ption," etc. etc.
He says it is attempted to establish a despotism, where the people are
sovereigns, and our whole policy should be sanctioned by popular favor.
Instead of this it must be admitted that the President's inflexible
adherence to obnoxious and incompetent men in his cabinet is too well
calculated to produce a depressing effect on the spirits of the people
and the army.

T. N. Conrad, one of the government's secret agents, says 35,000 of
Thomas's army passed down the Potomac several weeks ago. He says also
_that our telegraph operator in Augusta, Ga., sent all the military
dispatches to Grant_!

CHAPTER XLVIII

From the North.--Rumored defeat of Gen. Early.--Panic among officials.--
Moving the archives.--Lincoln's inaugural.--Victory in North
Carolina.--Rumored treaty with France.--Sheridan's movements.--Letter
from Lord John Russell.--Sherman's progress.--Desperate condition of
the Government.--Disagreement between the President and Congress.--
Development of Grant's combination.--Assault at Hare's Hill.--
Departure of Mrs. President Davis.

MARCH 1ST.--Cloudy, cold, and dismal. We have no news, except from the
North, whence we learn Lieut. Beall, one of our Canada raiders, has been
hung; that some little cotton and turpentine were burnt at Wilmington;
and that the enemy's columns are approaching us from all directions.
They say the rebellion will be crushed very soon, and really seem to
have speedy and accurate information from Richmond not only of all
movements of our army, but of the intentions of the government. They say
Lynchburg and East Tennessee now occupy the mind of Gen. Lee; and they
know every disposition of our forces from day to day sooner than our own
people! What imbecile stolidity! Will we thus blunder on to the end?

Congress has passed an act organizing the artillery force of Lee's
army--submitted by Gen. Pendleton (Episcopal clergyman), who writes the
Secretary that Col. Pemberton (Northern man and once lieutenant-general)
is making efforts to induce the President to withhold his approval of
the bill, which he deprecates and resents, as the bill is sanctioned by
the judgment of Gen. Lee. From this letter I learn we have 330 guns and
90 mortars under Lee; enough to make a _great noise_ yet!

Lieut.-Gen. Grant has directed Col. Mulford, Agent of Exchange, to say
that some 200 prisoners escaped from us, when taken to Wilmington for
exchange, and n