The ground inside and outside of this intrenched line was very broken and generally wooded.

The trees outside of the rifle-pits had been cut down for a considerable way out, and had been felled so that their tops lay outwards from the intrenchments.

The limbs had been trimmed and pointed, and thus formed an abatis in front of the greater part of the line.

Outside of this intrenched line, and extending about half the entire length of it, is a ravine running north and south and opening into Hickman creek at a point north of the fort.

The entire side of this ravine next to the works was one long abatis.
General Halleck commenced his efforts in all quarters to get reinforcements to forward to me immediately on my departure from Cairo.
General Hunter sent men freely from Kansas, and a large division under General Nelson, from Buell's army, was also dispatched.