companies of the enemy's
cavalry, a day or two since, near Culpepper Court House. And Gen.
Wheeler has captured several hundred of the enemy in East Tennessee,
driving the rest into the fortifications of Knoxville. Gen. Longstreet,
at last accounts, was near Knoxville with the infantry. We shall not be
long kept in suspense--as Longstreet will not delay his action; and
Burnside may find himself in a "predicament."

A private soldier writes the Secretary to-day that his mother is in
danger of starving--as she failed to get flour in Richmond, at $100 per
barrel. He says if the government has no remedy for this, he and his
comrades will throw down their arms and fly to some other country with
their families, where a subsistence may be obtained.

Every night robberies of poultry, salt meats, and even of cows and hogs
are occurring. Many are desperate.

NOVEMBER 21ST.--We have further reports from the West, confirming the
success of Longstreet. It is said he has taken 2200 prisoners, and is
probably at Knoxville.

The President left the city this morning for Orange Court House, on a
visit to Gen. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.

We are a shabby-looking people now--gaunt, and many in rags. But there
is food enough, and cloth enough, if we had a Roman Dictator to order an
equitable distribution.

The Secretary of War is destined to have an uncomfortable time. After
assuring the Legislature and the people that provisions in _transitu_
would not be impressed, it is ascertained that the agents of the
Commissary-General are impressing such supplies, and the Secretary is
reluctant to interfere, the Commissary-General being understood to have
the support of the President.

A committee of the Grand Jury yesterday submitted a paper to the
President, on the subject of provisions--indicating the proximity of
famine, and deprecating impressments. The President sent it to the
Secretary, saying Mr. Seddon would no doubt take measures to keep the
people of Richmond from starving; and directing the Secretary to
"confer" with him. But to-day he is off to the army, and perhaps some
may starve before any relief can be afforded.

A genteel suit of clothes cannot be had now for less than $700. A pair
of boots, $200--if good. I saw to-day, suspended from a window, an
opossum dressed for cooking, with a card in its mouth, marked "price,
$10." It weighed about four pounds. I luxuriated on parsnips to-day,
from my own little garden.