The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-13
GENERAL NEWS.

Mr.. Charles Ellet, the well-known civil
engineer-a graduate of West Point-has
written, and caused to be distributed among
the members of Congress- pamphlet on the
war. in which he criticzss, pretty severe
ly, Gen. McClelan's policy of conducting
affairs so far"
The Chief Secretary of Ireland strongly
denies that famine is at all likely this year.
There has been comparative failure in the
potato crop, Whereby the price Of food will
be advanced, but h. treats the idea of ia
mine in Ireland as preposterous and false.
On Wednesday night u locomotive explod-
ed on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, near
Jackson's Bridge. by which two men were
killed and third SO badly injured that his
life is despared of.
Mr. Van Wyck's Investigating Committee
will report within few days. Among the
cases reported upon will he hat Of Ward H.
Lamon. Marshal of the District of Column
bia, Of whose ''Virgiria Brigade" much has
been said According to the report of the
Committee, Gen. Lamou as he registered
himself) Travelled many m'ie- ostensbly in
the service of the United States, really with
out commission or authority, either as Colo
mel or General, engaged in procuring SOL
diers to make up his brigade" not from
Virginia, but from regiments already formed
in Pennsylvania and Illinois,
The declaration of Mr. Foulke in the U.
S. House of Representatives that if Mr..
Lovejoy would attend more to the interests
Of the country, and less to that of the ne
groes, the former would get along better,
was received with applause in the galleries.
! In the Maryland Senate resolution has
been passed declaring vacant the seat of
Coleman Yellott. In the House of Dele
gates. Mr. Smith, of Worcester, introduced
a series of resolutions expressive of the graf
itication of the Legislature at the proclama-
tons Of Gems. Dix and Sherman respective
ly, and asserting the line of policy amour
ced in those proclamatons to be the true
policy Of the Federal Government.
A letter is published FROM the u S. Con-
sui General in Egypt stating that Viceroy
of Egypt is we'll inclined to the United
States, has excluded all "unrecognized
flags" from, his harbors, and is making
concessions to the growers of cotton so as to
enable them, if possible, to sell to the Eng
fish advantageously.
1t is represented that the people of the
West Indies are all indignant at the seizure
Of Mason and Sldell on the Trent, and that
! the Consul at ST.. Thomas has sent to Eng
land remonstrances on the subject.
| Formal complaints has been made to the
U. s. War Department, by Gov. Andrew, of
Massachusetts, against Gen Some, for, as is
alleged, Compelling the II ops from that
State to assist in the restoration Of fugitive
slaves. Certainly the cases must be few
where reservations were ever made by any
troops from that State
| 1t was stated in his speech on the "Sut-
ler's bilP' by Mr.. Wilson. Of Massachusetts,
that the bread provided by the U. S. govern
ment was thrown away while the suffers
supplies were consumed at the expense Of
the soldiers pay; and Of single regiment
he heard Of $ll 900 OF their pay for one
month going in this way, and co npanies
thereof owing 5000 for things charged at
enormous profits.
The Washington Republican says that ION
tomorrow the barbecue, pig and sack race,
and other arrangements in connection with
The flag presentation to the Twenty-third
Pennsylvania volunteers, at Camp Graham,
comes off. Preparations on the largest pos
sible scale have been made. An OK and fif-
teen pigs are to be roasted whole for the
benefit of the men,"
I 1t is said that instead of the Confederate
loss at the late skirmish at Dam No. 5, G.
and O. Canal, by "15 or 20 killed and many
wounded" as reported in the telegraphic
dispatch, their loss was really lone man
killed or wounded"
An. u S. vessel of war is TO be despatched
forthwith to the Mediterranean.