Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-07-16
Noncu,e d. Conway, ESQ,
FROas PORT HUDSON.

The following lettr I'D the Montgomery Advert
SER" from Captain Whitfield, OF the lst Alabama re-
giment his wife, will be read with much interest
From il bave better conception than we bave bad
before OF the ardsbps which the heroic garrison have
had TO endure.
The Captain mentions six Heeks as the time that
their provisions would last Half that period las pass
3D. ard yet he garrison hos not been relieved. Let
hope for the best
FoEr HUDSON June 10.
1t has now been two months since have had ar y
thing eliab or il any shape, froIn the balance Of the
world" Since the Yankee raid the Southern Rail-
road gallant aud glorious Port Hudson has been
petey isolated and far the last twenty days ough
y invested by Banks army, Guaranteeing US only
eight tC one! Verify, Port Hudson is a s3tsupport
ing institution, and, thanks 70 Almighty God and the
bravery and endurance of heroic Southern soldery,
is destined to still stand yet while longer, and wei
The detested Yankees to I" hosptable graves by
legions. We have been fighting regularly for ten days,
snd SO far have held in a remarkable degree.
he enemy have made two despera'e assaults On our
works, and have been often buried back with &C.
we're loss
On Wednesday, the Sd inst we bad a severe fight,
as that day the ankees attempted 10 charge our
works at several different points. They up in
6ne style with tie old f.g flying and yelling Cor the
best governm mt the world ever saw." We let them
come up within easy ge and then turned loose oGr
infantry and artillery, which sent them back IN terrible
disorder aud shattered ranks The less Of the enemy
was besvy aud it is estimated that the siege be-
gan that his loss in killed, and wounded al missing,
has been from TREE five thousand ard SD to relate,
loss ~ not iuconsiderable. We have TO the
loss OF many gallant soldiers and officers.
What The army OF Port Hudson has done aud en-
dultd no p can property depict.
" I'LL a large arHy in our rear AID wnln 200 yards
from our br, aswOks, large fleet IN siEnG. above aud
below On tie river, you see we are completely aDO
thUrOug bly, cut of from all communication, bu: not
wtslaft,g ill this disaelteahle OF things The
army IL sill il good spirits and hoping Tor reiuOre
!Gents. O 81 cur small number OF troops
cUmpIl 10 ktp very uian that C u shoulder a Inus
ket at tin. hrens eo ks Gay al night without a.y re-
lief, in posi-, ion and in hot rolling Louis
lana 1T sharPshooteEs pick of ony NAH that
dares lit his bead above The works The Yankees
prOvid with The ST q MS, both large and sa.aD
assisted ~ their fleets ond laortars.
Our fort t'aions il the shape .! crescent, and
extend seu5i circle OF about miles in dame1er
around Port Huds n. The Yankees have planted
large qa1nfy of artillery at all points arouud and have
q crOsy--Ges, dCuhe crOsS-fre On all paris Of our
army. From the river to their own lire there is
scarcely spot that has been struck with artillery
and III nnie balls, and as Wri:e tie shells failing in
every direction. he camp O regiment has been
in very place. but tlt, nearly all at
the breastworks casualties have occurred rJu these
stray Shots
We can hold Port Hudson as long IS our supplies
h0d ou'. We have enough last us five or six weeks
yet, and by that time will certainly be reinforced by
Gen Johnston. l do not know anything OF the stua.
ton OF nairs any portion OF the Contderacy, but
FIRMLY believe that situation is surely known, aud
that will fish and hope on, and if at last
should be overpowered will cheerul!y submit 10
great MISFORTUNE Satisfied that Gen. Gardner and hs
little Spartan baGd have done all that determined hearts
could do aud that tie defenders OF Port Hudson will
eceive the well done plaudits of its countrymen No
place during this struggle has been b.sieged Port
II udson has and is, still the army is good spr
ts and hope the best, and will fight To the last We
lave go deal OF sickness in the regiment, mostly
,hls and fever, but the general health is improving.
Our entire loss thus fan has been about 400 in ALL
The following is list Of the casualties in the lst Ala
,ama
Killed 80 ; wounded A total &c, up to June lO,h,
1868.