Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-13
FROM WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
DEPARTMENT 0F SrArR, }
December 4, 1861.

~ December 4, 1861.
GENERAL am directed by the President To call your
attention to the following subject Persons elaine Ia
he held to service and labor under the laws the state Of
virginia and actually employ ed in hostile service against
the General Government Of the United states frequently
escape from the lines Of the cnemys forces and are re-
eeVed "lhn the lines OF the army Of the Potomac The
department understands that such persons afterwards
coming into the city Of Washington are liable to be ar.
rested by the city police upon the presumption arising
nom color, that they fugitycs from service o labor
by the AN section Of the act Of Congress- approved Aug
o. lSol entitled an act to coufcae property used for
insurrectionary purposes Such hostile cfuula,mept Il
made iu and sufficient answer any other claim to
service or labor Persons thus employed and cscspinr
are received into the military protection Of the United
states, and their arrest guyes from labor or service
should be Immediately followed by the military arrest OF
me parties making the seizure Copies Of This commu-
mcauon vi" be sent TO the Mayor OF the CITY uf Wash
ngton and to the Marshal Of the District of Columbs
that any collision between the military aud civil authority
may be avoided.
tsignedj ''' '''1''9 WI n 'mHo n Is;fwARp
large number of vessels, some Of large
size, have recently arrived from the lower Pc.
tomac One passed in broad day, the rebel
batteries, but was unmolested
Charles g. Faulkner of Virginia will be re-
leased from confinement in Fort Warren on
his parole. He will proceed Immediately south
and procure similar release of Hon. Alfred
Ely. If not successful in that errand he has
! pledged himself to return to custody in thirty
days.
Vice Prcsdert Hamliu has appointed SEN
ators Trumbul and Fessenden regents of the
/ Smithsonian Institute to fill the yaoanes oe-
casioned by the death Of Senator Douglass
and the treason of Mason.
WAsHfNGToN, Dec. s.
An army order is just issued by the Secre.
tsry OF War directing that all officers and en-.
listed men of the volunteer service now pris-
oners in the hands Of the enemy or reported
as missing in actions. be transferred to skee.
ton regiments to be formed by the Governor.
OF the respective States and to consist en-.
tirely OF such missing officers and men. The
vacancies thus occasioned in the organized
regiments will be filled by the Governor o
the various states to which the regiment be.
longs
Washington special dispatches state that
the president avows his purpose to preserve
cautious and prudent policy in regard to our
foreign relations, and there need be no feal
OF a war with Great Britain unless the gov
eminent OF England seeks pretext for hostil
tiles, No anxiety on this subject is felt b,
the administration
The 1ribune's Washington dispatch says
that Gen. Patterson has called for court Of
inquiry into his conduct in the campaign Of
last spring and summer.
Commander Poore has been on trial for al
lowing the Sumter to escape from New Or
leans, when he was in command of tn,
Brooklyn, and acquitted, and the finding ha,
been approved by Secretary Welles
Lieut.. Hare, of the n. Y. 3lst, is in clos,
confinement for sleeping on his post. Tn,
punishment Of the crime is death by sentene,
Of court martial
An officer of Gen. Burns brigade, who lef
the camp to-day, reports that the enemy ap
pear to be Withdrawing their forces, especial,
those near Monocacy. II is thought that IN,
whole rebel force of the upper Potamac is pre-
pairing 10 retire.
Gen. Wool recently held a council with hi
officers, and they unanimously come to tn
conclusion that demonstration ought to b
made upon Richmond from that point Gen
Wool is therefore anxious that the govern
ment should give him the requisite numbe
Of men and means. The subject is befor
the government.
A contraband who came into our line
= brings word that the rebels have five regi
c ments and one company OF artillery on higl
] knoll Just west of Occoquan village, wher
: they think they can hold two roads that lea,
southwark crossing the Occoquan near there
There were slight earlhworks and no heav
pieces.
b A captured rebel spy represents that grea
dissatisfaction exists among the rebels, espe
0 eially the South Carolnians, and confirm
the report that the troops from that state hav
! been permitted to return home.