t Washington are
engaged in a singular game of chance. The harsh orders of both cause
mutual abandonments, and now we have the spectacle of men deserting our
regiments, and quite as many coming over from the enemy's regiments near
the city.

Meantime Gen. Bragg is striving to get the able-bodied men out of the
bureaus and to place them in the field.

The despotic order, arresting every man in the streets, and hurrying
them to "the front," without delay, and regardless of the condition of
their families--some were taken off when getting medicine for their sick
wives--is still the theme of execration, even among men who have been
the most ultra and uncompromising secessionists. The terror caused many
to hide themselves, and doubtless turned them against the government.
They say now such a despotism is quite as bad as a Stanton despotism,
and there is not a toss-up between the rule of the United States and the
Confederate States. Such are some of the effects of bad measures in such
critical times as these. Mr. Seddon has no physique to sustain him. He
has intellect, and has read much; but, nevertheless, such great men are
sometimes more likely to imitate some predecessor at a critical moment,
or to adopt some bold yet inefficient suggestion from another, than to
originate an adequate one themselves. He is a scholar, an invalid,
refined and philosophical--but effeminate.

OCTOBER 13TH.--Rained all night; clear and cool this morning.

The government publishes nothing from Georgia yet; but it is supposed
there is intelligence of an important character in the city, which it
would be impolitic to communicate to the enemy.

All still remains quiet below the city. But the curtain is expected to
rise on the next act of the tragedy every moment. Gen. Grant probably
furloughed many of his men to vote in Pennsylvania and Ohio, on Tuesday
last--elections preliminary to the Presidential election--and they have
had time to return to their regiments.

If this pause should continue a week or two longer, Gen. Lee would be
much strengthened. Every day the farmers, whose details have been
revoked, are coming in from the counties; and many of these were in the
war in '61 and '62--being experienced veterans. Whereas Grant's
recruits, though greater in number, are raw and unskilled.

The Medical Boards have been instructed to put in all men that come
before them, capable of bearing arms _ten days_. One died in the
trenches, on the eleve