The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

w ASHlNGTOH, August loJ 1901.
The court martial convened to-day at the War
Department is a general one, for the trial of all
cases coming before it, and not, as was supposed,
for the especial benefit of the "Highlanders."
There are thirteen members, among whom are
General SickIes and General Rufus King, of Wis
consn. General Mccall, of Pennsylvania, presdes.
General Sickles raised the question whether a
court martial, composed of volunteer officers, is
competent to try charges preferred against regu-
lars The point remains this evening undecided.
Should the conclusion be in the negative, The
business of this Court, far it is designed to
take up general charges, will probably be blocked.
General Sickles says the Highianders are now be-
having well, that their arms have been returned,
and their coors will be after period of probation.
Nevertheless, some half dozen of them eRdeavOred
to escape to-day in disguise, and were once more
arrested. Thirty-seven of their greatest sinners
have been under very strict arrest from the first.
A single deposition was taken to-day in the case
of Mr.. Faulkner, and sent to District Attorney
Darlington, who pronounced it insufficient. The
case is therefore continued.
Mr.. John BigelOw, late of the New \ ork Ecentag
Post, and now to be Consul at Paris, "a compliment
originally intended for Mr.. Raymond of the Times,
whose claims, however, are supposed to be superior
to a mere Consuae,) is here, but viii short lea-e
for his post. Mr.. j. LOthrop Motley, the new Min
lister to Austria, is also in town, but leaves on the
Dist in the Europa, Niennaward.
The new oath prescribed BY the recent act of
Congress, was administered to-day to every clerk,
and employee of grades in the State Department,
and taken with aiacrity. The fact is, there isquite
a flutter among the clerks, among whom the Potter
Committee is ever ready to pounce down hawk
wise, to their dire CONSERVATION. -Four were dis
charged to day from the Sixth Auditors office, as
follows; Thomas j. McCamant (Sl600,) John b.
earns, (Sl600,) Brown Norris, (Sl400) and Mr..
Frysinger, (Sl400) The latter was editor of the
True Democrat at Lewiston, Pa. It would be edi-
flying to know if these are among the disoya! who
so Mortified the patriotism of MIR. Potter con the
very threshold Of investigation.
The irrepressble Helper is here, whittier, it is
said the Secretary ofthe Treasury has invited him.
Good things are, no doubt, in store for Helper.
captain of the New y ork 35th was brought to the
guard house three or four nights since ''mortay''
drunk, and semitic his quarters. To-day he was
again found "overcome," this time in gutter, and
In company with private Of regulars The cir
cumstance isfreg arded a sad one, setting as it
does, so bad an example to the men.
Six liquor-deaers were fined TODAY, S25 each
for selling bad to soldiers. There is no doubt
that General Mcclellan is in earnest; nevertheless
there are, here and there, thirsty souls, erea IN
the PrOCost WdrShoFs peculiar Bock.
One of the surgeons, recently released on parole
from Manassas, is q son of an old and attached
friend of Gen. Beauregard, and on that account
dined by invitation with the General, who ex-
pressed his surprise that so many of the Federal
dead and wounded should have fallen by the hands
of their own feows--for. said he, eve had no
Mimic balls at all, and yet you see that numbers of
your men have Mimic wounds
There are now in and around Washington l00-
900 men, and no doubt seems to be entertained
here that the Confederates slowly, but steadily
closing up.
The Fawnee went down the river last evening"
mission unknown. AS heavy firing was heard in
that direction this morning, it is FURNISHED that
she had probably been engaged by some OF the
Confederate batteries, or, it may be- by the G. S.
steamer Page, which vessel is iron plated, and
armed with four heavy guns. Her usual harbor is
Aqua Creek.
The Ordnance Department of the Navy lard is
turning out each week about twenty-five guna,
such designated boat howitzers; but they
are mounted on carriages and intended for field
pieces. They rifed twelve and twenty pound
ers A new gun has just been cast which il intend
ed as experiment. This gun is to be rified, and
although but about four feet long to the bore and
intended to carry 3G-pound ball, weighs nearly
ten thousand pounds. The model was made under
the direction of Capt. Dahlgren.
The Pensacoa's officers reporting themselves,
and the vessel will sail in two weeks.
The Mount Vernon started this morning for For
tress Monroe, with dispatches to Gen. Butler.
Capt. McGowan, q. S. n, started for Baltimore
last evening, with instructions from the Secretary
Of the Navy. He is to confer with Collector Hod-
man, probably in relation to the vessels intended
to be sunk in Virginia waters. SPECIAL.