From General Lee's army.
[from our own Correspondent.] Army Northern Virginia, January 28th, 1864.
For the past ten days the weather has been clear and as genial as in the sweet month of May.
The roads have again assumed a dry hard surface, and if Mr. Meade is prepared to move there is everything in the condition of the roads and the weather to facilitate an advance.
But I can scarcely suppose that we shall be annoyed with "our friends over the way" for the present.
They will at least, I imagine, postpone paying us another visit until spring shall have set in good earnest.
There was a slight demonstration at one of the fords on the Robinson river a few days since, but it amounted to nothing more than the chasing in of our pickets by a small force of the enemy's cavalry, who were pursuing some of our teams that were returning from a foraging expedition.
I have now been with this army some fifteen months in the capacity of a correspondent, and I can truly say that never in all that time have seen it in such excellent condition as it is just now.--Despite the demagogues in Congress and the croakers outside, this army is well fed and clothed, and nine-tenths of them are buoyant with hopes of the future, and fully contented with their present condition.
Large numbers of the men, as I stated in my letter of yesterday, are receiving furloughs, whilst a goodly number of the wives of the officers and soldiers are daily arriving to share the privations and enjoyments of camp life.
Each day's arrival of the cars witnesses the joyful meeting and embraces of loved ones long parted; whilst the departing trains bear away many who, both to leave, having had their visit, are yet forced to go, and these not unfrequently mingle their farewells with irrepressible sighs and tears.
Thus is life — joy and sadness, happy meetings and sad farewells.
It is a gratifying sign of the times that our Legislature in a manner so pointed declined to interfere with the rightful duty of Congress in "raising and supporting armies." If Congress will respond to this proper refusal of our Legislature, and pass at once an adequate military bill, then may we hope, ere long, to see the army placed upon a permanent war footing for the war, and with our currency improved, we shall be enabled to defeat Lincoln for the succession, and thus pave the way to an honorable and lasting peace.
Howe's bill in the Yankee Congress to raise a mob composed of a million of men, and the "reserve" force bill in this State, are on a par. Neither of them have any claim to the serious consideration of either side.
Both are impracticable, and unwise if practicable.
Let Gen. Lee.
I pray, be retained in command of all the troops necessary to the defence of Virginia.
I still think he is equal to any command, and I cannot think it necessary to call for a mob to assist him in that defence.
There is one work, however, for the Legislature to do, and that is to do all in their power to stimulate the production of bread, and the raising of meat to feed our armies and our people. X. 