In this letter, John describes the battle of Vicksburg. The battle took place between May and July 1863 and most historians agree that the Union side's victory was a turning point in the civil war. John apologises for not writing more often but says that he has been fighting for ten days in front of the walls of Vicksburg. He has hurt one of his fingers but feels lucky that this is his only injury. Many lives have been lost and the rebels have offered to give the place up if three captured men are returned. But John writes that their side has replied that it is 'all or nothing'. General Logon has dug a tunnel underneath one of the enemy forts and everything is ready for it to be blown up. Another is almost ready to be destroyed. Some of John's Welsh friends have returned to the ranks and he is glad of this although he says that only he and J. W. Jones have faced the rebels through the 'fire and water' and have lain, many a night, on their guns beneath the rebels. He says that there are three or four regiments of black soldiers being drilled and that they are learning excellently. They are called the Mississippi Federals. He once again advises every lad under the age of eighteen to stay at home because he believes this to be hard enough work for strong men and he has seen many young ones lying in heaps on the ground.

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