Monday [June] 22 [1863]

The enemy seems to be mas
sing a considerable force at
Warrenton for some purpose
-unknown to us- probably
to be sent down the river for
operation in rear of Big Black
or at Port Hudson, where
Banks is reported to have
been worsted and forced to
abandon the siege; they are
also stated to be moving
some troops up the Yazoo
-Both these movements should
I think result to our ad
vantage and render more
feasible the discomfiture of
the enemy immediately be
sieging Vicksburg, by John
ston; who I sincerely hope
will make a most deter
mined - and if necessary des
perate - attempt to relieve
this garrison and retain oc
cupation of this most vital
position to the integrity of the Confederacy

Some of the ladies here deserve
great praise for the heroism
they have displayed in this
ordeal, and may well be styled
veterans after having endured
for so long a time such a
fire as has been showered
upon this devoted city-
the fire from the enemy is
borne with almost indiffer
ence by many, who seem to
regard it as a matter of course
and scarcely worthy of mention
though we frequently hear of
some female who has met her
death or been maimed thereby

They have made up their minds
to take their chances -- take
into consideration the relative
size of their corporal dimensions
-so mall- in comparison with
the area of fire from the mor
tars; and then disturb them
selves no further, but deport
themselves in true philosophic style. this rule
doesn't hold good with all
the feminines but a few
-the best; for many, when the
bugle is sounded "the mortars
commence! to your caves, O
Israel!" hasten to their holes
and evince a most sincere
and enduring affection for
our common mother, Earth - &
"Tis most fortunate that
we have the hills so conve-
nient for burrowing retreats
for the helpless women and
children, who would other
wise have suffered terribly
from the incessant fire; and
thereby would have been
added another horror to this
already sufficiently trying siege.