Every time we took a new position, we proceeded to throw up earth-works.

Before the siege was ended, our men had perfected themselves in the art of intrenching.

The defenses we erected will long remain as monuments of the war in Western Tennessee.

Since General Halleck, no other commander has shown such ability to fortify in an open field against an enemy that was acting on the defensive.
It was generally proclaimed that we were to capture Corinth with all its garrison of sixty or seventy thousand men.

The civilian observers could not understand how this was to be accomplished, as the Rebels had two lines of railway open for a safe retreat.