cross the
Potomac and offer battle--as nothing less will satisfy the rabid
Abolitionists. Gen. Lee is tearing up the rails on the road from
Harper's Ferry.

Our improvident soldiers lose a great many muskets. We should not have
arms enough on the Potomac, were it not for those captured at Harper's
Ferry. An order will be issued, making every man responsible for the
safe-keeping of his gun.

OCTOBER 18TH.--Major-Gen. Jones telegraphs from Knoxville, Tenn., that a
wounded officer arrived from Kentucky, reports a victory for Bragg, and
that he has taken over 10,000 prisoners. We shall soon have positive
news.

A letter from Admiral Buchanan states that he has inspected the defenses
of Mobile, and finds them satisfactory.

I traversed the markets this morning, and was gratified to find the
greatest profusion of all kinds of meats, vegetables, fruits, poultry,
butter, eggs, etc. But the prices are enormously high. If the army be
kept away, it seems the supply must soon be greater than the demand.
Potatoes at $5 per bushel, and a large crop! Half-grown chickens at $1
each! Butter at $1.25 per pound! And other things in the same
proportion.

Here is a most startling matter. Gov. Baylor, appointed Governor of
Arizona, sent an order some time since to a military commander to
assemble the Apaches, under pretense of a treaty--_and when they came,
to kill every man of them, and sell their children to pay for the
whisky_. This order was sent to the Secretary, who referred it to Gen.
Sibley, of that Territory, to ascertain if it were genuine. To-day it
came back from Gen. S. indorsed a _true bill_. Now it will go to the
President--and we shall see what will follow. He cannot sanction such a
perfidious crime. I predict he will make Capt. Josselyn, his former
private Secretary, and the present Secretary of the Territory, Governor
in place of Baylor.

OCTOBER 20TH.--The news from Kentucky is very vague. It seems there has
been a battle, which resulted favorably for us, so far as the casualties
are concerned. But then Bragg has fallen back forty miles, and is
probably retiring toward Cumberland Gap, that he may not be taken in the
rear by the enemy's forces lately at Corinth.

The President intends suspending the Conscription Act in Western
Virginia, for the purpose, no doubt, of organizing an army of Partisan
Rangers in that direction.

It seems, from recent Northern papers received in this city, that the
elections in Pennsy