Monday [June[ 29 [1863]

Nothing unusual or out of
the regular routine occurred
today. same fire kept up in
front of the city -- the enemy en-
deavoring to place more guns
on the peninsula, and we
doing our best to prevent it --
They are a good deal protected
by the woods, but our shot
and shell go crashing and bursting
through the trees and
our friends -- les ennemis -- no
doubt find it a rather warm
place to be performing the
uninteresting and little exciting
work of throwing up batteries.

The casualties among
the women & children are increasing
-- our little paper "The Citizen" pub-
lishes the names of six, as
among those who were badly
wounded & killed last week:
and yesterday the head of
another poor creature
was taken off by a shell.
Alas that these poor help-
less women, should fall here
as martyrs to our cause -- we
cannot blame the enemy
for firing on the city; for surely
the inhabitants had
notice long enough to have been fully
assured that this place was
destined to be the scene of
great conflict between
the two armies -- and they
were at first requested &
then ordered to leave the
town by Genl Pemberton; but
without effect, as many pre-
ferred -- (I scarcely think they
would now prefer) -- to remain
at home, enjoying the comfort
and luxuries attendant there,
and endure the firing & the con-
sequent danger; rather than
to seek some abiding place
elsewhere --- away from friends
and where they would find
little comfort.