nd
the snow is melting rapidly.

The Secretary of War had a large amount of plate taken from the
department to-day to his lodgings at the Spottswood Hotel. It was
captured from the enemy with Dahlgren, who had pillaged it from our
opulent families in the country.

MARCH 24TH.--A bright pleasant day--snow nearly gone.

Next week the clerks in the departments, between the ages of eighteen
and forty-five, are to be enrolled, and perhaps the greater number will
be detailed to their present employments.

Gov. Vance is here, and the President is about to appoint some of his
friends brigadiers, which is conciliatory.

Gen. Longstreet has written a letter to the President, which I have not
seen. The President sent it to the Secretary to-day, marked
"confidential." It must relate either to subsistence or to important
movements in meditation. If the latter, we shall soon know it.

MARCH 25TH.--Raining moderately.

Yesterday Mr. Miles, member of Congress from South Carolina, received a
dispatch from Charleston, signed by many of the leading citizens,
protesting against the removal of 52 companies of cavalry from that
department to Virginia. They say so few will be left that the railroads,
plantations, and even the City of Charleston will be exposed to the easy
capture of the enemy; and this is "approved" and signed by T. Jordan,
Chief of Staff. It was given to the Secretary of War, who sent it to
Gen. Bragg, assuring him that the citizens signing it were the most
_influential_ in the State, etc.

Gen. Bragg sent it back with an indignant note. He says the President
gave the order, and it was a proper one. These companies of cavalry have
not shared the hardships of the war, and have done no fighting; more
cavalry has been held by Gen. Beauregard, in proportion to the number of
his army, than by any other general; that skeleton regiments, which have
gone through fire and blood, ought to be allowed to relieve them; and
when recruited, would be ample for the defense of the coast, etc. Gen.
Bragg concluded by saying that the offense of having the military orders
of the commander-in-chief, etc. exposed to civilians, to be criticised
and protested against--and "approved" by the Chief of Staff--at such a
time as this, and in a matter of such grave importance--ought not to be
suffered to pass without a merited rebuke. And I am sure poor Beauregard
will get the rebuke; for all the military and civil functionaries near
the governme