At his headquarters in the early afternoon of June 27, 1864, Union Major General George H. Thomas faced pressure from Major General William T. Sherman to launch a head-on assault after Confederate forces had foiled Federal attacks that morning. Thomas replied that the Confederate earthworks were so strong that they could not be carried by assault except by immense sacrifice, even if they could be carried at all, and warned that the army had already lost heavily that day and that one or two more such assaults would use it up. Thomas had suffered losses of 2,000 men and officers, including two brigade commanders. At 1:30 p.m., Sherman asked whether any part of the enemy's line could be carried that day and said he would order the assault if Thomas thought success possible at any point. At 1:40 p.m., Thomas answered that he did not think the works could be carried by assault at that point that day. Thomas's headquarters was known as a "Traveling Circus" because of the great number of tents he carried with him into the field, while his officers used nearby tents.