John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[228] would have proven himself to be as subordinate as he was brave in carrying out the orders of those in authority over him. While Grant and Dana acted throughout the affair closely within their right and duty, it would be unjust to leave McClernand under the slightest imputation as to his patriotism or his courage. He was one of the first and most important Democrats of Illinois to join Senator Douglas in support of Lincoln and the war for the Union, and never failed to show himself in battle as a leader of the highest courage.

By the first of June, and indeed immediately after the failure of the assault on the intrenchments of Vicksburg, the army settle down to a regular investment and siege. Parallels and approaches were laid out and constructed in front of each corps by the engineers, and troops of the line detailed for that purpose. Mines were driven and exploded under the enemy's works. Mortars were constructed from wooden logs for throwing shells into his lines, and the river above and below the city was watched and carefully patrolled by both the navy and the army. Every possible road and path was closed and watched, and the city was completely isolated. Neither supplies nor reinforcements could reach the garrison, and it was with the greatest difficulty that even the most daring and hardy messenger could get out of it. The enemy's effective strength was estimated at about twenty-five thousand, though counting the non-combatants it approximated thirty thousand men, under the immediate command of Lieutenant-General Pemberton. Johnston, with headquarters at Jackson, was at the same time in chief command of all the Confederate forces in that quarter. He was exerting himself to the utmost to gather an army with which to attack Grant in the rear while the garrison should make a sortie and attack him in front. This imposed double work on the National forces, and as the weather was both hot and dry and the labor incessant,