ct.

Congress has passed a resolution calling on the Secretary of War for
information concerning certain youths, alleged to have received
passports to Europe, etc. Also one relating to the Commissary-General's
traffic in Eastern North Carolina, within the enemy's lines. Also one
relating to instructions to Gen. Smith, trans-Mississippi Department,
who assumes control of matters pertaining to the Treasury Department.

General J. S. Preston, Superintendent Bureau of Conscription, writes a
long letter from South Carolina indorsing an act of the Legislature
authorizing the impressment of one-fifth of the slaves between eighteen
and fifty, for work on the fortifications within the State, but also
providing for impressment of an additional number by the Confederate
States Government. This, Gen. P. considers a treasonable move,
indicating that South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi,
etc. have a purpose to disintegrate Confederate authority, and that they
will not contribute another man, black or white, to the Confederate
service, to be commanded by Confederate States authority. And he has
several thrusts at Gen. Bragg and Gen. Kemper, and, indirectly, at the
President, for interfering with _his_ bureau. I see nothing in the act
to warrant his interpretations, and I have no faith in his predictions.

W. F. D. Saussure and others, Columbia, S. C., petition the government
to send a corps of Lee's army to save their State and Georgia from
devastation, as there are no adequate forces in them for defense. They
confess that Richmond is important to hold, but insist that Georgia and
South Carolina must be defended to hold it, etc. They are frightened
evidently.

Gen. Withers, Alabama, denounces the inefficiency of the conscript
system.

Lieut. Beverly Kermon writes from the Rappahannock that "thus far (to
Jan. 1st) our movements (in connection with Capt. T. N. Conrad) are
perfectly secret." The next day he was to go to the Potomac. What has
the Secretary sent him _there_ for?

J. R. Bledsoe presents a design for a "_new flag_," red, white, and blue
cross, which Gen. Lee thinks both original and beautiful.

Judge Campbell has a box of clothing, sent from London by J. B.
Bloodgood.

JANUARY 5TH.--Clear and cold.

It is understood now that Gen. Hood has crossed to the south side of the
Tennessee River with the debris of his army.

Gen. Butler has returned to Virginia from his fruitless North Carolina
expedition