The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-04
CORRESPOND NICE.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


usual. There have been between sixty and one
hundred filed each day, for the past two weeks, at
the War Department alone, and yesterday there
were more than three hundred and fifty, and were
measured by the arm-load.
| The frigate St. Lawrence sails from Fort Mifllin,
! Delaware river,) where she is now taking her
powder on board, tomorrow. Sne sails under
sealed orders, but it is surmsed that she is destined
to the Gulf Of Mexico, probably to aid in the
blockade of New Orleans.
The main body of the Confederate troops at Ma
nassas have advanced from that Junction, and are
now throwing up eartbworks between it and Alex
andria. A grand battle is evidently expected
| shortly.
Guards are now stationed that no one can pass
over Long Bridge without pass from Lieutenant
General Scott
The steam gun boat Pawnee left the Navy Yard
last evening for Matthias Point, where she will act
in concert with the Pocahontas, which steamer is
of the mouth of Aqua Creek. Should these
sells reach Matthias Point, they will meet with as
warm reception did the Freeborn, if my infoT-
nation be correct.
Disorder is still the characteristic of most of the
troops stationed in this city. We hear constantly
Of murders and riotous assaults. On Tuesday one
| OF the 10Th (High landers) was brptally murdered
BY comrade. Last evening party of drunken SOL
ders attempted to force their way into the commits
sary's store-ro0m in the Post-ofice, and it not
until the regulars were called out that they could
be induced by any means to desst.
Yesterday afternoon member of the 9th Massa-
| chusetts regiment went to the house of Mrs.
| Cnchrane, at Sixth and G streets, and procured
| Ijqunr which he did not pay for. He " as then
elected from the house, and while standing on the
porch the woman came out and beat him severely.
He was rescued from the Amazon by the by
standers.
Two members of one of the New York regiments,
nGw encamped on Georgetown Heights, were shot
| last night, either accidentally in a drunken
Injuries Injuries. - '''' ''' - " ' ''>'''
| Eight members of the New York Eighth regi-
ment were sent to jail yesterday, being convicted
| by court martial Of drunkenness, insubordina-
| ton, &c.
Samuel A. Woods postmaster of the Eighth
New York regiment, has pleaded guilty to robbing
| the mails. When he was arrested, he had upon
him a number Of letters belonging to other regi-
ments, seventy dollars, &c.
Members of Congress have arrived here in large
numbers within the past few days. 1t is the gen.
eral opinion amongst members that the session will
be more pr0tracted than was at first supposed.
The business which must be transacted it is be
lieved will occupy four weeks. New methods of
taxation, revision OF the post-ofce business, ap-
preparations, and debate on the Message and ac-
companying documents, will all be subjects for
consideration IL is certain that Hon. J. c. Breck-
inridge will be present 10 preside at the organiza-
tion of the Senate.
Office-seekers and obbyers, contractors and their
agents. 60 through the streets and botels, seeking
introductioDs to Senators and Representatives.
vi tuS interesting crew OF mefcenarleS see one OF
the prominent citizens of your city, Mr.. John
Hinsey, of Criminal Court notoFiety. There is
an evident completely on the part of the leaders
OF the Republican party to prosecute the present
war on what they might term sound political
basis.
Efficient men are discharged upon mere pre-
text, and in some instances without even the
slightest excuse. Politicians invariably receive the
prominent positions. while the claims of meritor-
Gus and intelligent officers of the army are thrown
aside without consideration.
1t is hinted that base plot exists between
Messrs. Lincoln, Seward and McSiichael by which
Mr.. Harvey used a political cats-paw to
serve the interests of the Republican party 1t is
confidently believed here by many eminent men
that Gov. Pickens' despatch was dictated by Mr..
Seward and sent through Harvey. Mr.. Harvey
is not recalled, nor will he be.
During the great excitement in Philadelphia,
Mr.. McMicharl, of the North american, did not
hesitate to defend Harvey. Mr.. H. was a writer
for Mr. McMichaes paper, and was recognized
generally as an upright, homo able gentleman,
and the best informed man in " ashington city.
He was known to be, although Soutnerner in
the interest of the Republican party, and the public
may rely upon the fact that there a completely
between officials before MIR. Harvey committed the
overt act with which many Northern journals have
charged him.
Those of the Cabinet who assembled were in
state of confusion this morning, at of pri-
vate nature which has reached the State Depart
ment from Paris, relative to the relations
which shortly expected to be officially an
nounced in France, to the recognition of the
Confederate States. This accounts, in a manner,
for the violent opposition outbursts in the Paris
ian ultra-mnn tame journals.
