r effort
to capture Richmond by assault! Our works, mostly made by the negroes,
under the direction of skillful engineers, must be nearly impregnable,
and the attempt to take them will involve a prodigious expenditure of
blood.

OCTOBER 28TH.--Rained all night, but bright this morning.

We have no clear account yet of the fighting yesterday; but we know the
enemy was repulsed on this side of the river. It is thought that the
operations on the south side were of greater magnitude, where we lost a
brigadier-general (Dearing) of cavalry. We shall know all in a few days.
The fighting was not resumed this morning.

It is rumored that Mr. Seddon will resign, and be succeeded by Gen.
Kemper. I am incredulous.

The "dog-catchers," as the guards are called, are out again, arresting
able-bodied men (and sometimes others) in the streets, and locking them
up until they can be sent to the front. There must be extraordinary
danger anticipated by the authorities to induce a resort to so extreme a
measure.

Two P.M. No news from the field---no cannon heard to-day.

Large amounts of cloth from Europe for the army have recently arrived at
Wilmington, N. C.; but the speculators occupy so much space in the cars,
that transportation cannot be had for it. The poor soldiers are likely
to suffer in consequence of this neglect of duty on the part of the
government.

OCTOBER 29TH.--Clear and pleasant.

We are beginning to get authentic accounts of the operations on
Thursday; and yet, from the newspaper publications, we see that the
government has withheld one of Gen. Lee's dispatches from publication.
Altogether, it must be regarded as a decisive failure on the part of the
enemy to obtain any lodgment nearer to the objective point; while his
loss was perhaps two to our one.

A letter from Gen. Howell Cobb, Macon, Ga., in reply to one from the
Secretary by the President's direction, states that Gen. Beauregard, in
arranging difficulties with Gov. Brown, did not compromise the dignity
or interests of the Confederate States Government, or violate any law.

It is now said Sheridan is retreating toward the Potomac, followed by
Early. Some 500 more recruits for Early left Richmond yesterday. This
would indicate that Gen. Lee has men enough here.

The President suggests that confidential inspectors be sent to ascertain
whether Gen. Early's army has lost confidence in him. Both Gen. Lee and
the President are satisfied that the charges of d