ut weakly defended. Hooker
must have overwhelming numbers, else he would not venture to advance in
the face of Lee's army! Can he believe the silly tale about our troops
being sent from Virginia to the Carolinas? If so, he will repent his
error.

We hear of fighting in Northwestern Virginia and in Louisiana, but know
not the result. The enemy have in possession all of Louisiana west of
the Mississippi River. This is bad for us,--sugar and salt will be
scarcer still. At Grand Gulf our batteries have repulsed their
gun-boats, but the battle is to be renewed.

The railroad presidents have met in this city, and ascertained that to
keep the tracks in order for military purposes, 49,500 tons of rails
must be manufactured per annum, and that the Tredegar Works here, and
the works at Atlanta, cannot produce more than 20,000 tons per annum,
even if engaged exclusively in that work! They say that neither
individual nor incorporated companies will suffice. The government must
manufacture iron or the roads must fail!

A cheering letter was received from Gov. Vance to-day, stating that,
upon examination, the State (North Carolina) contains a much larger
supply of meat and grain than was supposed. The State Government will,
in a week or so, turn over to the Confederate Government 250,000 pounds
of bacon, and a quantity of corn; and as speculators are driven out of
the market, the Confederate States agents will be able to purchase large
supplies from the people, who really have a considerable surplus of
provisions. He attributes this auspicious state of things to the
cessation of arbitrary impressments.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Lee snuffs a battle in the breeze.--Hooker's army supposed to be 100,000
men.--Lee's perhaps 55,000 efficient.--I am planting potatoes.--Part
of Longstreet's army gone up.--Enemy makes a raid.--Great victory at
Chancellorville.--Hot weather.--Our poor wounded coming in streams,
in ambulances and on foot.--Hooker has lost the game.--Message from
the enemy.--They ask of Lee permission to bury their dead.--Granted,
of course.--Hooker fortifying.--Food getting scarce again.--Gen.
Lee's thanks to the army.--Crowds of prisoners coming in.--
Lieut.-Gen. Jackson dead.--Hooker's raiders "hooked" a great many
horses.--Enemy demand 500,000 more men.--Beauregard complains that so
many of his troops are taken to Mississippi.--Enemy at Jackson,
Miss.--Strawberries.--R