By midday of May 19, Grant had completed his investment of the city. In
the north, Sherman's Corps was in position opposite the Confederate left
from the river (at the present location of the national cemetery) to the
Graveyard Road, at an average distance of about 500 yards. McPherson's
Corps took position on Sherman's left from the Graveyard Road to near
the Baldwin's Ferry Road; the front of McClernand's Corps extended from
the Baldwin's Ferry Road southward.
Considerable skirmishing had preceded the Union approach, as the
Confederate pickets fell slowly back inside the defenses, thus
preventing a close inspection of the Confederate fortifications. Grant
determined, however, to attack immediately, before Pemberton had time to
post his defenses strongly. The Union general ordered an assault at 2 p.
m. on the 19th. Sherman's troops, whose early arrival had enabled them
better to prepare for attack, moved under heavy fire against the
Confederate left. Although they succeeded in making a close lodgment
against the walls of the Stockade Redan, they failed to breach the works
and were repulsed. McPherson and McClernand, not yet in good position
for attack, were unable to do more than advance several hundred yards
closer to the siege line. Grant lost 1,000 men testing the Vicksburg
defenses and discovered an unyielding army manning the works.
Confederate losses were slight.
[Illustration: _Confederate Railroad Redoubt. Plaques mark angle
where fort wall was breached and entered by Union troops during the
assault of May 22, 1863._]