., else his occupation is gone. The President cannot afford to lose
Gen. P.

From Gen. Early's army we learn that the detailed men and reserves are
joining in great numbers, and the general asks 1000 muskets. Col.
Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, says he has but 300 available, his shops
being closed, the workmen in the trenches, etc.

All the ordnance, quartermaster, and commissary stores of Hood's army
were ordered to Columbus, Ga. We expect stirring news from Georgia
daily, and the opinion prevails that Sherman will "come to grief."

The militia, furloughed by Gov. Brown so inopportunely, are returning to
the front, the time having expired.

A Mr. B. is making Lincoln speeches in New York. It seems to me he had a
passport from Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State.

Gen. Lee writes to-day that negroes taken from the enemy, penitentiary
convicts, and recaptured deserters ought not to be sent by the Secretary
to work on the fortifications.

OCTOBER 20TH.--Cloudy. There is a street rumor of a battle below, and on
the Petersburg line. The wind is from the west, and yet we hear no guns.

The Secretary of the Treasury sent to the Secretary of War to-day an
argument showing that, without a violation of the Constitution, clerks
appointed to places created by Congress cannot be removed. We shall see
what the Secretary says to that.

OCTOBER 21ST.--Bright.

Fort Harrison (Federal) opened its batteries on our lines at Chaffin's
Farm yesterday evening, without effect. An officer tells me that heavy
and quick firing was also heard on the Petersburg lines, indicating, he
thought, a battle. We have nothing of this in the papers, or in any
dispatch I have seen.

Assistant Secretary Campbell is writing a portion of Mr. Secretary
Seddon's report for him. Mr. C.'s son was promoted to a majority
yesterday.

At 2 P.M. we have a rumor that Gen. Early has been defeated, losing all
his guns but one.

A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury recommends the detail or
exemption of the bank officers of South Carolina. The poor country
clod-hoppers have no friends, and must do the fighting.

The following order, dictated by the President, has been published:

"ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

"RICHMOND, October 20th, 1864.

"GENERAL ORDERS NO. 82.

"I. The Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance will, without delay, take
measures to place in the field one-fifth of all the men employed
in his department