<Li> Martin L. Smith; </Li> <Li> John S. Bowen . </Li> <P> Grant wanted to overwhelm the Confederates before they could fully organize their defenses and ordered an immediate assault against Stockade Redan for May 19 . Troops from Sherman's corps had a difficult time approaching the position under rifle and artillery fire from the 36th Mississippi Infantry, Brig. Gen. Louis Hébert's brigade--they had to negotiate a steep ravine protected by abatis and cross a 6 - foot - deep (1.8 m), 8 - foot - wide (2.4 m) ditch before attacking the 17 - foot - high (5.2 m) walls of the redan . This first attempt was easily repulsed . Grant ordered an artillery bombardment to soften the defenses and at about 2 p.m., Sherman's division under Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair tried again, but only a small number of men were able to advance even as far as the ditch below the redan . The assault collapsed in a melee of rifle fire and hand grenades lobbing back and forth . </P> <P> The failed Federal assaults of May 19 damaged Union morale, deflating the confidence the soldiers felt after their string of victories across Mississippi . They were also costly, with casualties of 157 killed, 777 wounded, and 8 missing, versus Confederate casualties of 8 killed and 62 wounded . The Confederates, assumed to be demoralized, had regained their fighting edge . </P>

Who attacked first in the battle of vicksburg
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