d wounded. The enemy have
Winchester, and Early has retreated, bringing off his trains, however.
This has caused the croakers to raise a new howl against the President,
for they know not what.

Mr. Clapman, our disbursing clerk (appointed under Secretary Randolph),
proposed, to-day, to several in his office--jestingly, they
supposed--revolution, and installing Gen. Lee as Dictator. It may be a
jest to some, but others mean it in earnest.

I look for other and more disastrous defeats, unless the speculators are
demolished, and the wealthy class put in the ranks. Many of the privates
in our armies are fast becoming what is termed machine soldiers, and
will ere long cease to fight well--having nothing to fight for. Alas,
the chivalry have fallen! The lagging land proprietors and slaveowners
(as the Yankees shrewdly predicted) want to be captains, etc. or
speculators. The poor will not long fight for their oppressors, the
money-changers, extortioners, etc., whose bribes keep them out of the
service.

Mr. Foote openly advocates a convention; and says the other States will
have one certainly: and if Virginia declines to unite in it, she will be
"left out in the cold." This is said of him; I have not heard him say
it. But I believe a convention in any State or States, if our disasters
continue, will lead to reconstruction, if McClellan be elected. If
emancipation, confiscation, etc. be insisted on, the war will never
terminate but in final separation.

SEPTEMBER 22D.--Cloudy; rained much last night.

The following is all we know yet of Early's defeat:

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

"September 20th, 1864.

"HON. JAMES A. SEDDON.

"Gen. Early reports that, on the morning of the 19th, the enemy
advanced on Winchester, near which place he met his attack, which
was resisted from early in the day till near night, when he was
compelled to retire. After night he fell back to Newtown, and this
morning to Fisher's Hill.

"Our loss reported to be severe.

"Major-Gen. Rhodes and Brig.-Gen. Godwin were killed, nobly doing
their duty.

"Three pieces of artillery of King's battalion were lost.

"The trains and supplies were brought off safely.

"(Signed) R. E. LEE."

The profound chagrin produced by this event is fast becoming a sort of
reckless unconcern. Many would fight and die in the last ditch, rather
than give up Richmond; and many oth