38 THE SIEGE OF VK KSBIKG. that there was no chance of such a thing occurring : " Oh, we know that you cannot hold out longer than two months at furthest." On our remarking that we could hold out until Johnston advanced to our relief, they observed that we were depending on a broken reed, as they were well aware of the strength of our forces under Johnston, and they knew he had not men enough to. attack them with; besides, said they, " we are looking for reinforcements dmly, and they will arrive long before Johnston can organize an army, even if he intends doing so. Our reinforcements, with the aid of the Big Black river, will be ample to hold him in check until you are starved out." As soon as the time agreed upon for a cessation of hostilities had expired, the enemy renewed their artillery firing and sharpshooting, but in a very feeble manner. The mortars on the peninsula in front of the city kept up a heavy tire, throwing their shells to the rear of our works, and by that way cross their fire with that of the besieging army in the rear. The usual amount of* firing continued on Tuesday, with little or no loss to the garrison, which by this time had become perfectly indifferent to the missiles falling continually around them. They had become so used to the shells bursting areund them, that they were made rather a subject of jest than of fear. The only missiles from which they apprehended danger, were the hundreds of Minie balls constantly whizzing past them. About this period the first courier that managed to elude the Federal army entered Vicksburg with dispatches from General Joseph E. Johnston to General Pemberton. On the receipt of the dispatch a circular was issued by the Lieutenant General commanding, giving a synopsis of the news, which was to the effect that "General Johnston was at Canton, Mississippi, with an organizing force;" that "lie requested the Lieutenant General to hold out as long as he could, tfec." It was also stated in the circular that a portion of General Bragg's army was ordered to General Johnston, and that they were then moving towards Jackson, Mississippi. The circular also gave our forces the first intelligence they had,*from Southern sources, of the capture of Winchester by Lieutenant General Ewell, and the invasion of Pennsylvania. As might be supposed, the receipt of this intelligence, with the hope of relief that it held out, lent new vigor to the garrison, and although they had already been reduced to quarter rations, they were cheerful, and evinced a fresh determination to hold the works until the siege could be raised by Johnston. The firing from the peninsula on the city had perceptibly increased ; eight mortars and siege guns were now playing on Vicksburg ; the enemy had erected strong breastworks in front of our line in the rear of the city, and had brought a large number of guns to bear upon us, while the bombardment and sharpshooting continued unceasingly.