The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-18
GENERAL NEWS.

of the Potomac. One Of them is nearly op
posite the station of the fotilla at Indian
Head, and the other nearly opposite the
mouth of Matawoman creek. At both hea-
Wy guns are mounted, as they throw shot
quite across the river.
The Richmond Examiner says that the
Confederate Court of Commissioners to de-
termine claims for indemnity for losses by
the war is to be organized at once. George
P. Scarborough, of Virginia; Thomas G.
Reynolds, of Missouri, and Walker Brooke,
of Mississippi, form the said court.
Messrs Wendell and Fisher say they are
not to be connected with the future manage
ment of Browns Hotel, in Washington
Mr.. Potts is to be the sole manager.
AT the last dates from the U. S. Potomac
fotilla, the Harriet Lane and Yankee were
near Indian Head, and the Anacostia, Reso-
Lutte. Reliance, Jacob Bell, Stepping Stones,
Murray, and Herbert, were between the
new bate, les, and the station of the Page
in Quantico creek. The Union, Freeborn,
and Satellite are below Quantico.
The war news from England is said to
occasion no little excitement in diplomatic
circles in Washington.
The "food and fuel' famine in Ireland
though the accounts, as some of the English
papers say, may be exaggerated, is, never
theless, we think very serious. Active mea-
sures are being taken in England and Ire
land, among the charitable wealthy, to afford
relief
The herring fisheries of England will
prove an almost total failure this season.
During the recent gales off the coast two
hundred boats lost their nets, being obliged
to cut them loose or be cspsized.
In the U. S. Senate, resolution has been
introduced by Mr.. Sumner, to allsw negroes
to take out Patents, which was referred.
Any quantity of bogus army and naval
officers are circulating in Washington just
now. The city is full of individuals, wear
ing upon their shoulders the straps, desig-
mating colonies, lieutenant colonies, majors,
captains, and ieutenants.
A dispatch from st. Louis denies the
statement Of the insanity of Gen. Sherman.
The receptions" at the Presidents House
in Washington, now take place once week
or oftener.
The funeral of the late Col. Baker took
place ut San Francisco, CAL, On the llth in.
slant.
A letter from Harper's Ferry says:-'Tht
Confederates had Constructed bridge from
the main land to Herr's Island, in the Shen
andoah, and brought off locomotive, which
they had previously disabled, and conveyed
it to Winchester. The Contederates hac
considerably augmented their force at Mar
tinsburg."
Gen. Jackson's force consists of abou
5000 regular troops, well-armed and provd
ed for. His camp il on Lick Run, abou
five miles north by east Of Winchester. He
has eight pieces VI artillery and two compa.
MES of cavalry. A uniformed troop Of
militia Of TO men are securing the country
around Winchester.
The steamer Europa arrived at Boston
yesterday. The bearer of dispatches sen,
over by Minister Ldams to the Federal COY.
eminent and the Queens messenger to l. ,rd
Lyons, Immediately set out for .Washu gton,
where, it is expected, they will arrive this
afternoon. 1t is reported that shortly after
the Europa touched at Halifax, the British
steam sloop-of-war Rinaldo left, it is suppo.
sed in pursuance Of orders to communicate
with the commander of the British North
American squadron.
Gen. Phelps proclamation. upon landing
his troops, at the mouth of the Mississippi
excites censure, even in ultra quarters al
the North. He states in it that the creed q
himself and that of the troops under him il
that every slave State admitted into tn,
Union since the adoption of the Constitution
has been so admitted in direct violation O
the Constitution, and that the original slav,
States in becoming parties to the Fedora
compact were bound in honor to abolish sla
very. He assumes that slave labor is ,
monopoly which excludes the free labor
tho North from antarino into ,.,.,,o.:.: :