The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-06
NEWS VIA WASHINGTON.
Ve take from the Washington Star of last even.
UNTlMELY LEGISLATION.

ing the following items:
UNTIMELY LEGISLATION.
Nothing could be more unfortunate for the cause
of the Union as involved in the current war than
the enactment of the cOEfscation bill now before
Congress. As sent back to the Senate from the
House, it seems to amount tn a scheme for taking
any and every mans negroes from him, who choose
to fancy to be turned loose on society," Or in
other words, to virtual proc nation on the part
OF the government that the end and aim of the
war is to abolish slavery throughout the South.
sKTRMISH ON OUR LINES.
BAILEY GROSS ROADS, Alexandra Co, Va, Au-
gust 5.-On Friday last quite skrmish took
plate at Gapen's gate, ION the Alexandria and
LeesbuTg turnpike, three-ourths of mile this side
of Falls Church.) About thirty five of our cavalry.
who were there, met about the same number OF
them ere both retired.
Three were wounded on each side, slightly
Each seemed to be wary lest the other mi ght soon
be reinforced; hence the speedy crawling off of
both.
About $50 seoesh cavalry range daily around and
in Falls Church village.
1t is believed here that body of their infantry,
some hundreds strong, are now posted on the old
Dulany farm, one-fourth OF a mile west of Falls
Church.
Yesterday II of their cavalry came down the
road to Munson's gate, not more than half mile
above this point, and last night considerable body
of them camped at Taylor's tavern, where not long
since General TYLER was camped, with two COnnec-
ticut regiments.
Ihear incidentally that some of Col. Richardson's
men again arrested John r. Minor this morning,
and now hold him at Roach's Spring.
AFFAIRS SECEssIA
ALEXANDRIA, Va, August 5.-An arrival from
Secessia last night assures us that the disunion
troops are busy mining the roads leading from your
city to Manassas and Leesburg-digging trenches
and pits. and putting kegs and barrels Of powder
broken horse shoes, chains and old iron in them,
&C., DC. do not believe that they wasting
much powder in that way, as the article is scarce
in their camps,
This arrival further informs us that they were
four days engaged with four four-horse wagons in
gathering and hauling to pits their own dead, after
the great battle OF Bull Run; and that they "bured
ours by simply covering them in piles with few
inches of dirt, i'll and out of which the worms are
now crawling.
OVER THE RIVER.
Fort ELLSWORTH, (near Alexandria, Va.,) Au-
gust 81 avail myself of your express messen-
gers departure in few minutes, to say that new
~ arrived c0ntraband states that there are two
disunion regiments the Bush Hill and Claremont
(Nrs. Scott's and Admiral Forest's) estates, with
in four miles of here.
Also 500 cavalry at Fairfax Court House. and
that their main camp extends from little this side
OF Centrevie clear back to Manassas And further
that he informed that they have at least u 900
men at Vienna, which do not believe.
know, positively. that they have no troops now
in the vicinity OF Murray Mason's place, where,
before the late ement of our forces, they usual
ly kept considerable body.
nuams uu.o.. Navy YARD.
now remarkably quiet, and nothing relieves the
monotony save 8n occasional arrival of some of the
Potomac hotilla for coal, provisions, &c.
The Philadelphia, Mount Vernon and Baltimore
lie at the wharf with steam up continually await
ing orders, and the ?owhatan swings at anchor
out in the channel with the crews of the prize YES
sells on board.
THE CONFEDERATE PRISONERS.
There are now sixty five prisoners confined in the
old brick Capitol building, corner of A North and
First street East, under guard of soldiers who
patrol the sidewalk around the building. The
lower Windows have been closed with boards nearly
to the top, leaving only sufficient space for light
and ventilation, and several smaller buildings in
the rear are surrounded by tight board fence
twelve feet high, enclosing quite space Of ground
for yard. In this and the outer buildings Potomac
water has been introduced. The prisoners are
cheerful and quiet, though some are extremely Y
bitter in their denuncatons of the "Yankee gov
ernment." Occasionally, passing soldiers who b p
pen to be intoxicated, address them in rather un-
complimentary terms. Sometimes soldiers go still
further and when the back of the sentry is towards
them, toss brick at the first head which sppe ars
at the window. Not long since Fire Zouave who
had several times invited them out to 'get licked
In passing by the dining room, tossed brick over
into the room with the intention of "sping" some
OF them while at dinner, but they had luckily jus
lett the table, and no damage was done. Many
have been furnished with civilians dress by fiend
In the city, together with many of the little Iuxu
ries of home.