dignitaries.

NOVEMBER 16TH.--Bright and frosty.

This is the day designated by the President for worship, etc., and the
offices and places of business are all closed. It is like Sunday, with
an occasional report of cannon down the river.

I doubt whether the clerks in the trenches will pray for the President.
Compelled to _volunteer_ under a threat of removal, they were assured
that they would only be called out in times of great urgency, and then
be returned to their offices in a few days. They have now been in the
front trenches several months; while the different secretaries are
quietly having their kinsmen and favorites detailed back to their civil
positions, the poor and friendless are still "left out in the cold."
Many of these have refugee families dependent on them, while those
brought in are mostly rich, having sought office merely to avoid service
in the field. The battalion, numbering 700, has less than 200 now in the
trenches. Hundreds of the local forces, under a sense of wrong, have
deserted to the enemy.

Gen. Breckinridge has beaten the enemy at Bull's Gap, Tenn., taking
several hundred prisoners, 6 guns, etc.

Mr. Hunter was at the department early this morning in quest of news.

Gave $75 for a load of coal.

Messrs. Evans & Cogswell, Columbia, S. C., have sent me some of their
recent publications: "A Manual of Military Surgery, by I. Julian
Chisolm, M.D., 3d edition;" "Digest of the Military and Naval Laws," by
Lester & Bromwell; "Duties of a Judge Advocate, etc." by Capt R. C.
Gilchrist; and "A Map of East Virginia and North Carolina;" all
beautifully printed and bound.

NOVEMBER 17TH.--Dark and dismal--threatening rain or snow. Quiet below;
but we have no papers to-day, yesterday being holiday.

It is rumored that Gen. Sheridan (Federal) is sailing from Washington to
reinforce Grant, and that Gen. Early is marching hitherward from the
Valley. There may be renewed operations against Richmond, or Grant may
penetrate North Carolina. No one knows what will happen a month or a
week hence.

Mr. Hunter was again with Mr. Seddon this morning.

Governor Smith's exemption mill is yet grinding out exemptions,
sometimes fifty per day. Constables, department clerks, and sheriffs,
commonwealth's attorneys, commissioners of the revenue, etc. etc., who
win his favor, get his certificate of exemption, as necessary for the
State administration.

A dispatch from Gen. Wheeler, Jonesborough, November 14t