The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,

Gen. Mcclellan took official command this morn
ing. In company with Gen. Mcdowell, he passed
through the camps of the troops, and, after slight
inspection, returned to this city to consult with
Gen. Scott upon some alterations which he deem,
necessary should be Immediately made 1t wa.
only with great. difficulty that | obtained pas,
this morning, and then only by aid of undeniable
military and congressional influence.
There are number of suffers now here who were
unable to cross to their regiments to-day, their old
passes being OF no account. Forts Corcoran and
Ellsworth are fine earthwork structures and strono
ly garrlsoned. The former was constructed by
the 69th New York regiment, and the latter by
the Fire Iouaves. Fort Ellsworth occupies an
acre OF ground and is surrounded by a moa,
forty feet wide and five feet deep. Its armament
consists OF three heavy guns, (Dahlgren,) and
four field howitzers &c lbs).
war between the negroes of the District is
impending and, should the influence: which have
caused this enmty not be removed there will pro.
badly be a pugnacious contest which the mere
police cannot quell. This feud has been caused bv
Jealousy, induced by the superluous intervention
OF the Northern soldiery, and exists between the
free blacks and slaves OF this city. The soldiers
have so petted the free negroes here by promising
them protection and better times when the war
shall have been ended, that they have become ex-
ceedingly saucy and impairment.
These darkies go into their camps. work dill.
gently and are fed with the soldiers Mapy of
them expect to 60 North with the regiments
Many of the Federal troops treat these negroes as
boon companions, and, in many instances, the most
disgusting intimacies formed.
The slaves of the District bitterly hate the
troops, and those of their own race with whom
they are familiar, and avoid their presence. The
result of the feeling both sides has been the
Grafton OF vindictive feud, which becomes more
general every day. and if the discipline of the army
| is not amended in this particular there is every
reason to believe that serious strife will ensue.
A number OF Tree negroes have been COM
mitted to Jail for various offences some Of
them capital ones, within the past two
weeks; and yet, by neglect or wifu laxitv of
duty, they are allowed to escape 1t has been but
few days since that one of these black rascals cut
three with knife one OF whom was killed on the
spot and vet the criminal was not believe, in con
inement forty-eight hours. Another of these free
negroes insulted grossly the wife of a worthy citi-
| reprimand the black, he killed him on the spot;
and yet believe this brute has escaped the Justice
| which should have been melted to him.
| Sixty-four clerks in the Departments, who were
| arraigned at the inqusitorial tribunal (Mr. Pot
ter's) sitting in the "Star Chamber mo- 81 have
| refused to take the oath of allegiance.
Ex-Governor }. }. Stevens, former member Of
| Congress, and President of the National Democrat
| ic Executive Committee during the last Presiden
tial campaign, has accepted the command (Which
| was forced upon hm) of the 10Th New York regi,
ment (Highlanders), vice Col. Cameron, killed at
| Bull Run.
l
and Judgment, who is from Fortress Monroe direct
lie says the various reports atterly circulated in
| regard to the attack of the Confederates was en-.
tirely untrue. That the Confederatess are at HAY.
| market Bridge, and the report of the attack on
| Hampton was an idle speculation of the reporter
of the associated press.
| Recruiting proceeds but slowly here The hearts
OF the people are not with the ruling Powers, and
| doubt If single full regiment can be raised in
this city, with its population of fty-eght thousand
Not only will there be great difficulty in obtain
ing the necessary recruits to supply the place of
the three months volunteers, but the army now in
the field will be considerably reduced by assertions
am assured by perfectly reliable gentlemen from
Anne Arundel, that many IS three hundred
men, who have managed to cross over from Vir-
GINA into Maryland are now in his county alone.
They profess to be very much dissatisfied with their
treatment, and indignant at the manner in which
they have been deceived. Several of the soldiers
told my informant that they had enlisted under
the positive promise of the extra pay ofeight dollars
month to their wives, during their absence, but
that they had only received one dollar, and their
wives only three during three months They said be-
sides that they had been each promised small farm
Z" Frg.n'a. An officer who was in com
pany with them, cdrroborated this state
ment, and said he was sorry to confess that
four ffths the men in his regiment had enlisted
with this expectation. Another gentleman from
Prince Georges county states that at least three
hundred more have passed in the neighborhood of
Buena Vista. These have effected their escape from
the District. They were swapping their coats and
uniforms with the negroes for plain clothing, and
taking from them any thing in exchange that would
cover their nakedness. The brilliant. display of
darkies in full dress uniforms, next Sunday, will
be unusually attractive.
Private information has been received here that
barbarous plan has been arranged by Some
officers of the United States navy to arm and pro-
vide 900 negroes with knives and torches for the
purpose of landing them from boats at some point
on the Southern coast where they can proceed
inland to ravage, burn and destroy. You may
all hipyt inF, r.
source from which l receive it, leaves me no room
to doubt its perfect accuracy.
Private advices from Richmond assure me that
Mr.. Bergman, of the Maryland line, who was
wounded on Sunday week, is doing well. He was
shot in the groin, but the ball touched no vital
part.
General Geo. H. Steuart was not taken prisoner
as reported. He is still in Virginia. SPECIAL.