s army, and for the cause! I am reluctant to
attribute the weakness of personal pique or professional jealousy to
----; yet I still hope that events will speedily prove that Bragg's plan
was the best, and that he had really adopted and advised to the wisest
course.

OCTOBER 9TH.--From the West we have only unreliable reports of
movements, etc.; but something definite and decisive must occur shortly.

Gen. Lee's army crossed the Rapidan yesterday, and a battle may be
looked for in that direction any day. It is said Meade has only 40,000
or 50,000 men; and, if this be so, Lee is strong enough to assume the
offensive.

To-morrow the departments will be closed for a review of the clerks,
etc., a piece of nonsense, as civil officers are under no obligation to
march except to fight, when the city is menaced.

The mechanics and non-producers have made a unanimous call (in placards)
for a mass meeting at the City Hall to-morrow evening. The ostensible
object is to instruct Mr. Randolph and other members of the Legislature
(now in session) to vote for the bill, fixing maximum prices of
commodities essential to life, or else to resign. Mr. Randolph has said
he would not vote for it, unless so instructed to do. It is apprehended
that these men, or the authors of the movement, have ulterior objects in
view; and as some ten or twelve hundred of them belong to the militia,
and have muskets in their possession, mischief may grow out of it. Mr.
Secretary Seddon ought to act at once on the plan suggested for the sale
of the perishable tithes, since the government is blamed very much, and
perhaps very justly, for preventing transportation of meat and bread to
the city, or for impressing it in transitu.

Capt. Warner, who feeds the prisoners of war, and who is my good "friend
in need," sent me yesterday 20 odd pounds of bacon sides at the
government price. This is not exactly according to law and order, but
the government loses nothing, and my family have a substitute for
butter.

OCTOBER 10TH.--The enemy is undoubtedly falling back on the
Rappahannock, and our army is pursuing. We have about 40,000 in Lee's
army, and it is reported that Meade has 50,000, of whom many are
conscripts, altogether unreliable. We may look for stirring news soon.

About 2500 of the "local" troops were reviewed to-day. The companies
were not more than half filled; so, in an emergency, we could raise 5000
fighting men, at a moment's warning, for the defe