Boys, Don’t Charge Those Works

Grant’s order to resume attacks failed to spur McPherson into vigorous action. John A. Logan’s division of the Seventeenth Corps already held exposed positions near 3rd Louisiana Redan and the Great Redoubt. Ransom’s brigade had already advanced with Blair’s two brigades north of 3rd Louisiana Redan. The only other formation available to McPherson was Isaac Quinby’s reserve division. Grant ordered it to move to McClernand’s sector and help the Thirteenth Corps. Quinby arrived at 5 p. m. but McClernand separated his three brigades. John B. Sanborn’s brigade advanced on 2nd Texas Lunette but Stephen G. Burbridge assumed Sanborn was to replace his tired men and retired without orders as soon as Sanborn’s men arrived. Sanborn was unable to go any farther than had Burbridge and retired when the Confederates mounted a counterattack. George B. Boomer’s brigade advanced between 2nd Texas Lunette and Railroad Redoubt but stopped part way due to heavy fire that killed Boomer. Samuel A. Holmes’ brigade marched to the sector held by Peter J. Osterhaus’ division but Osterhaus failed to make any use of it. In short, Quinby wasted his strength in piecemeal and poorly planned actions and the fault mostly lay with McClernand.