Pemberton was left to his fate.

Meanwhile, however, two unsuccessful assaults were made on the
Confederate works. The first of these occurred on the day after the
investment was completed. It was unsuccessful. The Union army was
flung back from the impregnable defences in the rear of Vicksburg, and
great losses were inflicted on them. Grant, however, was undismayed,
and, still believing that the enemy's line might be broken by assault,
renewed the attempt in a gallant attack on the twenty-second of May. A
furious cannonade was kept up for several hours, and then the
divisions of Sherman, McPherson and McClernand were thrown forward
upon the earthworks of the enemy.

It was here that General McClernand reported to the commander that he
had gained the Confederate intrenchments. General Grant says: "I
occupied a position from which I thought I could see as well as he
what took place in his front; and I did not see the success he
reported. But his request for reinforcements being repeated, I could
not ignore it, and sent him Quinby's division. Sherman and McPherson
were both ordered to renew their assaults in favor of McClernand. This
last attack only served to increase our casualties, without giving any
benefit whatever." In these attacks large numbers of the Federal
soldiers had got into the low ground intervening, under the enemy's
fire, and had to remain in that position until darkness enabled them
to retire. The Union losses were very heavy, and General Grant, years
afterward, in composing his _Memoirs_, referred to this assault and to
that at Cold Harbor as the two conspicuous mistakes of his military
career.

Now it was that the regular siege of Vicksburg was undertaken. Toward