r; and Lee himself was there! It amounted,
probably, to 3000 men. Grant says over 2000 prisoners were registered by
his Provost Marshal. It is believed the President advised the desperate
undertaking; be that as it may, many such blows cannot follow in quick
succession without producing the most deplorable results. The government
would soon make its escape--_if it could_. Mrs. Davis, however, soonest
informed of our condition, got away in time.

Dispatches from Generalissimo Lee inform the Secretary that large
expeditions are on foot in Alabama, Mississippi, etc., and that Thomas's
army is rapidly advancing upon Virginia from East Tennessee, while no
general has yet been designated to command our troops.

The papers say nothing of the flank movement commenced yesterday by
Grant. This reticence cannot be for the purpose of keeping _the enemy_
in ignorance of it!

I am convalescent, but too weak to walk to the department to-day. The
deathly "sick man," as the Emperor of Russia used to designate the
Sultan of Turkey, is our President. His mind has never yet comprehended
the magnitude of the crisis.

Custis says letters still flow in asking authority to raise negro
troops.

In the North the evacuation of Richmond is looked for between the 1st
and 25th of April. They may be fooled. But if we lose the Danville Road,
it will only be a question of time. Yet there will remain too great a
breadth of territory for subjugation--if the _people_ choose to hold
out, and soldiers can be made of negroes.

It is reported (believed) that several determined assaults were made on
our lines yesterday evening and last night at Petersburg, and repulsed
with slaughter; and that the attack has been renewed to-day. Very heavy
firing has been heard in that direction. Gen. Lee announces no result
yet.

We have 2,000,000 bread rations in the depots in North Carolina.

MARCH 31ST.--Raining; rained all night. My health improving, but
prudence requires me to still keep within the house.

The reports of terrific fighting near Petersburg on Wednesday evening
have not been confirmed. Although Gen. Lee's dispatch shows they were
not quite without foundation, I have no doubt there was a false alarm on
both sides, and a large amount of ammunition vainly expended.

"HEADQUARTERS, March 30th, 1865.

"GEN. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, SECRETARY OF WAR.

"Gen. Gordon reports that the enemy, at 11 A.M. yesterday, advanced
against a part