ffice next to mine once
or twice, to drink some of the good whisky kept by Mr. Chapman, the
disbursing clerk of the department. Mr. H.'s face is quite red.

5 P.M. The tocsin is sounding, for the militia, I suppose, all others
being in the field. It is reported that the attack on Drewry's Bluff, or
rather on our forces posted there for its defense, has begun. Barton's
brigade marched thither to-day. It is said the enemy have 40,000 men on
the south side of James River--we, 20,000.

There is now some excitement and trepidation among the shopkeepers and
extortioners, who are compelled by State law to shoulder the musket for
the defense of the city, and there is some running to and fro
preliminary to the _rendezvous_ in front of the City Hall. The alarm,
however, I learnt at the department, is caused by reports brought in by
countrymen, that the enemy is approaching the city from the _northeast_,
as if from Gloucester Point. It _may_ be so--a small body; but Gen.
Ransom, Gen. Elzey's successor here, doubts it, for his scouts give no
intelligence of the enemy in that quarter. But the 19th Militia Regiment
and the Foreign Battalion will have the pleasure of sleeping in the open
air to-night, and of dreaming of their past gains, etc.

MAY 8TH.--Bright and hot.

The tocsin sounded again this morning. I learned upon inquiry that it
was merely for the militia again (they were dismissed yesterday after
being called together), perhaps to relieve the local battalions near the
city.

The Secretary of War received a dispatch to-day from Gen. Lee, stating
that there was no fighting yesterday, only slight skirmishing. Grant
remained where he had been driven, in the "Wilderness," behind his
breastworks, completely checked in his "On to Richmond." He may be badly
hurt, and perhaps his men object to being led to the slaughter again.

There has been no fighting below, between this and Petersburg, and we
breathe freer, for Beauregard, we know, has made the best use of time.
It is said another of the enemy's gun-boats has been destroyed by
boarding and burning. We have three iron-clads and rams here _above_ the
obstructions, which will probably be of no use at this trying time.

A few days more will tell the story of this combined and most formidable
attempt to take Richmond; and if it be the old song of failure, we may
look for a speedy termination of the war. So mote it be!

Meantime my vegetables are growing finely, except the cor