aster-General are getting to be as fat as bears, while some of the
subordinates I wot of are becoming mere shadows from scarcity of food.

AUGUST 31ST.--Bright and pleasant.

The only news to-day was a dispatch from Gen. Hood, stating that the
enemy had left Holly Springs, Miss., for the Mississippi River, supposed
to reinforce Sherman, whose communications are certainly cut. It seems
to me that Sherman must be doomed. Forces are gathering from every
quarter around him, and it is over 200 miles to Mobile, if he has any
idea to force his way thitherward.

Attended an auction to-day. Prices of furniture, clothing, etc. still
mounting higher.

Common salt herrings are at $16 per dozen; salt shad, $8 a piece. Our
agent was heard from to-day. He has no flour yet, but we still have
hopes of getting some.

CHAPTER XLII.

The Federal Presidency.--The Chicago Convention.--Fall of Atlanta.--
Bureau of Conscription.--From Gen. Hood.--Vice-President Stephens on
the situation.--Letter from Mrs. Mendenhall.--Dispatch from Gen.
Lee.--Defeat of Gen. Early.--From Gov. Vance.--From Gov. Brown, of
Georgia.--Gen. Lee's indorsement of Col. Moseby.--Hon. Mr. Foote.--
Attack on Fort Gilmer.--Indiscriminate arrest of civilians.

SEPTEMBER 1ST.--Clear, bright, and cool.

The intelligence from the North indicates that Gen. McClellan will be
nominated for the Presidency. Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of
War, shakes his head, and says he is not the right man. Our people take
a lively interest in the proceedings of the Chicago Convention, hoping
for a speedy termination of the war.

Senator Johnson, of Missouri, has a project of taxation for the
extinguishment of the public debt--a sweeping taxation, amounting to
one-half the value of the real and personal estate of the Confederate
States. He got me to commit his ideas to writing, which I did, and they
will be published.

Gen. Kemper told me to-day that there were 40,000 able-bodied men in
Virginia now detailed.

There is a project on the tapis of introducing lady clerks into this
bureau--all of them otherwise able to subsist themselves--while the poor
refugees, who have suffered most, are denied places. Even the President
named one to-day, Mrs. Ford, who, of course, will be appointed.

SEPTEMBER 2D.--Bright, and cool, and dry.

It is reported that a battle has occurred at Atlanta; but I have seen no
official confirmation of it.

It is rumore