reported yesterday. But the dispatch
(subjoined) of Gen. Lee renders it certain that the enemy was routed.
There is a suspicion that our exasperated men _refused quarter_ to some
hundreds of the raiders, on the plea that they ravish, murder, burn,
pillage, etc. It may be so.

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

"June 29th, 1864--8.30 P.M.

"HON. SECRETARY OF WAR.

"SIR:--Gen. Hampton reports that he attacked the enemy's cavalry
yesterday afternoon, on their return from Staunton River bridge,
this side of Sappony Church, and drove them beyond that point.

"The fight continued during the night, and at daylight this morning
he turned their left and routed them.

"When they reached Ream's Station, they were confronted by a
portion of Mahone's division, who attacked them in front, while
their left flank was turned by Gen. Fitz Lee's cavalry.

"The enemy was completely routed, and several pieces of artillery,
with a number of prisoners, wagons, ambulances, etc., captured. The
cavalry are in pursuit.

"R. E. LEE, _General_."

Gen. Early, with perhaps 10,000 men, is believed to be in Winchester
to-day. He will probably be soon playing havoc with the enemy's
railroads, stores, etc., and perhaps may threaten Washington or
Harrisburg, or both; and so have Grant called off from his "siege of
Richmond."

We were paid our salaries yesterday, and Custis, after his campaign and
his sickness, resolved on a little indulgence. So he had a couple of
small saucers of ice-cream--one for his mother, costing $6; quarter
pound of coffee and two pounds of sugar, $25; and to-day a rice pudding,
two pounds of rice, $5; one pound of sugar, $10; two quarts of milk, $5;
total, $51!

Col. Shields, Commandant of Conscripts, etc., informed me to-day that he
received only yesterday the order to proceed to the enrollment of
Maryland and foreign residents. Thus the express orders of the President
are delayed in the execution, and in such an exigency as this! I know
Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, more than a year ago,
attempted to interpose grave constitutional obstacles; but surely he can
hardly have had the temerity to thwart the President's wishes, so
plainly expressed. Nevertheless, the delay has been caused by some one;
and Col. S. has apprehensions that some wheel within a wheel will even
now embarrass or defeat the effective execution of the order