Plug Ugly" policemen, in the Provost
Marshal's "department," were summarily dismissed by Gen. Winder, for
"malfeasance, corruption, bribery, and incompetence." These are the
branches: the roots should be plucked up, and Gen. Winder and his
Provost Marshal ought to resign. I believe the President ordered the
removal.

OCTOBER 31ST.--If it be not a Yankee electioneering trick to operate at
the election in New York, on the fourth of November, the Northern
correspondence with Europe looks very much like speedy intervention in
our behalf.

Winder has really dismissed all his detectives excepting Cashmeyer,
about the worst of them.

If we gain our independence by the valor of our people, or assisted by
European intervention, I wonder whether President Davis will be regarded
by the world as a second Washington? What will his own country say of
him? I know not, of course; but I know what quite a number here say of
him now. They say he is a small specimen of a statesman, and no military
chieftain at all. And worse still, that he is a capricious tyrant, for
lifting up Yankees and keeping down great Southern men. Wise, Floyd,
etc. are kept in obscurity; while Pemberton, who commanded the
Massachusetts troops, under Lincoln, in April, 1861, is made a
lieutenant-general; G. W. Smith and Lovell, who were office-holders in
New York, when the battle of Manassas was fought, are made
major-generals, and the former put in command over Wise in Virginia, and
all the generals in North Carolina. Ripley, another Northern general,
was sent to South Carolina, and Winder, from Maryland, has been allowed
to play the despot in Richmond and Petersburg. Washington was maligned.

CHAPTER XX.

General Lee in Richmond: beard white.--First proposition to trade cotton
to the enemy.--Secretary in favor of it.--All the letters come
through my hands again.--Lee falling back.--5000 negroes at work on
the fortifications.--Active operations looked for--Beauregard advises
non-combatants to leave the city.--Semmes's operations.--Making a
nation.--Salt works lost in Virginia.--Barefooted soldiers.--
Intrigues of Butler in New Orleans.--Northern army advancing
everywhere.--Breach between the President and Secretary of War.--
President's servant arrested for robbing the Treasury.--Gen. J. E.
Johnston in town.--Secretary has resigned.--Hon. J. A. Seddon
appointed Secretary of War.--The enemy marching on Fr