ces, for twelve
months, that the mechanics may be contented and kept from deserting.
This would rid the city of some thousands of its population, and be some
measure of relief to those that remain. But how long will we be allowed
to remain? All depends upon the operations in the field during the next
few weeks--and these may depend upon the wisdom of those in possession
of the government, which is now at a discount.

The Secretary of the Treasury is selling gold for Confederate States
notes for reissue to meet pressing demands; the machinery for
manufacturing paper money having just at present no certain abiding
place. The government gives $1 of gold for sixty of its own paper; but
were it to cease selling gold, it would command $100 for $1.

MARCH 6TH.--A bright frosty morning.

This day I am fifty-five years of age.

It is now reported that Gen. Early made his escape, and that most of his
men have straggled into this city.

One body of Sheridan's men are said to have been at Gordonsville
yesterday, coming hitherward, while another were near Scottsville,
aiming for the South Side Railroad.

The Adjutant-General, having granted furloughs to the returned prisoners
two days ago, to-day revokes them. Will such vacillating policy
conciliate the troops, and incite them to heroic deeds?

The President and his wife were at church yesterday; so they have not
left the city; but Gen. Lee's family, it is rumored, are packing up to
leave.

I bought a quarter of a cord of oak wood this morning to mix with the
green pine, and paid $55 for it.

Gen. Early's cavalry, being mostly men of property, were two-thirds of
them on furlough or detail, when the enemy advanced on Charlottesville;
and the infantry, being poor, with no means either to bribe the
authorities, to fee members of Congress, or to aid their suffering
families, declined to fight in defense of the property of their rich and
_absent_ neighbors! We lost four guns beyond Charlottesville, and our
forces were completely routed.

There are rumors to-day that a column of the enemy's cavalry has reached
Hanover County. Gen. R. E. Lee has ordered Major-Gen. Fitz Lee's cavalry
to march against them.

Twelve M. They are bringing boxes to the War Office, to pack up the
archives. This certainly indicates a sudden removal in an emergency. It
is not understood whether they go to Danville or to Lynchburg; that may
depend upon _Grant's_ movements. It may, however, be Lee's pur