Tea is held at $100 per pound! Wood still $100 per cord.
I saw Gen. Rains to-day. He says he has over 2000 shell torpedoes planted along our lines around Richmond and Petersburg.
Col. Bayne reports the importation of 6400 packages salted meats, fish, coffee, preserved vegetables, from Nassau, Bermuda, and Halifax, since October 1st, 1864, in fourteen different steamers.
December 8th.—Rained hard in the night; clear and pleasant in the morning.
A letter from John T. Bourne, St. Georges, Bermuda, says he has some 1800 barrels government gunpowder under his care, of which he desires to be relieved.
Gen. Lee sent to the Secretary the following dispatch this morning: “2d and 5th corps, Gregg’s division of [enemy’s] cavalry, are moving South, on Jerusalem Plank Road. Cavalry reached Sussex Court House at 7 p.m. yesterday. Hill and Hampton [Confederate States generals] are following. Appearances indicate they are moving against Weldon, where I am concentrating all the depot guards I can.
“R. E. Lee, General.
“Petersburg, Dec. 8th, 1864.”
There are rumors of the enemy having effected a lodgment on the south side of the river, between Howell and Drewry’s Bluff. This may be serious. I do not learn (yet) that the Dutch Gap Canal is finished; but the enemy landed from barges in the fog. Gen. Lee, some weeks ago, designated such a movement and lodgment as important and embarrassing, probably involving the holding of Petersburg.
Nothing from Bragg.