Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[169] the city. It was decidedly uncomfortable under this state of affairs to be in any part of the city. The shelling was quite severe about six o'clock in the morning, but became more moderate as the day advanced.

Tuesday, June 16.--This morning presented the same spectacle as the foregoing day, and an unusual number of small shells and solid shot were picked up all over town, showing that the Federals had been busy at work during the night. The tumult continued through the day as usual, without any material change. One mortar had dropped further down the river, toward our upper batteries, and the front part of the city was being visited by shells more frequently than agreeably.

Wednesday, June 17.--Heavy firing on the lines, and the air vocal with the reports of cannon, and whistling of missiles was the remarkable feature of this morning. In the evening there was a brisk engagement between some of the batteries on the right wing. The sharp-shooters also commenced their occupation, created considerable noise, and lasted about one hour.

Thursday, June 18.--Parrott guns, which had been planted behind the timber on the peninsula opposite, opened on the city. The shells from these guns were much more dreaded than the bomb-shells from the mortars. The latter remained silent in the morning, but opened again in the afternoon with more energy than ever. Minie balls from the lines also came into the city and wounded some of the citizens. In the night there was heavy artillery firing on the lines, but the mortars did not operate very actively.

Friday, June 19.--The morning opened with the same old story of shells, shells in all directions-shells everywhere. The Parrott guns were most engaged in shelling the Catholic church, and nine small shells entered the building on this day. From the position which the batteries held they appeared to have a cross and an enfilading fire over the whole city. As usual, the shelling was much more serious at night than in daytime.

Saturday, June 20.--This morning the furies seem to have broken loose on the Federal lines. The shells came with a fiendish rapidity, and the air was so full of the missiles that the unbroken stream of their music drowned the sound of the guns from which they were fired. About three hours did this furious assault continue, but afterward ceased, and the lines became quiet for the remainder of the day.

Sunday, June 21.--On this morning there was quite an unusual relief from the daily annoyance, and the shelling was not so heavy as on the three or four days previous. Some light artillery firing took place on the lines early in the morning, and sharp-shooters were also engaged at their works. Information had been received during the night from General Joseph E. Johnston, and great hopes were entertained that he would come to the relief of the beleaguered city. Public worship was had in the different churches, and but little annoyance was experienced.

Monday, June 22.--Again does a bright and smiling morning open without the terrible accompaniment of bombshells. But little artillery was heard on the lines, and the sharp-shooters did not excite much attention, though the popping of their guns was incessant. The mortars had remained almost totally silent for the past two days. Only an occasional shot warned the people of their continued presence. The day was passed without any unusual interruption of its prevailing quiet, and nothing indicative of any approaching storm was apparent. Early in the night there was an extraordinary uproar among the Federals on their extreme right, but without any apparent cause.

Tuesday, June 23.--On this morning the citizens were treated to a spell of very heavy cannonading, which lasted for several hours, but ceased as the sun began to show his face, and during the remainder of the day but little firing was heard. Only an occasional spell of artillery and slight skirmish among the sharp-shooters was all that could be heard. The day was very hot, and the mortars did not operate. These have now maintained their silence for nearly three days. Later in the day the Parrott guns on the peninsula again raked the city, and were intolerably annoying and dangerous. At ten P. M., the mortars again opened with great severity, and simultaneously with it the fire on the lines was opened by the enemy, and a charge was made.

Wednesday, June 24.--This morning opened with a continuation of mortar-shells and Parrott firing. The former were thrown mostly over the city, and the latter also went to the further end. The elements threatened rain in the morning, and but little was heard of small arms. During the day the artillery practice became brisk, both along the lines and from across the river. The mortars played with great energy, as did also the Parrott guns from the land batteries. The gunboats below took part in the work, and there was regular, continuous, and heavy cannonading all day, but in the night it became quiet.

Thursday, June 25.--This morning was ushered in by the sharp cracking of small arms and the roar of the mortar-shells as they seemed to be chasing each other over the city. A beautiful morning it was to behold the work of strife and death going on, but the serene and lovely skies had no effect in quelling the angry tumult. The gunboats below were busy shelling the lower works. At five P. M. a terrible artillery assault was made on the right wing, and the air was filled with the noise of the thundering cannon for about one hour, after which quiet was again restored.

Friday morning, June 26.--On this morning there appeared to be no disposition to disturb the repose of nature. An occasional shell from the mortars, accompanied by the Parrotts, was hurled into the city from across the river. The riflemen on the opposite bank also were engaged in shooting over, and succeeded in driving away the teams which were hauling water from the river. During the night every thing remained quiet.