Washington July 16th 1864
Very little has been heard of the rebels in this vicinity for the last three or four days. They seem to have departed with their plunder (some eight thousand horses and two or three thousand head of cattle). No information has as yet been published that we have succeeded in recapturing a horse or cow or a rebel since they crossed the Potomac on their return. If this rebel “raid” does not prove the ruin of this Administration, it will be Owing to successes in other quarters. More stupidity could not well be manifested than it has been shown in this matter, with Washington in a defenceless condition and inviting the invader. No body was on the alert, and all were in stupid ignorance until an army of Twenty or Thirty Thousand were found knocking at our gates. If they did not come in it was their own fault. They might have done it during three or four days. I have my baggage all packed up ready to start for the North and home the forepart of the next week. My health needs recruiting and my family expect me about this time. I should have gone a week ago but could not get through. I do not expect to be absent more than two or three weeks, but I realy do not care much if I never come back here to stay. A “place” in the Gover[n]ment Departments is not worth much now with the old Salaries which were fixed when gold was paid but are now paid in “paper” worth about forty cents on the dollar. Gold is quoted today at 2.50, it has been 3.35. The expense of living has increased to at leas[t] double the former rates. Flour is held at $18.00, coal $13.00, oak wood $11.00, pine $8.00 pr cord, cotton sheeting 60 cents pr yard, Hams 35 cts pr lb, Beef D[itt]o.