The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-12
Our Army to act on the Defensive.
Mcdowell requests a Court
Martial.
HIS LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.

WAsHlSGTON, sept. III.
The following prisoners OF state were bro't
to the Provost Marshal's office this morning
and sent to the old Capitol prison: S. b. Piles,
w. III. Howard, r. T. Tarbox and f. N. Gott.
? They were residents of Upper Maryland, and
were sent in by the Provost Marshal General
OF the army of Virginia The rebel soldiers
captured at Vienna, were also sent to the old
Capitol this morning.
About noon the steamer S. r. Spaulding ar
rived, having on board between 800 and 400
convalescents from the u. s. general hospital
at Portsmouth Grove, X. |.
Correspondence of the Associated Press-A
more cheerful spirit prevails in Washington.
The apprehension of danger to the Capital
seems to have passed in view of the military
movements to foil the supposed intentions of
the rebels. The general impression to-day is,
that invasion of Maryland is for food and other
supplies, and not for a general raid into the
State OF Pennsylvania.
1t is not supposed that our army will seek
the enemy to fight him upon his own field, but
conne itself more especially to the defence of
Washington, while it is menaced in force with
in cannon soui.d from the Capitol.
Nothing however is known with certainty
as to what the rebels design, this being mere
matter of conjecture.
All the weaker points open to the Capitol
are now sufficiently strengthened to re-assure
US Of our safety.
Maj. Gen. Banks is rapidly recovering from
the injuries heretofore received, and is stop
ping with Gov Boutwell,. He is at headquar-
tiers to-day attending to business. ia
There is less excitement now about the pub
lie departments than perhaps at any former
period since the war commenced.
The city has nearly been cleared of all the
stragglers, including not a few of the lower
grades.
Acting Master T. Lewis and Acting Masters
Mate Thos. O'Connor, having failed to report
in obedience to orders, have been dropped from
the rolls of the service.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Q, 1862.
To His Excellency the President:
have been informed by Senator that he
has seen note in pencil, written by Colonel
OF cavalry, mortally wounded in the recent
battle, stating, among other causes, that he
was dying, victim to McDowel's treachery,
and that his last request was that this note
might be shown to you. That the Colonel be-
lieved this charge and felt that his last act on
earth was great public service, there can be,
think, no question.
This solemn accusation from the grave of
gallant officer who died for his country, is en-
titled to great consideration: and feel called
upon to endeavor to meet it as well as SO gen.
eral n charge, from one now no longer able to
support it, can be met.
tneIclorc DcS you 10 pie;ise cause Il court
to be instituted for its investigation, and in the
absence of any knowlede whatever as to the
particular act or acts, time or place, or general
conduct, the deceased may have had i'm view.
have to ask that the enquiry be without linn
itation, and be upon any point and every sub
ject which may in any way be supposed to
have led to his belief that it may be directed to
my whole conduct as General officer, either
under another or while in a seperate command,
rl,nfl
mand, to my correspondence with any of the
enemy's commanders or with any one within
the enemy's lines, to my conduct and the poll
cy pursued by me towards the inhabitants of
the country occupied by our troops, with refer
ence to themselves or their property; and fur
Their, to any imputations of indirect treachery
or disloyalty towards the nation or any indi-
vidual having, like myself an important trust,
whether have or have not been faithful as
subordinate to those placed over me, giving
them heartily, TO the best of my capacity all
the support in my power, and whether have
or have not failed, through unworthy personal
motives, to go to the aid of or send reinforce
ments to my alleged brother commanders, that
this subject OF my alleged treachery or disloy-
atty may be fully inquired into.
beg that all officers, soldiers or civilians,
who know or think they know of any act of
mine liable 10 the charge in question, be allow
GU anu lHNittu " uistht ~ klOWU 10 the court.
/ also beg that proceedings of the court may
be open to the press from day TO day.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your most obedient servant
(Signed) IRWIN MCDOWELL
Commanding Sd Army Corps,
Army of Virginia.
Acting Assistant Paymaster Joseph Watson
has been ordered to the steamer Montgomery.
Acting Assistant Paymaster w. +. Whitmore
has been ordered to the steamer Valley City.
The Secretary of the Treasury, on appeal,
has affirmed the decision of Collector Barney,
imposing under the act of March I'd, 1851,
duty at the rate OF two cents per pound on
merchandise claimed by the importers as chain
cables made of wire or rods less than one half
OF an inch in diameter. To this il Is nterposed
that in commercial usage and parlance in this
country and England, there are no chains
known as chain cables made of wire or rods
less than one half of an inch in diameter. 1t
is also affirmed that orange mineral was prop
erly assessed at two twenty-five per hundred
pounds. IL is not provided for by name in the
law, but is used for the same general purposes
as red lead and that compositions of glass for
jewellers use, being manufacture of glass or
OF which glass Is q component material. is sub
ject to a duty of thirty per cent. ad val.
The Commissioners of internal revenue has
established the following regulations concern
ing the commissions allowed to purchasers Of
stamps The commissioner will be paid in
stamps, that is a remittance of $50 will entitle
the purchaser to stamps amounting TO S51;
remittance Of $1,000 will entitle the purchaser
to $3.50 worth of stamps.
The Solicitor of the Treasury has given an
opinion on the liability of manufacturers to
exaction upon goods removed from the place
of manufacture prior to Sept. l, 1866. This
opinion is in the hands of the printer, and viii
be published in a few days.
Collectors of Customs at the several ports
are instructed to receive in payment of duties
all debentIre certificates issued by them, the
same being made receivable for duties by the
act of Sd of March, 1S49.
FALSE REPORT.