There was more in the letter, but it was strictly personal to Dick,
and it closed with her heartfelt prayer that God, who had led him safely
so far, would lead him safely through all.

After reading it several times he put it in a hidden pocket. Soldiers
did not receive many letters and they always treasured them. Ah, his
dear, beautiful young mother! How could anyone ever harm her! Yet the
thought of Skelly and his outlaws made him uneasy. He hoped that the
Union garrison would remain in Pendleton permanently.

His mind was soon compelled to turn back to the siege. They were digging
trenches and creeping closer and closer. Warner had made no mistake
in his mathematics. The army and the people in Vicksburg had begun to
suffer from a lack of food. They were down to half rations. They had
neither tea nor coffee, and medicines were exhausted. Many and many a
time they looked forth from their hills and prayed for Johnston, but he
could not come. Always the Union flag floated before them, and the ring
of steel so strong and broad was contracting inch by inch.

The Northern engineers ran mines under the Confederate works. They used
every device of ingenious minds to push the siege. Spies brought word
that all food would soon be gone in Vicksburg, and Grant, grim of purpose,
took another hitch in the steel belt about the hopeless town. The
hostile earthworks and trenches were now so near that the men could hear
one another talking. Sometimes in a lull of the firing they would come
out and exchange tobacco or news. It was impossible for the officers to
prevent it, and they really did not seek to do so, as the men fought just
as well when they returned to their works.

June now drew to a close and the great heats of July were at hand.