o proceed in the
matter. Gen. Holmes is rendered unfit, by broken health, for the command
of a Western Department, and his conviction at this time would neither
benefit the cause nor aid Lieut.-Col. Musser in his aspirations. It is
true he had my nephew tried for disobedience of orders; but he was
honorably acquitted. Missouri will some day rise like a giant, and deal
death and destruction on her oppressors.

Col. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, says the enemy have taken more guns from
us than we from them--exclusive of siege artillery--but I don't think
so.

Our people are becoming more hopeful since we have achieved some
successes. The enemy cannot get men again except by dragging them out,
unless they should go to war with France--a not improbable event.

FEBRUARY 10TH.--Gen. Lee wrote to the Secretary of War, on the 22d of
January, that his army was not fed well enough to fit them for the
exertions of the spring campaign; and recommended the discontinuance of
the rule of the Commissary-General allowing officers at Richmond,
Petersburg, and many other towns, to purchase government meat, etc. etc.
for the subsistence of their families, at schedule prices. He says the
salaries of these officers ought to be sufficient compensation for their
services; that such allowances deprived the officers and soldiers _in
the field_ of necessary subsistence, and encouraged able-bodied men to
seek such easy positions; it offended the people who paid tithes, to see
them consumed by these non-combating colonels, majors, etc., instead of
going to feed the army; and it demoralized the officers and soldiers in
the field.

This letter was referred to the Commissary-General, who, after the usual
delay, returned it with a long argument to show that Gen. Lee was in
"_error_," and that the practice was necessary, etc.

To this the Secretary responded by a peremptory _order_, restricting the
city officers in the item of meat.

Again the Commissary-General sends it back, recommending the
_suspension_ of the order until it be seen what Congress will do! Here
are twenty days gone, and the Commissary-General has his own way still.
He don't hesitate to bully the Secretary and the highest generals in the
field. Meantime the Commissary-General's pet officers and clerks are
living sumptuously while the soldiers are on hard fare. But,
fortunately, Gen. Lee has captured 1200 beeves from the enemy since his
letter was written.

And Gen. Cobb writes an