t out, or to keep out, and there are not poor men
enough to win our independence. All, with very few exceptions, between
the ages of 18 and 45, must fight for freedom, else we may not win it.

NOVEMBER 30TH.--It is clear and cold. The boat in which my son and the
battalion of clerks went down the river yesterday, sunk, from being
overloaded, just as it got to the landing. It is said some of the boys
had to wade ashore; but none were lost--thank God!

This morning early, Lee and Meade confronted each other in battle array,
and no one doubts a battle is in progress to-day this side of the
Rapidan. Lee is outnumbered some two to one, but Meade has a swollen
river in his rear. It is an awful moment.

I took my remaining son to the office this morning, to aid me in
Custis's absence.

At night. Nothing has yet been heard from the battle, if indeed it
occurred to-day. It is said that Meade is _ordered_ to fight. They know
at Washington it is too late in the season, in the event of Meade's
defeat, for Lee to menace that city, or to invade Pennsylvania. It is a
desperate effort to crush the "rebellion," as they suppose, by advancing
all their armies. And indeed it seems that Meade is quite as near to
Richmond as Lee; for he seems to be below the latter on the
Rappahannock, with his back to Fredericksburg, and Lee's face toward it.
If Meade should gain the victory, he might possibly cut off Lee from
this city. Nevertheless, these positions are the result of Lee's
manoeuvres, and it is to be supposed he understands his business. He
has no fear of Meade's advance in this direction with his communications
cut behind him.

Captain Warner has sold me two pieces of bacon again, out of his own
smoke-house, at $1 per pound, while it is selling in the market at $3.50
per pound--and he has given us another bushel of sweet potatoes. Had it
not been for this kind friend, my little revenue would not have sufficed
for subsistence.

While the soldiers are famishing for food, what is called "red tapeism"
prevents the consummation of contracts to supply them. Captains
Montgomery and Leathers, old steamboat captains, with ample capital, and
owning the only steamboats in certain waters of Florida, have just
proposed to furnish the government with a million pounds salt beef, on
the main line of railroad in Florida, at a reduced price. The cattle are
exposed to incursions of the enemy, and have to be transported by
steamboats. They endeavored