e the measure distasteful to them and to their owners.

"I have no doubt that if Congress would authorize their reception
into service, and empower the President to call upon individuals or
States for such as they are willing to contribute, with the
condition of emancipation to all enrolled, a sufficient number
would be forthcoming to enable us to try the experiment. If it
proved successful, most of the objections to the measure would
disappear, and if individuals still remained unwilling to send
their negroes to the army, the force of public opinion in the
States would soon bring about such legislation as would remove all
obstacles. I think the matter should be left, as far as possible,
to the people and to the States, which alone can legislate as the
necessities of this particular service may require. As to the mode
of organizing them, it should be left as free from restraint as
possible. Experience will suggest the best course, and it would be
inexpedient to trammel the subject with provisions that might, in
the end, prevent the adoption of reforms suggested by actual trial.

"With great respect,

"Your obedient servant,

"R. E. LEE, _General_."

FEBRUARY 25TH.--Raining. There are more rumors of the evacuation of
Wilmington and even _Petersburg_. No doubt that stores, etc. are leaving
Petersburg; but I doubt whether it will be evacuated, or Richmond,
either. Grant may, and probably will, get the Danville Railroad, but I
think Lee will disappoint him in the item of evacuation, nevertheless;
for we have some millions in gold--equal to 300,000,000 paper--to
purchase subsistence; and it is believed Virginia alone, for _specie_,
can feed the army. Then _another_ army may arise in Grant's rear.

From the published accounts in the enemy's journals, we learn that
Charleston fell on the 18th inst. They say one-third of the city was
burned by us. I presume they saw the ruins of the old fire; and that
most of the citizens, except the destitute, had left the town. All the
cotton was destroyed by the inhabitants. They say an explosion killed
several hundred of our people. They boast of capturing 200 guns, and a
fine lot of ammunition--the latter, it seems to me, might have been
destroyed.

I hear the deep booming of guns occasionally--but still doubt the policy
or purpose of evacuating Petersburg.

Mr. Hunter's eyes seem blood-