cavalry, forced back our cavalry pickets on
the Vaughan Road, south of the Appomattox, and advanced toward
Dinwiddie Court House.

"To-day our cavalry, reinforced by infantry, drove them back across
Hatcher's Run, capturing a few prisoners and re-establishing our
lines. R. E. LEE."

DECEMBER 13TH.--Cloudy and cold, but wind southeast.

The sullen sound of cannon heard this morning as usual down the river. I
hear of no active operations there, although the ground is sufficiently
frozen to bear horses and artillery.

Rumors of successes on the part of Sherman near Savannah are still in
circulation.

The rich men are generally indignant at the President and Gov. Smith for
proposing to bring a portion of the negroes into the army. They have not
yet awakened to a consciousness that there is danger of losing _all_,
and of their being made to fight against us. They do not even remove
them beyond the reach of the enemy, and hundreds are daily lost, but
still they slumber on. They abuse the government for its impressments,
and yet repose in fancied security, holding the President responsible
for the defense of the country, without sufficient men and adequate
means.

The following dispatch from Gen. Bragg was received to-day at 10 P.M.:

"AUGUSTA, Dec. 12th.

"The telegraph having been cut, we get nothing from Savannah. A
dispatch from Wheeler gives a copy of enemy's order for the line of
investment around Savannah. It is about eight miles from the city,
and was to have been reached on the 9th.

"B. BRAGG."

I have at length succeeded in getting a suit of clothes; it was made at
the government shop for $50, the trimmings having been found (in the
house) by my wife. The suit, if bought of a merchant and made by the
city tailors, would cost some $1000. A Yankee prisoner (deserter) made
the coat at a low price. The government means to employ them, if they
desire it, in this manner. I am very thankful for my good fortune.

DECEMBER 14TH.--Cloudy, and thawing rapidly. All quiet below.

The bill to employ 40,000 negroes, as recommended by the President, for
army purposes, though not _avowedly_ to fight, has passed one House of
Congress. So the President is _master_ yet. There ought to be 100,000
now in the field.

An effort will be made by the government to put into the field the
able-bodied staff and other officers o