t, though weather-worn. He
complains that the department is depleting his army by details, often
for private and speculative purposes, to the benefit of private
individuals--speculators.

I drew my (State) salt to-day, 70 pounds, for 7 in family--20 cents per
pound. It retails at a $1 per pound!

Mr. Secretary ---- has sent (per Lieut.-Col. Bayne) some gold to
Wilmington, to buy (in Nassau) loaf sugar for his family, to be brought
in government steamers.

My son Thomas could get no beef ration to-day--too scarce.

DECEMBER 21ST.--Raining; rained all night.

The following dispatch was received this morning:

"WILMINGTON, December 20th, 1864,10 A.M.--The head of the enemy's fleet
arrived off this port during last night. Over thirty steamers are now
assembling, and more are following.--BRAXTON BRAGG."

It may be hoped that Gen. Bragg will do something more than chronicle
the successes of the enemy this time. He is nearer to him than when he
remained at Augusta; and yet the press could be made reticent on
arrivals, etc.

Lieut.-Col. Sims, Assistant Quartermaster General, has contracted with
the _Southern Express Company_ to transport all the funds of the
Quartermaster's Department--hundreds of millions!

Mr. Hunter was with the Secretary this morning, when I laid before the
latter Bragg's dispatch. I doubt not it failed to contribute to a
mollification of their painful forebodings.

By Northern papers I see President Lincoln disapproves Gen. Dix's order
to troops to cross the Canada line in pursuit of raiders.

Gold is $45 for one to-day.

The army has no meat this day, the commissaries, etc. have it all, and
are speculating with it--it is said. So many high officials are
_interested_, there is no remedy. We are at the mercy of the
quartermasters, commissaries, railroad companies, and the _Southern_
Express Company. The President and Secretary either cannot or will not
break our shackles.

An official account states the number of houses burnt by the enemy in
Atlanta to be 5000!

There is a rumor of another and a formidable raid on Gordonsville. The
railroad is now exclusively occupied with the transportation of
troops--perhaps for Wilmington. The raid may be a ruse to prevent
reinforcements being sent thither.

The Andersonville Report belongs to the Adjutant-General's Office, and
therefore has not come back to me.

DECEMBER 22D.--Clear and cold. We have nothing from below. From
Wilmington, we learn th