The election OF Major Charles j. Biddle (Dem.)
in the I'd Pennsylvania Congressional District, is
principal subject of comment and astonishment
fh the Rapahiicans 20 day.
The following two tickets seem to be the most
prominent for Speaker and Clerk of the House of
Re.ressni-t.Tes. Col. Blair, of Missouri and Col.
j. ". Forney; sud @. a. Grow, of p,nusy ylyania,
Etherdpp- q Tennessee
Mr. FOrney is making desperate efforts to ensure
Blair's election, and thus secure his own. part
of his capital programme is the delivery of eu
logv on the late Hon. s. A. Douglas this evening
at the Smithsonian Institute.
That magnificent structure, the Capitol building,
has been iu a manner, repaired and renovated al
though much of the costly oil painting the
walls is irreparably injured by the vandas who
were quartered there. SPECIAL.
Especial Correspondence of The DAILY Exchanged
OUTFtAGEs AND VIOLENCE BY THE FED
ERAL TROOPS.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, July l, 1861.
The papers of the day have in the last five weeks
made our old city quite notorious, so much so, in.
deed, that our modest and unpretending town
has suddenly grown into an Importance which is
scarcely justified by her corporate limits 1t has
occurred to me that consecutive account of the
ills have borne here since the 24th of May last
might not be without interest to community
somewhat similarly situated, and therefore beg
your permission to recount some facts which your
readers here will attest The conquest of Alexan-
dria, on the oath of May, By Lincoln troops, (by
the way, the only conquest they have yet made,)
has been viewed by some as masterly achieve
ment Of military genius. With a war vessel lying
before the city, threatening death and destruction
to our wives and children and the advance of thou
sands OF the federal troops it not wonderful
that four five hundred half-armed men should
have evacuated the citv?
| would be glad if my time or your patience
would permit me full account from my notebook
of all that has occurred but must content myself
with the relation OF only such things most
prominent in my memory. You are, no doubt,
aware that the "Fire Zouaves,'' alias "Pet Lambs"
were selected the first precious morse to crafty
the strange whims of the peple OF Alexandria
This kind consideration on the part of Abraham
Lincoln surely ought to have demonstrated to US
that he only sending US protectors. You
know that they sent here merely to retake
and occupy the property which bad 4een taken
from him, but on their arrival they discovered that
no such property existed here, in fact-though
they acted for time if all the goods and chat
tells in the city had been the property of the
United States, and they were in duty bound to take
them.
Soon after their arrival it was deemed advisable
by the officer in command (Col. Wilc9x) that
tain precautionary measures should be adopted
Our ladies the bravest of the brave-had in many
instances spurncd the protfered assurances of pro-
lection and safety; and the peaceful citizens looked
grum and doubling. Accordingly, thare speed
ly naugurated cautious yet careful examination
of private dwellings, in search of arms. In some
instances ladies and children were affright,d from
their homes, whilst their bureaus, waGdrobeS and
closets were being scrutinized by the soldiers.
Many "important captures, the papers tell us,
were thus made-a Few modern fowlng pieces, some
gnns Of sn antediluvian era, relics of bvgone ages,
and few revolvers amongst the number. The
"Pet Lambs are stationed at the depot grounds of
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad COMPANY, to
afford protection to the property there. They
found there a large number of trunks of persons
who had contemplated taking the IN rning train.
These were all protected by being broken open and
Iihed of their contents; and these 'pets could be
seen about the grounds with many gui0ntiy won
trophies, in the shape of balmorals, silks, satins
calicoes, oonuets and feathers of various hues and
descriptions. The office of the Company received
equal protection. They broke it open, and with
charge in which every doubt displayed
great ''cOoln and bravery" destroyed such locks
and papers as they could find.
The first important arrest that was made, of
Mr.. Ferrell transportation agent of the Manassas
Gap Railroad Company, whose grave offence was
that the said company had at some indefinite
period then fully past, transported over their road
divers quantities of powder and other dangerous
implements, against the peace and dignity of Abra-
ham Lincoln After being in "durance vile" for
some hours, he released. On Sunday, the 26th
of May, outrages of every name and description
were perpetrated and even frai women sought the
protection of the civil authorities in preference to
that of the military.
One Mckinney, W ho was guilty of the high-handed
offence of keeping grocery store, experienced
the same day the kindness of "Our protectors"
They mercifully broke open his store, took his
Houor and distributed the and residue of his
stock promiscuOusly amongst the black rabole that
| followed in their train.
| Colonel Wilcox who IS said by some to be much