rear.

"Gen. McLaws was sent back to arrest his progress, and repulsed him
handsomely that afternoon. Learning that this force consisted of
two corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, I determined to attack it, and
marched back yesterday with Gen. Anderson, and uniting with Gens.
McLaws and Early in the afternoon, succeeded by the blessing of
Heaven in driving Gen. Sedgwick over the river. We have reoccupied
Fredericksburg, and no enemy remains south of the Rappahannock in
its vicinity.

"(Signed) R. E. LEE, _General_."

Another dispatch from Gen. Lee says Hooker is still on this side of the
river, at United States Ford, _fortifying_.

Gen. Longstreet is now closeted with the Secretary of War. No doubt his
entire corps will immediately rejoin Lee.

Jackson was wounded (his arm has been amputated) before the great battle
was fought, by our own men, in the gloom of the evening, supposing him a
Federal officer. He was reconnoitering in front of the line.

S. S. H---- writes to the department, proposing to send an emissary to
the North, to organize secret societies to destroy the enemy's stores,
ships, railroad bridges, etc. by an unexplained process.

Tillman, Griffin & Co. write to Judge Campbell to obtain them permission
to trade with Mexico. Does this mean trading cotton with the enemy? I
know not whether the request was granted.

Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State, writes to the Secretary to-day for
permission for some of his Louisiana friends to leave the country in a
government steamer.

It is said that the government at Washington is ordering their troops
from North Carolina and other places on the Southern seaboard towards
Washington, and to reinforce Hooker--or Hooker's army. I think Hooker
himself will go the way of all general flesh that fails.

The President sent to the War Department fifty-five letters to-day,
written to him on various subjects, but mostly asking appointments. He
had read them, and several had indorsed on them, in his own hand, what
he wished done in the premises. So he has not lost his sight. He still
attends to business at his dwelling, and has not been in his office for
more than a month.

Secretary Seddon is gaunt and emaciated, with long straggling hair,
mingled gray and black. He looks like a dead man galvanized into
muscular animation. His eyes are sunken, and his features have the hue
of a man who had been in his grave a full month. But he is