' cartridge-boxes.
There is much jollity and some drunkenness in the streets,
notwithstanding the enemy's pickets are within an hour's march of the
city.

A large number of the croaking inhabitants censure the President for our
many misfortunes, and openly declare in favor of Lee as Dictator.
Another month, and he may be unfortunate or unpopular. His son, Gen.
Custis Lee, has mortally offended the clerks by putting them in the
trenches yesterday, and some of them may desert.

Many members of Congress have gone home. But it is still said they
invested the President with extraordinary powers, in secret session. I
am not quite sure this is so.

I append the following dispatches:

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

"December 23d, 1864.

"HON. JAMES A. SEDDON, SECRETARY OF WAR.

"On the 20th, Gen. Early reported one division of the enemy's
cavalry, under Gen. Custer, coming up the valley, and two
divisions, under Gen. Torbert, moving through Chester Gap, with
four pieces of artillery and thirty wagons.

"On the 22d, Rosser attacked Custer's division, nine miles from
Harrisonburg, and drove it back, capturing forty prisoners.

"This morning, Torbert attacked Lomax near Gordonsville, and was
repulsed and severely punished. He is retreating, and Lomax
preparing to follow. R. E. LEE."

"DUBLIN, December 20th, 1864.

"A dispatch from Gen. Breckinridge to-day, dated at Mount Airy,
sixteen miles west of Wytheville, says he had fought the enemy for
two days, successfully, near Marion. The enemy had retired from his
front; but whether they were retreating to East Tennessee or not,
he had not ascertained."

"CHARLESTON, December 22d, 1864.

"TO GEN. S. COOPER.

"On the 16th inst., the enemy, 800 strong, occupied Pollard. After
burning the government and railroad buildings, they retired in the
direction they came.

"They were pursued thirty miles, losing a portion of their
transportation, baggage, and supplies, and leaving many dead negro
troops on the road.

"Our force, commanded by Gen. Liddell, acted with spirit and
gallantry. G. T. BEAUREGARD, _General_."

"OUR INDIAN TROOPS.--Gen. Stand Watie, commanding our Indian troops
in the trans-Mississippi Department, has fully clothed and armed