er. How many
fell is not yet known.

To-day Gen. Hampton sent in 77 prisoners, taken six miles above
town--one lieutenant-colonel among them; and Yankee horses, etc. are
coming in every hour.

Gov. Vance writes that inasmuch as Judge Pearson still grants the writ
of _habeas corpus_, and discharges all who have put substitutes in the
army, on the ground of the unconstitutionality of the act of Congress,
he is bound by his oath to sustain the judge, even to the summoning the
military force of the State to resist the Confederate States
authorities. But to avoid such a fatal collision, he is willing to
abide the decision of the Supreme Court, to assemble in June; the
substitute men, meantime, to be left unmolested. We shall soon see the
President's decision, which will probably be martial law.

Last night, when it was supposed probable that the prisoners of war at
the Libby might attempt to break out, Gen. Winder ordered that a large
amount of powder be placed under the building, with instructions to blow
them up, if the attempt were made. He was persuaded, however, to consult
the Secretary of War first, and get his approbation. The Secretary would
give no such order, but said the prisoners must not be permitted to
escape under any circumstances, which was considered sanction enough.
Capt. ---- obtained an order for, and procured several hundred pounds of
gunpowder, which were placed in readiness. Whether the prisoners were
advised of this I know not; but I told Capt. ---- it could not be
justifiable to spring such a mine in the absence of their knowledge of
the fate awaiting them, in the event of their attempt to break
out,--because such prisoners are not to be condemned for striving to
regain their liberty. Indeed, it is the _duty_ of a prisoner of war to
escape if he can.

Gen. Winder addressed me in a friendly manner to-day, the first time in
two years.

The President was in a bad humor yesterday, when the enemy's guns were
heard even in his office.

The last dispatch from Gen. Lee informs us that Meade, who had advanced,
had fallen back again. But communications are cut between us and Lee;
and we have no intelligence since Monday.

Gen. Wilcox is organizing an impromptu brigade here, formed of the
furloughed officers and men found everywhere in the streets and at the
hotels. This looks as if the danger were not yet regarded as over.

The Secretary of War was locked up with the Quartermaster and
Commissary-Ge