d. It is said also that a mulatto boy, a
servant of one of the Confederate captains, and, of course, a prisoner
of war, who was well known to have a pass to go anywhere within the
lines, was walking inside the guard limits about a day after the above
occurrence, when the guard commanded him to halt. He did not stop, and
was instantly killed by a bullet.

"It is also charged that, at the time the discovery was made of an
attempt on the part of some of the prisoners to escape, a party of three
or four hundred was huddled together and surrounded by a guard; that one
of them was pushed by a comrade and fell to the ground, and that
instantly the unfortunate man was shot, and that three or four others
were wounded. It is further stated that it is no uncommon thing for a
soldier to fire on the barracks without any provocation whatever, and
that two men were thus shot while sleeping in their bunks a week or two
ago, no inquiry being made into the matter. No court-martial has been
held, no arrest has been made, though within the past month ten or
twelve of the prisoners have been thus put out of the way. Another
instance need only be given: one of the prisoners asked the guard for a
chew of tobacco, and he received the bayonet in his breast without a
word."

JANUARY 15TH.--We have no news. But there is a feverish anxiety in the
city on the question of subsistence, and there is fear of an outbreak.
Congress is in secret session on the subject of the currency, and the
new Conscription bill. The press generally is opposed to calling out all
men of fighting age, which they say would interfere with the freedom of
the press, and would be unconstitutional.

JANUARY 16TH.--General good spirits prevail since Northern arrivals show
that the House of Representatives at Washington has passed a resolution
that 1,000,000 men, including members of Congress under 50, volunteer to
deliver the prisoners of war out of our hands. This produces a general
smile, as indicative of the exhaustion of the available military force
of the United States--and all believe it to be the merest bravado and
unmitigated humbug. Every preparation will be made by the Confederate
States Government for the most stupendous campaign of the war.

There are indications of disorganization (political) in North
Carolina--but it is too late. The Confederate States Executive is too
strong, so long as Congress remains obedient, for any formidable
demonstration of that charac