not have
been large, else the ambulance train would have been in motion. That is
certain. It may be that Grant's army is _crumbling_,--I hope so; and it
may possibly be that _negotiations_ are in progress. There _must_ be an
end of this; for the people of both sections are tired of it.

So far Grant has unquestionably failed in his enterprises against
Richmond, and his present reduced strength certainly renders it unlikely
that he can prevail against us hereafter. His new levies, if he gets
any, will not be fit for the field this year; and all his veterans will
soon be gone,--killed, or home,--never to return. Thank God, the
prospect of peace is "bright and brightening," and a dark cloud is above
the horizon in the North. Lincoln and his party are now environed with
dangers rushing upon them from every direction.

No doubt Lee's army is weakened by detachments sent to Early; but then
the local troops have been sent home, which is at least a favorable
augury. The following order is published:

"GENERAL ORDER NO. 65.

"It having been represented to the War Department that there are
numbers of foreigners entrapped by artifice and fraud into the
military and naval service of the United States, who would gladly
withdraw from further participation in the inhuman warfare waged
against a people who have never given them a pretext for hostility;
and that there are many inhabitants of the United States now
retained in that service against their will, who are averse to
aiding in the unjust war now being prosecuted against the
Confederate States; and it being also known that these men are
prevented from abandoning such compulsory service by the difficulty
they experience in escaping therefrom, it is ordered that all such
persons coming within the lines of the Confederate armies shall be
received, protected, and supplied with means of subsistence, until
such of them as desire it can be forwarded to the most convenient
points on the border, where all facilities will be afforded them to
return to their homes.

"By order,

"(Signed) S. COOPER,

"_A. and I. General_."

My turnips have not come up yet, and I fear the hot sun has destroyed
the vitality of the seed. It is said the enemy still hold the Weldon
Road; if so, then I fear our flour will be delayed, if not lost.

What if Grant now had the 140,000 more--lost in this camp