Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-14
Frorn tho Mobile Advertiser.
From the Mobile Adveftser.l
SIEGE OF yICKSBCRG-BATTL OF
BAKERS CREEK AND BIG BLAeh.
Notes By one Of the Garrtso"

NO. III.
June l.-Mortars firing slowl y to-day; dull
firing on our rear line.
june 5.-Nothing OF general interest to
note to-day. Two weeks slnce investment.
| June .. Heavy firing to-day from the che
1nys field artillery, gunboats and mortar
boats. Fifteen drivers from StcvensonS d.
vision deserted last night. Nothing definite
from Johnston. His guns will be listened for
by Sunday next Euemy's plckets report
that they have captured about ten OF Gen Johns-
toms messengers, each one with percussion
caps, of when we ore very deicient-so much
So that orders have been issued forbiddinS our
i men TO fire unless upon advancing column
| 1t will be no wonder if the enemy work up
close to U.s. Our boys, however, lire whenev-
or they can do execution. Meul, composed OF
corn and peas, IL now being issued. IL IL
miserable mixture and has mads many vi the
men SICK The peas will not. cook Us last Us
the corn, aud wien the meal Of the later Is
DONE" that OF the former IS unit Tor USE
They seem to mix about as well as OIL and Wa
ter The economist" who suggested the ex'
pertinent ought to have leather medal pre-
scented him by the soldiers. lie has been the
subject OF many an ineiegant imprecatlen.-
Oar men generally III good spirits. Weather
thus far quite favorable. Enemy's sharp,
shooters have resumed with Yigor to-day.
June 4.-Nothing special to note; about
the usual firing.
June 5.-Murtars have been silent to-day
tho usual firing along the rear line. Nothing
from Johnston. Where is he? is the grand
query. Some positively assert that he Is not
III the State.
June 6.-Mortars have been quiet again
to-day; dull firing all round. " Gather ex-
trcnely warn-Iust in abundance. THIS
weather is-severe on our boys in the trenches,
who cannot be relieved" until the siege is
over. Nothing from Johnston.
June The mortars have been so quiet
for the pust few days that many families
emerged from their caves, and began TO- settle
down ~ their local habitations once more !;
when 10. Ut al curly hour this morning
they turned loose with usual vim upon the
city. Fair Indies and timd men NJ once tied
to their hiding places. There are not lew
Officers, in the shape of A. Z. SIS, and \.
to dwell in their caves. 1t may be prudence,
but it don't look solderly. Firing heard
this morning in the direction Of Mllliken's
Bend. Nothing from Gen. johnston.
June S.--This Is the day set apart by some
aof our sage people for the hearing Of john
ston's guns-but not IN echo? Another week
must roll around before we have positive EVIL
deuce Of his presence in this vicinity. Plenty
Of rumors atlUnt but they are not worth no
ticing. The firing in front and rear has been
very spirited to-day. 1t is stated that we have
provisions for at least three more weeks. The
pe~-bread bobby has exploded. and the troops
are getting their peas and corn meal separate
Our supply of fresh beef is exhausted. and We
shall indulge in the luxury Of mutton for q
few days. Then will come the reserve supply
Of bacon, mule meat, dcgs, cats, DC. Our gall
liant boys have been three weeks in the trenches
to-day. The hope of the army IL now turning
from Gen. Johnston to Providence. Had We
the supply Of ammunition and provisions
which ordinary forethought would have pro-
vided, the place would be imprcgnable against
the whole Yankee nation. Ii it falls, want Of
percussion caps will be one Of the grand
causes. The commanding General may hayc
made efforts to get them. a Court OF lnqui-
~" muy solve the why's and wheretores of the
present state of affairs, but it cannot now at-
ford VI relief Well, if IL man undertakes to
botch thing he should do it effectually.
June 9.--About the usual firing to-day. \
she'll fell through the main City Hospital last
night, woundIng surgeon and several pa
tients. The sick and wounded are being con-
centrated to-day in the South part Of the city.
The Washington hotel however, will be con-
;inued as hospital.
June lO.-There are in the various hospitals
to- day, according TO official reports, 3,51l sick
aud wounded soldiers. The surgeons, so far
as have been able to observe, are attentive TO
their business the hospitals with one or two
exceptions, are kept in good order. Some oil
tho army chaplains arc making themselves
VERY useful among the sick, conspicuous among
whom is the Rev. Thomas X. Markham. lie
is certainly one Of the good Samaritans Of the
siege. The tind conduct Of some ministers
sho have come under my notice, is disgrace
70 their profession. Now is the time for the
exhibition of Christian courage-the time
that the faithful preacher could do good
HEAVY rains to-day and much needed. Moth
ing from Johnston-not even u rumor.
June ll.-There are rumors atiout to-day,
about the capture of Helena by Price, and the
appearance of IN English fleet at the mouth
Of the Mississippi-both two good to be true.
About the usual firing to-day. Nothing from
Johnston.
Juue ia courier. ID. q. Walker, Of
Johnson's cavalry, arrived this morning from
Gen. Johnston, having left Jackson on the
It'll. lie came cia the swamp south OF War
renton and wus fired upon by our pickets as
he came up the river on his plank lie brings
20, 900 percussion caps, dispatches, Of course,
and copies Of the Mississippian as late a. the
It'll. The issue of May 9th contains IN arti-
Gle Mandatory fGen. Pemberton, land attributes
10 him bombastic speech lie never uttered,
but for which, no doubt, the gullible dear peo-
pie outside will give him free credit
have no doubt General Pcmberton will be
as ready us any of US to test the starvation
question before he surrenders. The courier
was very properly indisposcd to be communi-
catire 81 to General Johnston's movements
| inferred, however that it would be ut least
two weeks before Johnston would make de-
cded demonstration in our behalf. Too much
depends upon the issue for hasty movement.
All may yet be well. Many amusing CONVEX
satons take place nightly between the rcspec-
tive pickets: Those of the enemy have much
to say about our pea bread and scarcity of per
cussion caps. On some parts of the line, the
picketS appear to be on good terms. In front
of Cummings brigade, however, they shoot
each other As often as possible. About the
usual firing to-day. Have heard of mortar
shell penetrating the earth so deep, near Maj
Dyers Commissary quarters, as to reach
copious spring Of water-a new way of making
art"sian wells.
Juno l2.-BrisS firing this morning; dull
this evening Tho Citizen" Office published
four-colulnn slip to-day, on. wall paper
giving some encouraging paragraphs from
late Federal papers. one admitting Il loss Of
Is 700 killed outright in front of our works
on the 22d ultimo. Our mortar has been
moved from the right of line to the Jackson
road, and has already disturbed the opera
tons of q columbiad which has somewhat an
moved us at that point.
June 1.-two couriers arrived this morn
ing, bringing 100000 percussion caps, and
dispatches from Gen. Johnston. Having left
Gen. Johnston two weeks since. their des-
matches cannot be important. They came via