On the 19th of March he was at Columbia, Tennessee, eighty-five miles from Pittsburg.

When all reinforcements should have arrived I expected to take the initiative by marching on Corinth, and had no expectation of needing fortifications, though this subject was taken into consideration.

McPherson, my only military engineer, was directed to lay out a line to intrench.

He did so, but reported that it would have to be made in rear of the line of encampment as it then ran.

The new line, while it would be nearer the river, was yet too far away from the Tennessee, or even from the creeks, to be easily supplied with water, and in case of attack these creeks would be in the hands of the enemy.