June 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
JACKSON, MISS., June 18. – For the first time in four days, heavy firing was heard at Vicksburg this morning. The latest accounts represent GRANT’S army to be busy fortifying and cutting down trees beyond the Big Black to impede the movements of JOHNSTON. Great distress prevails amongst our citizens inside the enemy’s lines, the Yankees having robbed them of all their provisions. Numbers of them are said to be in a starving condition.
Numerous couriers from Vicksburg who have arrived within the last few days, report nothing new, except that GRANT’S sappers and miners are at work endeavoring to blow up our fortifications.
Official despatches from Milliken’s Bend state that our attack upon that place was a failure. The enemy had three lines of works. Having been driven out of two of them, he made a desperate stand at the third, and with the assistance of the gunboats, repelled our forces. Nothing is known outside of official circles regarding the movements of KIRBY SMITH. Advices from Memphis state that the transports, crowded with wounded, were still arriving there from Vicksburg.
Officers from Port Hudson report that our forces there are all safe and in good spirits. They are provisioned for three months. The enemy has made twenty seven assaults and lost 5000 men. Our loss, so far, about 300. A courier arrived from Port Hudson last night bringing despatches to General JOHNSTON. The garrison is stated to be in fine condition. BANKS’ force was estimated to number 20,000 men. He also has abandoned the idea of storming the place, and has gone to ditching.