Winking and blinking.--Johnston's great
battle.--Wounded himself.--The wounded.--The hospitals.

MAY 1ST.--The ladies shower loaves of bread and slices of ham on the
passing troops.

MAY 2D.--An iniquitous-looking prisoner was brought in to-day from
Orange C. H., by the name of Robert Stewart. The evidence against him is
as follows: He is a Pennsylvanian, though a resident of Virginia for a
number of years, and owns a farm in Orange County. Since the series of
disasters, and the seeming downward progress of our affairs, Stewart has
cooled his ardor for independence. He has slunk from enrollment in the
militia, and under the Conscription Act. And since the occupation of
Fredericksburg by the enemy he has made use of such equivocal language
as to convince his neighbors that his sympathies are wholly with the
Northern invader.

A day or two since, near nightfall, three troopers, weary and worn,
halted at Stewart's house and craved food and rest for themselves and
horses. Stewart, supposing them to be Confederate soldiers, declared he
had nothing they wanted, and that he was destitute of every description
of refreshments. They said they were sorry for it, as it was a long ride
to Fredericksburg.

"Are you _Union_ soldiers?" asked Stewart, quickly.

"Yes," said they, "and we are on scouting duty."

"Come in! Come in! I have everything you want!" cried Stewart, and when
they entered he embraced them.

A sumptuous repast was soon on the table, but the soldiers refused to
eat! Surprised at this, Stewart demanded the reason; the troopers rose,
and said they were Confederate soldiers, and it was their duty to arrest
a traitor. They brought him hither. Will he, too, escape merited
punishment?

MAY 3D.--I fear there is something in the rumor that Norfolk and
Portsmouth and Yorktown and the Peninsula will be _given_ up. The
Secretaries of War and Navy are going down to Norfolk.

MAY 4TH.--The Yankees on the Peninsula mean to fight. Well, that is what
our brave army pants for.

MAY 5TH.--The prospect of battle produces a joyous smile on every
soldier's face to-day.

MAY 6TH, 7TH.--We have not yet reached the lowest round of the ladder.
The Secretary is at Norfolk, and the place is to be evacuated. I would
resign first.

MAY 8TH.--Norfolk and Portsmouth are evacuated! Our army falling back!
The Merrimac is to be, or has been, blown up!

MAY 9TH.--My family, excepting my son Custis, started to-day for
Raleigh,