The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-20
GENERAL NEWS.

Gen. Barnard, Cblef Engineer y, >. army,
states, in an official letter, that the defensive
system around Washington consists Of ABB ut
fnrtv.eight works, mounting over three hun
died guns, some of which are of very large
size, and that the actual defensive perimeter
occupied is about fhirty-five miles, exec edng
the length If the famous-ind hitherto the
ia ,st extensive fortified extemporized field
vorks-liues of Torres Vedras By several
miles. He asks for Sl5O,00O TO complete
these defenses
The Washington Republican says, "A sol
DIR from Camp Pierpont writes US that the
music of his regiment casts the government
nine Thousand dollars per annum, that the
performers ia the band seventeen in num-
ber) are paid at much higher rates than the
soldiers and that the regiment would be bet
ter satisfied if a p r5on of the money spent
on music was applied to the erection of more
cJnflrtable winter quarters"
| The IT, s. House Of Representatives yes
terlay authorized the construction of twenty
iroli-cIad gunboats. A bill TO authorize the
construction of street railway between
Washington and Georgetown was passed.
The Consular and Diplomatic appropriation
bill was passed.
An order has been issued by Cen McClel-
Ian. that no person coming within the Fede-
raj lines on the Potomac (hucksters pedlars
&c J is TO be emitted hereafter TO return
beyond them, Without due auth rlty.
The Washington Republican says that the
!" A. ministration will cooperate heartily
with Gen. Lime, in his command in the Kan
sas department.
Sumo persons have been arrested---one O
two women among them-Ln New York, OF
suspic on Of being concerned 10 the death o
Levy, the broker; but there is not much evl
danca against them. The general opinion
still is, that it vas case Of suicide. Lii
family believe he was murdered.
The London letter OF the New York Com
mercial declares that soinexplicable does tn
, affair Of the Trent appear to many peopl
ia Ensl ,rd. ''either "a matter OF policy o.
| anger on the part of President Lincoln, tina
: u snrm,se has actually been entertained tina
, Commander Wilkes must be a secessionis
in disguise, and has played part deliberate
: ly intended to secure the triumph of the Cor
federatcs"
II r. NJ ~ Hunter is cecsured by the co
respondent of the Richmond Examiner ft
= wishing to resign his place in the Confed
rate Cabinet.
The Boston Courier states that Mr.. G. /
: Pitts, of Baltimore, has been released frol
. Warren, on his parole of bouor, for thirt
= days. by order of the Secretary of State.
The schr. Gen. John Chopper. Capt. Com
-. ling, from Accomac county Va, has arrive
at New York, having 800 bushels oats, Ct
: bushels corn, . quantity of eggs, feather
= &c. &c.
\ 1t is reported currently chat a man W
p. arrested on the streets in Alexandria, La
p night, having in his 'ssessiou letters for II
% South.
y On Wednesday afternoon Jack Murra
l. an aged negro, died in Baltimore. AT Il
v time of his death, Jack was no doubt amor
h the oldest, and perhaps the very oldest pc
a. son in the city. He asserted that he "
born in Baltimore 10 the year, l75l, one hu
re- dred and ten years ago
es A few days since, Senator Latham, Of G.
Ia if.ruia had his pocket picked at the Ca
Il den street station, Baltimore, of his wall
which contained about 1913 and numb
80 papers
W On Wednesday, soldier was brought
'' the Washington city prison from Fort L
coln, who was picked up loiteriu about
80 the woods, near the lines. This mao
'u taken to the Office Of Justice Dom. lie '
" in most awful condition, and could not
plain OF give an account of himself. apo
u ing to be deranged His neck was an emf
I've sore, aud his rough wolen military overc
,ro bod worn into tho Aash To tho inn ~;