successful in cutting our communications with
the South--and in depreciating Confederate States Treasury notes still
more, in spite of Mr. Trenholm's spasmodic efforts to _depreciate_ gold.

Yesterday the Senate passed a bill _dropping_ all commissaries and
quartermasters not in the field, and not in the bureaus in Richmond, and
appointing _agents_ instead, over 45 years of age. This will make a
great fluttering, but the Richmond rascals will probably escape.

Military men here consider Augusta in danger; of course it is! How could
it be otherwise?

Information from the United States shows that an effort to obtain
"peace" will certainly be made. President Lincoln has appointed
ex-Presidents Fillmore and Pierce and Hon. S. P. Chase, commissioners,
to treat with ours. The two first are avowed "peace men;" and may God
grant that their endeavors may prove successful! Such is the newspaper
information.

A kind Providence watches over my family. The disbursing clerk is paying
us "half salaries" to-day, as suggested in a note I wrote the Secretary
yesterday. And Mr. Price informs me that the flour (Capt. Warner's) so
long held at Greensborough has arrived! I shall get my barrel. It cost
originally $150; but subsequent expenses may make it cost me, perhaps,
$300. The market price is from $800 to $1000. I bought also of Mr. Price
one-half bushel of red or "cow-peas" for $30; the market price being $80
per bushel. And Major Maynard says I shall have a load of government
wood in a few days!

FEBRUARY 3D.--The report that the United States Government had appointed
commissioners to meet ours is contradicted. On the contrary, it is
believed that Gen. Grant has been reinforced by 30,000 men from
Tennessee; and that we shall soon hear thunder in Richmond.

Gen. Lee writes urgently in behalf of Major Tannahill's traffic for
supplies, in Northeastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia, for
the army. Large amounts of commissary stores are obtained in exchange
for cotton, tobacco, etc; but the traffic is in danger of being broken
up by the efforts of bureau officials and civilian speculators to
participate in it--among them he mentions Major Brower
(Commissary-General's office, and formerly a clerk)--and asks such
orders as will be likely to avert the danger. The traffic is with the
_enemy_; but if conducted under the exclusive control of Gen. Lee, it
would be of vast benefit to the army.

The House of Representatives yester