Dear Minerva

     I must again announce to you that Vicksburg is not taken. But the Seige still goes on. When it will terminate is of course still uncertain. But as I regard the fall as certain Either by storm or by Exhaustion we are nearer the time than at any previous time. We still have information that supplies are near Exhausted This I doant doubt and if a Rebel force does not reach us in the rear the Entre place with all that are in it must fall into our hand at an Early day. I think that it is the impression that an Effort is being made for the relief of Vicksburg. But I donot think it possible to defeat the taking of the place. We have lately had accessions of strength from Arkansaw and other places. I doant know the number of reinforcements that have arived but it is considerable. Twenty two transports came loaded at one time about five days ago Our Generals are Evidently prepareing to resist a force from the outside if it should come Then if Bragg should attempt to relieve

the place with his army Rosecrans with a portion of his army would follow and make the affair around Vicksburg one of the utmost importance which would decide the fate of the Cotton states and materially affect the Existance of the Confederacy. But I am not of the opinion Myself that Bragg will attempt the relief of the place with his army But I am of the opinion that Johnson [i.e., General Joseph E. Johnston] is collecting together such forces as he can get from Charleston Mobile and other places. And if he gets Enough to give him a hope of accomplishing anything he will make the attempt. But this is all speculation and it may be the wildest of speculation at that. Let it be as it may I doant permit myself to harbor a doubt but that Vicksburg will fall and that any forces that attempt to relieve it will be defeated and driven back. The City is now very closely invested Our pickets are in places almost at the Rebel works. Where they are farther off they are advancing Every few days. There is a constant cannonading going on from our Battries but rearely replied to by the Rebels Our sharp shooters two are very vigelent If a Reb puts his head above his brest works a dozen muskets are instantly fired at him. But in this respect our men also received attentions from them

     We have changed our camp from the hollow we were in when I wrote to you last. We are now a little farther from the left the Extreme of which our Regt ocupied We are also a little farther from the Reb Battries and on Elevated ground I have been sitting in my Tent this Evening and watching the bursting of shells in the air over the City. The Shell are thrown by the Gun and mortar Boats. Many of them burst very high up
     I took cold a few days ago during a rainy spell of weather we had which has anoyed me a good deal With that Exception I feel quite comfortable. I thing it will leave me now soon I am having living now that seems well adopted to my condition I am confining myself almost Exclusively to milk and mush. We have plenty of both. We are milking three cows and have let some of our friends have some
     The health of the troops is as good as could be Expected. We have had some quite hot weather but it is pleasant today
     I get letters but seldom from you Wrote often No more tonight
     Remember me to all

Your affectionate Husband
George Thomas

June 17" 1863

     Fireing is quite heavy on our left this morning
     I forgot to tell you that Robert Partridge [i.e., Pvt. Robert H. Partridge, Co. E, 23rd Indiana Infantry] a brother of William Partridge [Corp. William L. Partridge, Co. K, 25th Indiana Infantry] was killed in the 23rd Ind Regt a few days ago He was killed by a shell from one of our own guns. It was a premature Explosion from some defect in the fuse

G T.