the regiment arrived in the vicinity of vicksburg on june 11, 1863. general ulysses s. grant, in command of union forces besieging the city, originally planned that herron's division should be placed between general's hovey and lauman's divisions, but due to rumors that rebel cavalry were moving from yazoo city, herron's division was ordered to a position on the southernmost portion of grant's line. on june 14, 1863, the 38th crossed the river and camped on the bluff above warrenton. on june 15 the 38th occupied a position on the extreme left of the line, extending from the river to a short distance across the warrenton road.