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emonstration by Steele's division； about a mile to our right； toward the river。 All our field batteries were put in position； and were covered by good epaulements； the troops were brought forward； in easy support； concealed by the shape of the ground； and to the： minute； viz。； 10 a。m。 of May 22d； the troops sprang to the assault。 A small party； that might be called a forlorn hope； provided with plank to cross the ditch； advanced at a run； up to the very ditch； the lines of infantry sprang from cover； and advanced rapidly in line of battle。 I took a position within two hundred yards of the rebel parapet； on the off slope of a spur of ground； where by advancing two or three steps I could see every thing。 The rebel line； concealed by the parapet； showed no sign of unusual activity； but as our troops came in fair view； the enemy rose behind their parapet and poured a furious fire upon our lines； and； for about two hours； we had a severe and bloody battle； but at every point we were repulsed。 In the very midst of this； when shell and shot fell furious and fast； occurred that little episode which has been celebrated in song and story； of the boy Orion P。 Howe； badly wounded； bearing me a message for cartridges； calibre 54； described in my letter to the Hon。 E。 M。 Stanton； Secretary of War。 This boy was afterward appointed a cadet to the United States Naval Academy； at Annapolis； but he could not graduate； and I do not now know what has become of him。
After our men had been fairly beaten back from off the parapet； and had got cover behind the spurs of ground close up to the rebel works； General Grant came to where I was； on foot； having left his horse some distance to the rear。 I pointed out to him the rebel works； admitted that my assault had failed； and he said the result with McPherson and McClernand was about the name。 While he was with me； an orderly or staff…officer came and handed him a piece of paper； which he read and handed to me。 I think the writing was in pencil； on a loose piece of paper； and was in General McClernand's handwriting； to the effect that 〃his troops had captured the rebel parapet in his front；〃 that； 〃the flag of the Union waved over the stronghold of Vicksburg；〃 and asking him （General Grant） to give renewed orders to McPherson and Sherman to press their attacks on their respective fronts； lest the enemy should concentrate on him （McClernand）。 General Grant said； 〃I don't believe a word of it；〃 but I reasoned with him； that this note was official； and must be credited； and I offered to renew the assault at once with new troops。 He said he would instantly ride down the line to McClernand's front； and if I did not receive orders to the contrary； by 3 o'clock p。m。； I might try it again。 Mower's fresh brigade was brought up under cover； and some changes were made in Giles Smith's brigade； and； punctually at 3 p。m。； hearing heavy firing down along the line to my left； I ordered the second assault。 It was a repetition of the first； equally unsuccessful and bloody。 It also transpired that the same thing had occurred with General McPherson； who lost in this second assault some most valuable officers and men； without adequate result； and that General McClernand； instead of having taken any single point of the rebel main parapet； had only taken one or two small outlying lunettes open to the rear； where his men were at the mercy of the rebels behind their main parapet； and most of them were actually thus captured。 This affair caused great feeling with us； and severe criticisms on General McClernand； which led finally to his removal from the command of the Thirteenth Corps； to which General Ord succeeded。 The immediate cause； however； of General McClernand's removal was the publication of a sort of congratulatory order addressed to his troops； first published in St。 Louis； in which he claimed that he had actually succeeded in making a lodgment in Vicksburg； but had lost it； owing to the fact that McPherson and Sherman did not fulfill their parts of the general plan of attack。 This was simply untrue。 The two several assaults made May 22d； on the lines of Vicksburg； had failed； by reason of the great strength of the position and the determined fighting of its garrison。 I have since seen the position at Sevastopol； and without hesitation I declare that at Vicksburg to have been the more difficult of the two。
Thereafter our proceedings were all in the nature of a siege。 General Grant drew more troops from Memphis； to prolong our general line to the left； so as completely to invest the place on its land…side； while the navy held the river both above and below。 General Mower's brigade of Tuttle's division was also sent across the river to the peninsula； so that by May 31st Vicksburg was completely beleaguered。 Good roads were constructed from our camps to the several landing…places on the Yazoo River； to which points our boats brought us ample supplies； so that we were in a splendid condition for a siege； while our enemy was shut up in a close fort； with a large civil population of men； women； and children to feed； in addition to his combatant force。 If we could prevent sallies； or relief from the outside； the fate of the garrison of Vicksburg was merely a question of time。
I had my headquarters camp close up to the works； near the centre of my corps； and General Grant had his bivouac behind a ravine to my rear。 We estimated Pemberton's whole force in Vicksburg at thirty thousand men； and it was well known that the rebel General Joseph E。 Johnston was engaged in collecting another strong force near the Big Black； with the intention to attack our rear； and thus to afford Pemberton an opportunity to escape with his men。 Even then the ability of General Johnston was recognized； and General Grant told me that he was about the only general on that side whom he feared。 Each corps kept strong pickets well to the rear； but； as the rumors of Johnston's accumulating force reached us； General Grant concluded to take stronger measures。 He had received from the North General J。 G。 Parker's corps （Ninth）； which had been posted at Haines's Bluff； then； detailing one division from each of the three corps d'armee investing Vicksburg； he ordered me to go out； take a general command of all； and to counteract any movement on the part of General Johnston to relieve Vicksburg。 I reconnoitred the whole country； from Haines's Bluff to the railroad bridge； and posted the troops thus：
Parke's two divisions from Haines's Bluff out to the Benton or ridge road； Tuttle's division； of my corps； joining on and extending to a plantation called Young's； overlooking Bear Creek valley； which empties into the Big Black above Messinger's Ferry； then McArthurs division； of McPherson's corps； took up the line； and reached to Osterhaus's division of McClernand's corps； which held a strong fortified position at the railroad…crossing of the Big Black River。 I was of opinion that； if Johnston should cross the Big Black； he could by the favorable nature of the country be held in check till a concentration could be effected by us at the point threatened。 From the best information we could gather； General Johnston had about thirty or