June 5th. Slight firing heard at Port Hudson, from twelve, midnight, until two o’clock A. M.; at four A. M. firing again heard at Port Hudson. Nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of this day, although our army in the rear of and fleet below Port Hudson, engaged with the enemy. Having the range of their batteries, our forces, army and naval, have made some splendid shots this day, hitting their target and plowing up the earth around every time. Our mortar schooners must be a source of great annoyance to the enemy, both night and day, since they are continually at work practicing upon their mark, and seldom fail in hitting same, or coming so near to it, that it can be anything but agreeable to the parties who have to stand and take it, and are holding out so long at Port Hudson, I mean the rebs. They pass many sleepless nights, I can assure you, with these missiles of destruction, the shell of the bombers, flying over their heads, sometimes exploding in the air, other times on terra firma, close at their feet.
