Sunday [June] 28 [1863]

Enemy, at night, reported to
have sunk a mine under
the redan on the Jackson
road and to be now under
the outer parapet -
sides cross section

[Here follows a sketch of the mined area under a knoll and two hills. Taylor has drawn a small knoll with a valley beyond marked "a" and then two larger hills to the right with a valley between. A "gallery" or tunnel is shown starting just under point "a" and dug completely under the first hill.]

We cannot counter
mine or sink in on them
for they would, most probably,
on hearing the first spade
strike the earth, which
would be perfectly distinct to
them, blow up our work.
We send out dirt augurs
today, 29th, which may be
used without noise, to bore
into them -- also propose
rolling a barrel of powder
down the slope to the point
"a" to destroy their gallery --

These fellows work like
beavers and we have to
keep eyes, ears and mouth
open, and be active and
energetic to thwart their
indefatigable and untiring
efforts to blow up our
works -- no sooner do they
fail at one point than
they appear at another and
remit not a whit their
endeavors on account of failures
want of success -
Their saps are appearing
at many points of our
line, and evince a dis-
position on their part to dirt-
dig in earnest, which
necessarily leads us to be
similarly disposed. At
this, in a physical way,
the Yanks can beat us but
we must make up in
ingenuity ad dash what
they surpass us in labor.

We are down on
very, very low rations now
and in consequence of
this, probably, and the un-
promising prospect we have
ahead, there are some de-
sertions; but no grumbling
that I have heard of comes
from our brave & hardy
men; though they are
much fagged out -- worn &
weak, from the hardships
they have had to endure, on
the very short allowance of
4 oz bacon, ditto flour, do peas
do sugar a day -- a very insuf-
ficient nourishment for men
who are worked. I fear
they would be unable to
march for any distance, in
the weak state consequent
on such a limited diet, and
on the constant strain on
their strength for forty days
in the trenches.