. It is supposed we shall have active operations again before
this city as soon as the weather and roads will permit.

But it really does seem that the States respectively mean to take
control of all their men not now in the Confederate States armies, and I
apprehend we shall soon have "confusion worse confounded."

The President sends, "for his information," to the Secretary of War, a
letter from Gen. Beauregard, dated at Augusta, Ga., Dec. 6th, 1864, in
relation to Gen. Sherman's movement eastward, and Gen. Hood's Middle
Tennessee campaign. It appears from Gen. B.'s letter to the President
that he (Gen. B.) had control of everything. He says he did not
countermand Gen. Hood's campaign, because Sherman had 275 miles the
start, and the roads were impracticable in Northern Georgia and Alabama.
But he telegraphed the Governors of Alabama, Georgia, etc., to
concentrate troops rapidly in Sherman's front, ordered a brigade of
cavalry from Hood to Wheeler, etc., and supposed some 30,000 men could
be collected to oppose Sherman's march, and destroy him. He computed
Sherman's strength at 36,000 of all arms. The result shows how much he
was mistaken. He will be held accountable for all the disasters. Alas
for Beauregard! Bragg only played the part of chronicler of the sad
events from Augusta. Yet the President cannot publish this letter of
Beauregard's, and the country will still fix upon him the responsibility
and the odium. Gen. Beauregard is still in front of Sherman, with
inadequate forces, and may again be responsible for additional
calamities.

Old Mr. F. P. Blair and his son Montgomery Blair are on their way here,
with authority to confer on peace and submission, etc.

Mr. Lewis, Disbursing Clerk of the Post-Office Department, on behalf of
lady clerks has laid a complaint before the President that Mr. Peck, a
clerk in the department, to whom was intrusted money to buy supplies in
North Carolina, has failed to make return of provisions or money,
retaining the latter for several months, while some of his friends have
received returns, besides 10 barrels flour bought for himself, and
transported at government expense. Some of the clerks think the money
has been retained for speculative purposes. It remains to be seen
whether the President will do anything in the premises.

The grand New Year's dinner to the soldiers, as I supposed, has produced
discontent in the army, from unequal distribution, etc. No doubt the
specula