Bright and hot. At 4
P.M. a cloud rising. Fear my wife, and daughter Fannie, and Custis (who has a
days' furlough), who went this morning per Fredericksburg Railroad into Hanover
County to gather blackberries, will be caught in a rain. Nevertheless, the rain
is wanted.
Assistant Secretary
Campbell is again "allowing” doubtful characters to pass out of the
Confederate States to the United States; among these is Dr. McClure, “the
embalmer,” who, too, carried others out for bribes.
The Signal Bureau
gives information to-day of Grant's purpose to spring the mine already sprung,
also of a raid, that was abandoned, north and west of Richmond. They say Grant
has now but 70,000 men, there being only a few men left at Washington. Can the
agents paid by the Signal Bureau be relied on?
Gen. Bragg
telegraphs from Columbus, Ga., that Gen. Roddy has been ordered to reassemble
his forces in North Alabama, to cut Sherman's communications.
The news from
Georgia is more cheering.
The commissioners
(of prices) have reduced the schedule: it was denounced universally. It is said
by the Examiner that the extravagant rates, $30 per bushel for
wheat, and $50 for bacon, were suggested by a farmer in office.
Gen. Lee writes that
he had directed Morgan to co-operate with Early, but he was sick.
The enemy's account
of our loss in the battle before Atlanta is exaggerated greatly. Sherman's army
is doomed, I think.
Seven P.M. No rain
here, but my family were drenched in a hard shower at Hanover Junction, and
what was worse, they got no blackberries, the hot sun having dried the sap in
the bushes.
