ed as was apprehended yesterday.

Gen. Price (trans-Mississippi) has brought out a large number of
recruits from Missouri.

I dined out yesterday, and sumptuously; the first time for two years.

Congress has done but little, so far. They are at work on the Currency
bill!

Mr. Enders, broker, and exempted as one of the Ambulance Committee, I am
informed paid some $8000 yesterday to Mitchell & Tyler for a few
articles of jewelry for his daughter. And R. Hill, who has a provision
shop near the President's office, I understand expended some $30,000 on
the wedding of his daughter. He was poor, I believe, before the war.

I got an order from Lieut. Parker, Confederate States Navy, for a load
of coal to-day. Good! I hope it will be received before the last on hand
is gone.

The enemy's raiders camped within seven miles of Gordonsville, last
night; and it will be ten o'clock to-day before our reinforcements can
reach there. I hope our stores (commissary) will not be lost--as usual.

Mr. S. Norris, Signal Bureau, has just (1 P.M.) sent the following: "I
am just informed that Mr. Smithers, telegraph operator at Gordonsville,
is again in his office. He says fighting is going on in sight--that
troops from Richmond have arrived, and arriving--and it is expected that
Gen. Lomax will be able to drive the enemy back."

Just before 3 P.M. to-day a dispatch came from Mr. Smithers, telegraph
operator at Gordonsville, dated 1 o'clock, saying the enemy have been
repulsed and severely punished, and are retreating the way they came,
toward Sperryville. He adds that many of the enemy's dead now lie in
sight of the town. So much for this gleam of good fortune, for I believe
the military authorities here were meditating an evacuation of the city.

Gen. Custis Lee was at the department to-day, after the clerks detailed
from his command. All, all are to be dragged out in this bitter cold
weather for defense, except the speculators, the extortioners, the land
and slave owners, who really have something tangible to defend, and
these have exemptions or "soft places."

DECEMBER 24TH.--Christmas eve! Clear and cold.

A dispatch from Hon. J. L. Orr and H. V. Johnson (on their way home)
informs the Secretary that from the delay in the transportation of
troops over the Piedmont Railroad, there must be either criminal neglect
or treachery concerned in it.

Again it is rumored that Savannah has been evacuated. There is something
in the air tha