They heard that Johnston had gathered together twenty-five thousand men
and was at last marching to the relief of the town. Dick believed that
Grant must have laughed one of his grimmest laughs. They knew that
Johnston's men were worn and half-starved, and had been harassed by other
Union troops. Johnston was skillful, but he would only be a lean and
hungry wolf attacking a grizzly bear. He was sure that all danger from
him had passed.
Now, as they closed in the Northern guns increased their fire. It seemed
to Dick that they could have blown away the whole plateau of Vicksburg by
this time. The storm of shells raked the town, and he was glad that the
people had been able to dig caves for refuge. Colonel Woodville must
be doing some of his greatest swearing now. Dick thought of him with
sympathy and friendliness.
"I don't think it can last much longer, Mr. Mason," said Sergeant Daniel
Whitley on the morning of the second of July. "Their guns don't answer
ours often and it means that they're out of ammunition, or almost.
Besides, you can stand shells and bullets easier than lack of food.
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