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                                              (top of page reads "Hattie M. Long" in different ink and penmanship than the reset of the page)

stretched upon some little pigs stuck in the earth. Drew an abundance of rations such as _____ bread, bacon, Lincoln coffee, potatoes this evening. _________ loss reported to be sight seen thousand at Vicksburg since Monday last. Very heavy firing between our batteries and the Federal gunboats this evening. One gunboat reported sunk by our batteries.

May 23rd Federals resumed the bombardment of the "urbs in collem" about 12 o'clock last night and continued all night. O devoted city, our faith in thee is unshaken. Not we, but thee God of battles is thy strength and will bring the deliverance and utterly demolish thy besieging foe. The prisoners generally are in good spirits and hold their heads high and look defiantly into the face of the Yankees. Some, however, are despondent and are looking around for the officer that issues the oath. These belong to the class known as conscripts.