ere is much commotion to resist the armada
launched against that port. Gen. Lee is sending troops _via_ the
Danville Road in that direction.

The wire has been cut between this and Gordonsville, by the scouts of
the raiders launched in that direction. We breakfast, dine, and sup on
horrors now, and digest them all quite sullenly.

I am invited to a turkey dinner to-day (at Mr. Waterhouse's), and have
some hesitation in accepting it at a time like this. Ought I to go? He
is a skilled artisan and has made money, and no doubt the turkey is
destined to be eaten by somebody.

At an auction this morning, a Jew bid off an old set of tablespoons,
weighing twelve ounces and much worn, at $575. He will next _buy_ his
way out of the Confederacy. Mr. Benjamin and Judge Campbell have much to
answer for in allowing such men to deplete the South of its specie,
plate, etc. There were some commissaries and quartermasters present, who
are supposed to have stolen much from the government, and desire to
exchange the currency they have ruined for imperishable wealth. They,
too, will run away the first opportunity.

The sun shines brightly this beautiful cold day; but all is dark in
Congress. The Tennessee members say Hood's army is destroyed, that he
will not get 1000 men out of the State, for the Tennesseeans,
Kentuckians, etc. refuse to retire farther south, but straggle and
scatter to their homes, where they will remain.

I am told we have but a thin curtain of pickets on the north side of the
James River, between us and 15,000 negro troops.

The President is at work at his residence, not having yet come down to
his office; and I learn it is difficult to get his attention to any
business just now but _appointments_; had to get him to sign a bill
passed by Congress to pay the civil officers of the government. No doubt
he is anxious and very unhappy.

Hon. Mr. Foote's wife has just got a passport to return home to
Nashville, Tennessee!

DECEMBER 23D.--Bright and very cold.

A storm has driven off a portion of the enemy's fleet before Wilmington.

The raid toward Gordonsville and Charlottesville is not progressing
rapidly. We shall have a force to meet it.

Besides the demonstration against Savannah (from which place we have no
recent tidings), it appears that an attempt on Mobile is in progress.
Too many attempts--some of them must fail, I hope.

From the last accounts, I doubted whether Hood's army has been so badly
shatter