November 7th.—Dark and raining. Cannon heard down the river.
To-day our Congress assembles. Senator Johnson, of Missouri (who relinquished six years in United States Senate and $200,000 for the cause), called to see me. He is hopeful of success in the West.
By the Northern papers we see that Mr. Seward has discovered a “conspiracy” to burn all the Northern cities on election day. It may be so—by Northern incendiaries.
Our citizens are still asking permits to bring flour and meal to the city (free from liability to impressment) for “family use.” The speculators divide and subdivide their lots, and get them in, to sell at extortionate prices.
Rumors of fighting toward Petersburg—nothing reliable.
Gen. Lee writes that he sent in the Tredegar Battalion to the foundry a few days ago (desertions being frequent from it); and now he learns it is ordered out to report to Lieut.-Col. Pemberton. He requests that it be ordered back to the foundry, where it is absolutely necessary for the supply of munitions, etc.
