Maj. General Henry W. Halleck's army of 100,000 men moved south from Pittsburgh Landing at the beginning of May, one eye on Corinth and the other on CSA Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard and his Army of the Mississippi, waiting behind five miles of newly constructed earthworks.

Corinth was founded in 1853 as Cross City, so-called because it served as a junction for the Mobile & Ohio and Memphis & Charleston railroads.  The town's early newspaper editor, W.E. Gibson, suggested the name of Corinth after the city in Greece that also served as a crossroads.  Corinth's location at the junction of these two railroads makes it strategically important to both sides - the Confederacy as a means of supplying its armies and the Union in its attempt to capture the Mississippi Valley and slice the Confederacy in two.

Halleck has claimed that the railroad centers in Richmond, Virginia, and Corinth are "the greatest strategic points of the war, and our success at these points should be insured at all hazards."  After witnessing the attack on the dispersed forces of Gen. U.S. Grant's army, Halleck is keeping his men concentrated to prevent an attack on isolated wings.  Accordingly, Halleck has ordered all roads ahead of his army be repaired or, in some cases, constructed; that pickets be stationed well in advance of the army to prevent surprise attacks; that heavy artillery be established at all supply depots; and that entrenchments be prepared afer each advance of the march.

As the troops move up to a new position, they work day and night digging trenches, made to conform with the nature of the ground, following the crest of the ridges.  They consist of a single ditch and a parapet designed to cover infantry against the projectiles of the enemy.  As each line of earthworks is finished, the men advance about a mile and then start digging a new line of trenches.  All told, the army has had seven progressive lines and built about 40 miles of trenches.

On May 3, Halleck sent a wire to Secretary of War Stanton:"I leave here to-morrow morning and our army will be before Corinth to-morrow night." By May 4, Gen William T. Sherman's division moved to within six miles of Beauregard's fortifications. Then the heavy rains came for two straight days, wiping out roads and clearing bridges. By May 7, Halleck's entire army was within six miles of Beauregard.

Halleck then ordered all divisions to build earthworks across the line, reproductions of the complicated entrenchments he previously witnessed in France.  Sherman moved to within four miles of the enemy and commenced building entrenchments.

Yesterday, President Lincoln sent a wire to Gen Halleck: "Norfolk in our possession.  Merrimac blown up, & Monitor & other boats going up James River to Richmond.  Be very careful to sustain no reverse in your department."  This note of caution from the President - who does not want to lose any of the momentum gained by Union efforts in both theaters - will likely only add to Gen. Halleck's prudence as he prepares to take on the Rebel Army of the Mississippi and Gen. Beauregard at Corinth.