He had represented to Admiral Porter that he had belonged to the Federal army, and had been wounded, as before stated, and discharged, and had succeeded in getting permission from him to fish in the river and visit his lines at all hours of the night. He had managed to make himself a favorite at the picket-post near the river, and his frequent visits to his lines near the post, at all hours of the day and night, had ceased to excite any suspicion whatever. The fisherman would take the dispatches, and at night, while visiting his lines, pass the pickets, and carry them to the rebel pickets and then return. In the same channel, General Pemberton's dispatches went out. How long communication had been kept up in that way I did not learn. After having drank the most of the whisky, we returned to the landing and separated. I went to the Provost-marshal, and told him that there was one of General Johnston's spies there, and requested him to send some guards and arrest him. "Are you a soldier?" he inquired. "Yes!" "Where did you come from?" "Admiral Porter's flag-ship." "Have you got a pass?" "Yes!" "Let me see it." I handed it to him, and he commenced reading, "Lorain Ruggles, a citizen of the South"--"You go to h--l!" he exclaimed. "_You a'n't any better than the rest of them!_" I went out and found that the Frenchman was just stepping on board the dispatch-boat Diligent, and in a moment more the boat was under way for Snyder's Bluff. I reported to General Grant the information that I had received, and then asked him if I might kill the spy wherever I found him. He told me to do with him just as I thought proper, under the circumstances, and that the military authorities should not hurt me for it. In two days after, the colored boy was captured, and a dispatch from General Johnston found on his person. About the same time the fishing arrangement at the river was broken up. I can also assure the reader that the little Frenchman, though never arrested, will never buy any more Confederate money nor carry any more rebel dispatches. CHAPTER XXIII. Sent for by General Grant--Instructions--Crosses Black River--Is captured by rebel cavalry--Sent to General DeVieu--The interview--Passes as Johnston's spy--The attempt to escape--The pursuit--Fired at by Federal pickets--Again fired at by the enemy--The pursuers driven back--Again fired at by Federal pickets--The alarm--Reports to General Osterhaus--Reports to General Grant. While the siege was progressing, General Johnston was engaged in concentrating a large Confederate force, to attack General Grant in the rear and force him to raise the siege of Vicksburg, and thereby relieve General Pemberton and his forces.