bundance of flour, etc.

Major Harman, Staunton, says provisions cannot be had in that section to
feed Early's army, unless one-fourth of all produce be bought at market
prices, and the people go on half rations. The _slaves_ everywhere are
on _full_ rations.

JANUARY 21ST.--A dark, cold, sleety day, with rain. Troopers and scouts
from the army have icicles hanging from their hats and caps, and their
clothes covered with frost, and dripping.

The _Examiner_ this morning says very positively that Mr. Secretary
Seddon has resigned. Not a word about Messrs. Benjamin and Mallory--yet.
The recent action of Congress is certainly a vote of censure, with great
unanimity.

It is said Congress, in secret session, has decreed the purchase of all
the cotton and tobacco! The stable locked after the horse is gone! If it
had been done in 1861----

Mr. Secretary Trenholm is making spasmodic efforts to mend the
currency--selling cotton and tobacco to foreign (Yankee) agents for gold
and sterling bills, and buying Treasury notes at the market
depreciation. For a moment he has reduced the price of gold from $80 to
$50 for $1; but the flood will soon overwhelm all opposition, sweeping
every obstruction away.

The Federal papers say they got 2500 prisoners at Fort Fisher.

It is said the President refuses to accept Mr. Seddon's resignation.

A rumor has sprung up to the effect that Judge Campbell, Assistant
Secretary of War, has also resigned. If this be so, it will soon produce
a great commotion among detailed and exempted men all over the country.
Rumors fly thick these dark days. It is a good time, however, for some
to resign. The President has need even of incompetent men, and may beg
them to remain, etc., and thus they are flattered. But if they really
feel that the ship is sinking, they will endeavor to jump ashore,
notwithstanding the efforts made to retain them. And then, if the ship
should _not_ sink, manned by different men!

I hear nothing more about Gen. Breckinridge as Mr. Seddon's successor,
but he is the guest of the old lawyer, G. A. Myers; and it is not
probable he is bestowing his bread and meat, in such times as these,
_for nothing_. He has made a fortune, and knows how to increase it--and
even Gen. B. would never be the wiser.

We have at last a letter from Gen. Hood, narrating the battle of
Franklin, Tenn. He says he lost about 4500 men--enemy's loss not stated.
Failure of Gen. Cheatham to execute an order t