August 11th.—Hot and dry.
Dispatches from secret agents at Washington state that Grant and his staff have arrived, that half his army preceded him, and the remainder will soon follow. The campaign is considered a disastrous failure, and it is anticipated that henceforth the scene of operations is to be transferred from Richmond to Washington. They say President Lincoln’s face expresses “great terror,” and affairs there are in a critical condition.
A dispatch from Gen. Lee states that Gen. Bradley Johnson’s brigade of cavalry was surprised and routed on the 7th inst. by Averill. He has directed that Gen. J. be relieved.
A dispatch from Gen. Hood (Atlanta, Ga.) says no important change in affair has occurred since yesterday, except that Major-Gen. Bates is wounded. There are 5000 militia in the trenches.
August 12th.—Hot and dry. At 3 p.m. rained about three minutes. We are burning up.
There is no war news. A rumor in the street says Atlanta has fallen. I don’t believe it. Yesterday Gen. Hood said no important change had occurred, etc.
I saw a soldier to-day from Gen. Early’s army near Martinsburg, and the indications were that it was on the eve of crossing the Potomac. He left it day before yesterday, 10th inst. He says Kershaw’s division was at Culpepper C. H., 50 miles from Early.
Detachments of troops are daily passing through the city, northward. All is quiet below on the James River. Grant’s campaign against Richmond is confessedly a failure.
August 13th.—Hot and dry. Large green worms have attacked my tomatoes, and from the leaves are proceeding to the fruit. But not many of them will escape! I am warring on them.
No war news, except the continuation of the movement of troops northward. Hampton’s division of cavalry, at least three brigades, passed this morning.