eiterated statements, for they
might possibly be true; and that no possible opportunity of
carrying the enemy's stronghold should be allowed to escape
through fault of mine, I ordered Quinby's division, which was all
of McPherson's corps then present, but four brigades, to report
to McClernand, and notified him of the order. I showed his
despatches to McPherson, as I had to Sherman, to satisfy him of
the necessity of an active diversion on their part to hold as
much force in their fronts as possible. The diversion was
promptly and vigorously made and resulted in the increase of our
mortality list full fifty per cent., without advancing our
position or giving us other advantages.

About 3.50 P.M., I received McClernand's fourth despatch, as
follows:

To Headquarters 13th Army Corps,
MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, May 22, 1863.
Department of the Tennessee.

General: I have received your despatch in regard to General
Quinby's division and General McArthur's division. As soon as
they arrive I will press the enemy with all possible speed, and
doubt not I will force my way through. I have lost no ground. My
men are in two of the enemy's forts, but they are commanded by
rifle pits in the rear. Several prisoners have been taken who
intimate that the rear is strong. At this moment I am hard
pressed.

John A. MCCLERNAND,
_Major-General commanding_.

The assault of this day proved the quality of the soldiers of
this army. Without entire success, and with a heavy loss, there
was no murmuring or complaining, no falling back, nor other
evidence of demoralization.

After the failure of the 22d, I determined upon a regular siege.
The troops now being fully awake to the necessity of this worked
diligently and cheerfully. The work progressed rapidly and
satisfactorily until the 3d of July, when all was about ready for
a final assault.

There was a great scarcity of Engineer officers in the beginning,
but under the skillful superintendence of Captain F. E. Prime, of
the Engineer corps, Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, of my staff, (p. 389)
and Captain C. B. Comstock, of the Engineer corps, who joined
this command during