance with my brigade and attack the works on the Chickasaw Bluffs on my front. I formed the brigade in the following order: The Twenty-second Kentucky and Fifty-fourth Indiana deployed in line of battle (the former on the right), the Sixteenth Ohio and Forty-second Ohio in rear in double column; the Sixteenth Ohio supported the Fifty-fourth Indiana and the Forty-second Ohio supported the Twenty-second Kentucky.

At ten minutes before 12 o'clock the order to advance was given and the Twenty-second and Forty-second Regiments found themselves immediately engaged under a hot fire in the toils of a nearly impassable abatis of heavy timber. But the gallant labor of these regiments was of no avail for the object in view, as I found that a deep and wide bayou separated the abatis from the open ground which we had yet to traverse before reaching the base of the enemy's works. By this time the Sixteenth Ohio, Fifty-fourth Indiana, and a part of the Twenty-second Kentucky, having a much easier and less encumbered ground to march over, had dashed across the bayou on their front, and by a road had marched up to and deployed on the open ground which sloped up to the works which they were to attack. This attack they began immediately, in splendid style, and nearly accomplished their object, notwithstanding the immense and fearfully-destructive fire which poured in from front, left, right and even rear, for as soon as these regiments has advanced a few hundred yards toward the works the enemy opened with a battery in rear of the left of their advance.

Seeing that I could not cross the bayou at the point which the Twenty-second Kentucky and Forty-second Ohio had reached I ordered a flank movement by the left through the abatis, and as fast as it was possible and with hearty cheers these regiments moved to the support of the Sixteenth and Fifty-fourth which were just beginning their charge. In a short time the abatis was recrossed, the bayou passed over, and the head of the column emerged on the open ground; too late, however, to afford support or assist in the desperate charge. Notwithstanding the destructive fire from all sides, which kept mowing down the ranks of the Sixteenth Ohio, Twenty-second Kentucky, and Fifty-fourth Indiana, the brave men composing these corps had nearly crossed the large open space of more than half a mile which lay stretched out before them glacis fashion, when the enemy increased his fire of small-arms and grape to such a degree as to render a farther advance impossible. Finding the retreat begun, and deeming it but the natural result of an advance cover such an extent of open ground and under such an amount of concentric fire, I resolved not to expose the Forty-second Ohio to useless destruction. I therefore halted this regiment at the bottom of the road under the bank of the bayou and deployed it to cover the retreat of the repulsed regiments. The Forty-second Ohio, under the command of Lieut. Col. Don A. Pardee, performed this duty with great steadiness, and re-entered our lines in perfect order under the directions of that able and gallant officer.

In this affair the Sixteenth Ohio was commanded by Lieut. Col. P. Kershner, who fell while heading the charge of the regiment. This excellent officer is supposed to be wounded and made prisoner.

The Twenty-second Kentucky was under the orders of Lieut. Col. G. W. Monroe, who was wounded early in the charge. His wound not being a serious one I hope the valuable service of this officer will soon be available. The regiment was brought out of action by Maj. W. J. Worthington.

The Fifty-fourth Indiana was led by Col. F. Mansfield, who handled his young corps and showed his men so good an example as to make them behave with like bravery and constancy of the old regiments at their side.

All these regiments brought back their colors. The praises for the heroic bravery displayed by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the regiments in my brigade this day in the attack on the Chickasaw Bluffs is out of my province in this official report, but I must be allowed to say that no troops of any army could have done better, and perhaps few would or could have done so well.

Lieutenant Stein, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieutenants Thomas and Risdon, of my staff, showed their usual cheerful alacrity in seeing all my orders carried out regardless of all or any kind of risks. These officers have been for nearly three days constantly under fire.

Yours, respectfully,

JOHN F. DE COURCY,
Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade.

Lieutenant SAUNDERS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.