Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[349] digging into the hills, and thatching the huts with brush and cane. On the 26th, these roads were made passable, and the trenches were begun. The trench was constructed five feet deep and eight feet wide, with a parapet and banquette for infantry. The parapet was surmounted by square logs and sandbags, through which apertures were made for the marksmen. Three hundred men were kept at work both night and day, but the heads of saps advanced only under cover of darkness. During the day, the details were employed in widening the trenches and finishing them for defence.

The most important approaches to the enemy's line were, thus, the two by trench, along the Graveyard and Jackson roads, and the two covered approaches of Blair and Ransom, through the ravines. By these approaches and covered ways, and the secondary approaches of Tuttle's division, Grant was able to move two divisions, under cover, to within an average distance of two hundred yards from the works, and with means of debouching upon comparatively good ground with the heads of columns. Batteries on Logan's, Ransom's, Blair's, Tuttle's, and Steele's fronts were able to bring a converging, direct, enfilading, and reverse fire on all that part of the rebel line lying in their front. These batteries were continually being strengthened, or changed in position, in order to obtain greater advantages of aim. The one on the high ridge of the Graveyard road was raised six or eight feet, so as to give as great a view of the ground inside and behind the enemy's works as possible. Its height, above the level of low water in the Mississippi, was over two hundred feet.

Quimby's division retained its old position, after