Friday [June] 19 [1863]

Many complain of fatigue &
impatience at the siege being
protracted to such length and
Genl Johnston not moving
to our relief; but as I regard
his not having yet moved
towards us as no evidence
that he will not do so, but
rather as an assurance that
he is endeavoring to render the
attainment of his object sure, and
turning every stone for that
purpose, before essaying the
accomplishment of the huge
task that lies before him, I
am not a whit depressed
at the seeming delay, nor fear-
ful that he will abandon the
attempt for our relief; but
more hopeful for the issue
as his tarrying evinces greater
preparation for the work to
be accomplished -- Few I think
realize what difficulties Genl
J. must overcome in order
to come to our assistance --
he will first have to meet an
army probably trebly his
own in the open field with
chosen position -- overcome
this and drive the enemy
to his entrenchments (who
has beyond a doubt now a
line of contravallation) --
then storm their works, which
we may rely upon as being
very strong, and put to
complete rout the host
threatening it, before Vicksburg
can be again considered out
of the clutches of the foe-

But apart from
this consideration of the prob-
able cause of Genl Johnston's
delay, I am not impatient
of the time we are thus
passing in our beleaguered
city -- we are going through
one of the most interesting
passages in a man's life,
and paying not-at-all
dearly for an experience
which is common to the
fortunes of few -- one which
many of us, I doubt not,
will hereafter often revert
to with pleasure and grate-
ful recollection.