The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-23

~ In command OF the cumberland mlllCdry
department, asserts that the statement is
untrue; that he has been deemed insane
only by those who do not comprehend him.
Secretary Chase has returned to Washing
ton, having finished the business on which
he went to New York few days ago.
The U. S. Navy Department has sent or
ders to have the Constellation, at Ports
mouth, and the Macedonian, at Boston,
when they shall have been reftted, to cruise
in foreign seas, for the protection of the
commerce from privateers. Both are sailing
vessels. Similar orders will be sent to the
steamer Wyoming in the Pacific squadron,
to cruise on the coast of China. .ss
1t is rumored that the English and French
Governments agree that the Confederate pri.
vateersmen captured cannot be held or tried
as pirates, and that the U. s. government
will probably admit this to be correct.
Mr.. H. Rice has made earnest representa-
tions to the Secretary of the Navy in regard
to the exposed condition of our commerce in
the Chinese seas, and has obtained pro-
mise that war steamers now in the Pacific
shall be sent across forthwith. ii
Lieut.. Janeway, of Jersey City, who was
wounded in the reconnaissance ON Monday
last, from Gen. Heintzelman's division, is in
the hospital of the I'd Maine regiment
He was hit by eight musket balls, six of
which entered his body. Two of these
have been extracted. With proper care he
may recover.
The report that Maryland regiment had
been captured on the Upper Potomac grew
out of the fact that captain and thirteen
men of Maryland regiment were the other
day taken prisoners on the Upper Potomac.
Brig. Gen. Schoepff, who is in Kentucky,
came to this country entirely without means;
and nothing better Offering, he obtained a
situation as porter in one of the leading no.
tells of New York. Subsequently he filled a
similar situation in one of the hotels at
where his politeness brought
him under the notice of Mr.. Holt, who gave
him situation in the Patent office. He was
pushed forward whenever favorable oppor-
tunity presented ITSELF and when Mr.. Holt
was transferred to the War Department he
took Schoepf with him. He was next in
trusted with survey in Virginia, which
brought him under the observation of Gen.
Scott, who discovered his military acquire
ments. He was rapidly advanced, step by
step, and was appointed brigadier general
A sergeant of Minnesota regiment was
reported dead, and his friends were gathered
to hear the minister preach his obituary,
when he quietly took his seat in the congre-
cation. OF course the minister selected a
different theme. He had been badly wound.
ed and taken prisoner.
The New York World says 1.-THE re-.
cent attempt of the Tribune and Herald to
cause run upon the New York banks in
the hope of forcing them into suspension and
embarrassing the negotiation of government
loans, is warning to Congress not to delay
immediate action on the revenue bills and
financial policy of the nation the people
feel disappointed and discouraged at the
reckless waste of the public time by mem
bers of Congress in the idle discussion of
various plans for accomplishing impossible
ties: the everlasting negro is perpetually
paraded by these impractcables"
Four vessels, with forage for the U. S.
government, came up the Potomac to this
place, last week. More are expected to ar
rive.
Kossuth is said to be dangerously ill, with
a disease like consumption.
Mrs. Rachel Mayors, the wife of one of
the counsel in the case of the privateers of
the Savannah, has been brought to New York
by Sheriff Of Vermont, charged with trea-
son in having letters and papers in her pos
session destined for the South.
The Hansa, carries out to England, from
New York, $250,O00 in coin.
The value of the cotton picked near Port
Royal, and brought to New York, in the
steamer Atlantic, is said to be $60000.-
Most of it is unginned.