The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-06
LEXANDRIA. VA.
The Provost Judges Court-Civil Cases.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Oct. 26, 1861.

The Provost Judges Court-civil Cases.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Oct. rs, 1861.
General: : Complaints have been made to
the President that the Provost Marshal at
Alexandria has undertaken to establish
court for civil purposes and that by that
court, or in other ways, he has assumed au-
thority over matters of civil justice, such az
the collection Of debts and the seizure and
transfer of property, having reference to the
deb5s and contracts of private persons. 1t
this be so it is fault which ought at once
to be corrected by proper orders from you,
30 as to limit the Provost Marshal to the ex-
ercise of powers properly belonging to his
military character, aud necessary to the en-
forcsment of a safe police.
I am, General, very respectfully, your
obedent servant. THos. S. SCOTT,
Assistant Secretary Of War.
BY direction of the Secretary of War.
GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Maj. Gen. Comd'g.
On receipt of the order of Gen. McClel.
Ian, Gen. Montgomery directed the following
order to Judge Freese
HEADQUARTERS, ALEXANDRIA,
Nov. 4, 1861.
Special Order No. 43.-Pursuant to in
structions from the War Department, dated
October 26, 1851, the Provost Judge of this
command will take no further cognizance Of
civil cases, and will dismiss the cases now
under consideration.
w. h. MONTGOMERY, Brig. Gen.
The PHILADELPHIA ELECTION CASE
Several gentlemen from Philadelphia are
here, and at the camps near this city, en-
gagged in taking dispositions relative to the
recent voting in the Federal camps for Phila.
delphia city officers. The complexion Of
portion Of the city government, will, it is
said, depend upon votes taken near this
place. s.s
BoDY FouND.-The body Of the negro lad
Sam, who was drowned in Hunting Greek
during the late storm, has been searched for
with much care. The exertiuns for its re-
covery have been successful, and on yester-
day afternoon. the body was found short
distance from the bridge. 1t showed traces
of having laid in the water, but was proper
~ cared for, and decently inferred.
HUNTING CREEK BRIDGE.-This structure
which was torn up soon after the U. s. forces
occupied this city, but which has lately been
reconstructed by Federal workmen, suffered
somewhat by the recent food. A portion Of
the causeway on each side of the wood work
is washed away, and it will require some
filing in to place the bridge in as good con-
dition as it was before the storm. This
work, will, we presume. be done at once.
The following curious Geographic dis
patch from Alexandria, appears in the New
York Herald 1.-THE private correspondence
and memoranda of Col. Benz. II. Berry, of
Virginia, at present an officer of the Confed-
crate army, was discovered and seized at
Alexandria on Sunday. Among the articles
seized is full set of regala Of the Order of
the Knights Of the Golden Circle, of which
Berry is said to be prominent officer"
MILITARY CoURr.-The Military Court
held no session this morning, owing to the
absence of the Judge.
The Court is to be held this afternoon, at
o'clock.
FALSE REPoRr.-The rumor thar on Satur.
day last woman and child were swept from
Hunting Creek Bridge and drowned, had no
foundation. n
FooT-BALL.-This game seems of late, to
have become universally popular in this city
On all the streets. in market, on the wharf
on the commons, every where-foot-ball-
football. Men play it, boys play it, and
just now it seems to be ''the thing" Pipes
and Footballs are having their day. We
suggest however, that the game be discard
ed in all the business streets-so that pas
sers-by-especially ladies, be cot incommod.
cd by dashing balls and gangs of lads run
ming at full tilt.
The Federal batteries near Budd's Ferry
are not far from the waters edge One has
been completed. Sickles' brigade in Mary
land has been largely reinforced. Since the
storm we have heard Ct no military opera.
tione on the lower P,tlmac, either ~ tn
land or river forces of the beligerents.
r