Only a few days before, they had beaten the enemy then penned up in the town first at Champion's Hill, next at Big Black River Bridge, inflicting upon him a loss of fifteen thousand or more men (including those cut off from returning) besides large losses in arms and ammunition.

The Army of the Tennessee had come to believe that they could beat their antagonist under any circumstances.

There was no telling how long a regular siege might last.

As I have stated, it was the beginning of the hot season in a Southern climate.

There was no telling what the casualties might be among Northern troops working and living in trenches, drinking surface water filtered through rich vegetation, under a tropical sun.