hannock_!

This is a dark and gloomy day, spitting snow; while not a few are
despondent from the recent disasters to our arms. It is supposed that we
lost 3000 or 4000 men on Saturday. A day or two before, Gen. Echols had
his brigade cut up at Lewisburg! _Per contra_, Brig.-Gen. W. E. Jones
captured, on Saturday, at Rogerville, 850 prisoners, 4 pieces of
artillery, 2 stands of colors, 60 wagons, and 1000 animals. Our loss, 2
killed and 8 wounded. So reads a dispatch from "R. Ransom, Major-Gen."

There is some excitement in the city now, perhaps more than at any
former period. The disaster to the "Old Guard" has put in the mouths of
the croakers the famous words of Napoleon at Waterloo: "_Sauve qui
peut._" We have out our last reserves, and the enemy still advances.
They are advancing on North Carolina, and there was some danger of the
President being intercepted at Weldon. Thousands believe that Gen. Bragg
is about to retire from before Grant's army at Chattanooga. And to-day
bread is selling at 50 cents per loaf--small loaf!

And now the Assistant Secretary of War, Judge Campbell, is "allowing"
men to pass to Maryland, through our lines. First, is a Rev. Mr. A. S.
Sloat, a chaplain in the army. He was degraded for some offense by his
own church, and his wife and children having preceded him (all being
Northern born), as stated in his letter on file, he is allowed a
passport to follow them. Recommended by Mr. S. R. Tucker. Second, Mr.
J. L. White and Mr. Forrester are "allowed" passports to go to Maryland
for ordnance stores. Recommended by Col. Gorgas. Third and lastly, "Tom
Wash. Smith" is "allowed," by the Assistant Secretary, to take fifteen
boxes of tobacco to Maryland, and promises to bring back "medical
stores." Recommended by B. G. Williams, one of Gen. Winder's detectives,
and by Capt. Winder, one of the general's sons. They bring in stores,
when they return, in saddle-bags, while whole cargoes are landed at
Wilmington!

NOVEMBER 10TH.--It is supposed our loss in the surprise on Saturday did
not exceed 1500, killed, wounded, and taken. It is thought that a battle
will occur immediately, if it be not already in progress.

There is no news of moment from any quarter, except the loss of our
steamer Cornubia, taken by the blockaders at Wilmington. She was laden
with government stores. For months nearly all ships with arms or
ammunition have been taken, while those having _merchandise on board get
in safely_. _