Hard at work for five or six hours on my despatches and private letters. The first thing I received before breakfast was a cheerful joint letter from my sons John and Charles who were together at Hagerstown, and gave me their impressions of the state of things in the army. It was quite hopeful, and indicated confidence in the progress about to be made. Alas, the telegraphic despatch of a week later came in the afternoon to announce that General McClellan had been set aside and General Burnside substituted. The issue of this act is as yet unknown to us. It may be good, but at all events it puts an end to any present possibility of counting on results. The telegram intimates the possibility of consequent changes in the Cabinet. I presume this must refer either to Seward or to Blair, perhaps to both. I meditated and speculated upon the strange incomprehensible turn which events have constantly taken, and concluded that it was wise to trust the Creator with his skies. That good will ultimately come out of evil I do not permit myself to doubt. In the evening we had a rubber of whist in the family, and I afterwards wrote several letters.240