the Commissary-General has been suggesting that
he (the general) should impress supplies for his army. This the general
deprecates, and suggests that if supplies cannot be purchased, they
should be impressed by the agents of the Commissary Department; and that
the burden should be laid on the farmers equally, in all the States.
Gen. Lee does not covet the odium. But it is plain, now, that the
extortionate farmers, who were willing to see us non-producing people
starve, unless we paid them ten prices for their surplus products, will
be likely to get only the comparatively low schedule price fixed by the
government. Instead of $20 per bushel for potatoes, they will receive
only $2 or $3. This will be a good enough maximum law. But the
government _must_ sell to us at cost, or I know not what may be the
consequences.

NOVEMBER 25TH.--We have an unintelligible dispatch from Gen. Bragg,
saying he had, yesterday, a prolonged contest with the enemy for the
possession of Lookout Mountain, during which one of his divisions
suffered severely, and that the manoeuvring of the hostile army was
for position. This was the purport, and the language, as well as I
remember. There is no indication of the probable result--no intimation
whether the position was gained. But the belief is general that Bragg
will retreat, and that the enemy may, if he will, penetrate the heart of
the South! To us it _seems_ as if Bragg has been in a fog ever since the
battle of the 20th of September. He refused to permit ---- to move on
the enemy's left for nearly two months, and finally consented to it when
the enemy had been reinforced by 30,000 from Meade, and by Sherman's
army from Memphis, of 20,000, just when he could not spare a large
detachment! In other words, lying inert before a defeated army, when
concentrated; and dispersing his forces when the enemy was reinforced
and concentrated! If disaster ensues, the government will suffer the
terrible consequences, for it assumed the responsibility of retaining
him in command when the whole country (as the press says) demanded his
removal.

From letters received the last few days at the department, I perceive
that the agents of the government are impressing everywhere--horses,
wagons, hogs, cattle, grain, potatoes, etc. etc.--leaving the farmers
only enough for their own subsistence. This will insure subsistence for
the army, and I hope it will be a death-blow to speculation, as
government pays less than o