Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-26
THE NEWS HERE.

daily by all our fellow citizsns. We are among
those who believe the reform TO be easy Of accom-
plishment, of Il series CT changes tina: are
expected 10 grow out Of Gen. McClelIan's asSurnp-
ton Of the command of the Army of the Potomac
We take II for granted that 1t is the purpose Of
the War Department to send General MANSFIELD
speedily into the field because II is evident to all
that the services OF accomplished, laboriOus and
successful offers arc pressingly required with
our armies that actually confronting the dis
unionists
IL he be sent into the field, will It rs: be well to
consolidate the two military departments border
ing the Potomac here, under one general-McClel-
lan'-command2 Next: to quarter no troops with
in the limits of the corporations Of Warrington
and Georgetown? Next, again: to establish Pro-
vost Marshal'S guard CT 600 men here, under the
command OF general oticer charged with the
police duty Of the several camps well the con-
troll Of the military in the city and George clown?
A general officer should be at its head that ne
may rank every colonel in the service, and thus
be able to enforce obedience on their part Three
fourths Of all the confusion, riosOus conduct, in
subordination &c, on the part of the military
among Us grows out of lack Of discipline among
the regimental officers Too many Of the gimen-
tai f5ld and staff officers, well company offi-
Gers, seem to do duty much more assiduously in
the hotels. on Pennsylvania avenue and every
where else conceivable, but just where they should
be- Viz: where their men are quartered and no
where else.
Were the regiments all camPsd out OF the CITY
limits and a rule established that neither re2i-
mental officer or man should leave his camp
except on absolute duty, and Were the provost
marshal Of sufficient rank to enforce that rule
upon every regimental officer, we would soon
have not only no drunken soldiers or loafing fl
Gers sailing around streets, but the initiation
Of such regimental discipline as will guarantee
the cause against the recurrence on the 1eld of
such a panic a. marked the action Of Sunday last.
Every hour IL making Il palmer that neither the
regiments nor companies were properly COM
mandtd on that day; that the lamentable failure
OF cololels, lieutenant colonies, majors capital s
and lleutenants to be equal to the: several reg?cn
sibi'ities, was a fruitful cause OF the disaster
Unit! they learn tina: Their place is 10 he con-
stantly with their men, the latter will never
become reliable troops under fire.
Another very necessary work is TO finish the
receiving depot for arriving troops with much
more energy than that with which tie work is
now being pushed. The building-the old in
auguraiion ball-room-csn be put In complete
readiness to accommodate three full regiments
comfortably, within one week from to-day, II a
proper force Of mechanics and laborers be in
stantly employed upon it; and they can be had
here on two hours notice. Thus finished. the
place will shelter the arriving troops well until
they can he marched out to camp. For the next
month they may be made comfortable in camp
for weeks without elaborate camp fixtures, Of
there be lack Of the latter,) provided their
omeers be compelled to remain constantly by the
men and to look after them in camp
".
Rchn.ent Of the provost marshaI's guard aided
by regiLIental guards, can control their move
menS far bettr than they can he controlled scat
tered In indiscriminate buildings over the city
We throw out these hints after haying for
months closely studied the proceedings OF the
troops here. The success Of tue scheme will de-
pend In q great measure the activity, judg-
ment, energy and inhezibility OF the provost mar
shal
NAVY YARD-MATTERs Down RIvER.-Las.
evening the steamers Freedom and Yankee went
down the river, and resumed their occupation Of
watching the coast and preventing communica-
tion between the Maryland and Virginia shores
The soop- of-war Pawnee and the brig Perry
lie OF Alexandria.
The Balt;mo e, Capt. Hannah, arrived from
Annapolis last night with fifty seamen Tor this
station, several having been taken TO the fcrtiR-
cations near Alexandria, to work the heavy guns.
large number Of heavy boat howitzers, to-
gether with immense shell guns, have been re-
Gently mounted around Alexandria, and over a
hundred tTsined sezmen detailed to work them
The Mt Vernon, Philadelphia and Baltimore
are busily engaged in Transporting heavy timber
for the Notifications along the heights above
Alexandra, as well as shot, shell, and other
army stores.
The Baltimore came up last night pas: Mat
fhias' PoiLt Everything was quiet, and no
signs of batteries could be seen.
Night before lest TIE Ptil.de!pnia brought I'D
several = ~ from Fort Washington whose term
Of service had expired Major Haskins. how
ever, has sufficient force remaining 10 repel any
assault that can De made, and feels perfectly safe
with his diminished command
The steamer Resolute Is TO 90 en- the way. for
few zining repairs, and will then again join
the river feet.
couple Of Weir's steel riRed cannon sre now
at the yard, and attract 10 little attention from
visitors. Their lishtness renders them compare
lively easy Of trans portaton, and the range ia
most deadly Oficers Of the army and navy have
been testing them With fourteen ounces Of pow
der bali was kept up nearly thIrty-fye seconds,
and with eight ounces, at an elevation OF trlfe
over two degrees, the range Of six FOUNDER was
nearly $40 yards.
The PAY, RATIoSs, &c, OF THE New YORK
FnR ZOuAVRs-We hear loud complaints OF the
failure Of the New York Fire Zouayes to receiye
their Pcy from the Government, their regular "a.
tions, &c.
The fact that they have not long since been
paid IL attributable wholly TO the failure Of their
own ofacers to make out and present the pay-rolls
which the law calls for prtrioEs to paying them.
No U 3. Army Psymaster can lawfully pay them,
except upon the vouchers the law requires. The
money has been for months ready for them. The
fault Ii, therefore, wholly that of the officers of
the regineIt-nO not Of the Pay department.
This case ahows the necessity Of choosing regi.