not likely to be heavy.

FEBRUARY 29TH.--Raining moderately.

There is a rumor that Frederick's Hall, between this city and
Fredericksburg, was taken to-day by a detachment of the enemy's cavalry,
an hour after Gen. Lee passed on his way to the army. This is only
rumor, however.

A dispatch from Gen. Lee's Chief Commissary, received to-day, says the
army has only bread enough to last till the 1st of March, to-morrow! and
that meat is getting scarce again. Col. Northrop, the Commissary-General,
indorses on this, that he _foresaw_ and frequently _foretold_ that such
a crisis would come. He says transportation sufficient cannot be had,
and that he has just heard of an accident to the Wilmington Railroad,
which will diminish the transportation of corn one-half; and he says a
similar accident to the Charlotte Road would be fatal. Comfortable! And
when I saw him afterward, his face was lit up with triumph, as if he had
gained a victory! He _predicted_ it, because they would not let him
impress all the food in the country. And now he has no remedy for the
pressing need. But the soldiers won't starve, in spite of him.

CHAPTER XXXVI

Attempt to capture Richmond.--Governor Vance and Judge Pearson--
Preparations to blow up the "Libby" prisoners.--Letter from General
Lee.--Proposal to execute Dahlgren's raiders.--General Butler on the
Eastern Shore.--Colonel Dahlgren's body.--Destitution of the army.--
Strength of the Southwestern army.--Destitution of my family.--
Protest from South Carolina.--Difficulty with P. Milmo & Co.--Hon.
J. W. Wall.

MARCH 1ST.--Dark and raining.

As the morning progressed, the city was a little startled by the sound
of artillery in a northern direction, and not very distant. Couriers and
horsemen from the country announced the approach of the enemy _within_
the outer fortifications; a column of 5000 cavalry. Then Hon. James
Lyons came in, reporting that the enemy were shelling his house, one and
a half miles from the city. And Gen. Elzey (in command) said, at the
department, that a fight was in progress; and that Brig.-Gen. Custis Lee
was directing it in person. But an hour or so after the report of
artillery ceased, and the excitement died away. Yet the local troops and
militia are marching out as I write; and a caisson that came in an hour
ago has just passed our door, returning to the field. Of course the city
is full of rumors, and no one yet knows what