The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-30

| Preparations for the arrest of Deserters-
q. S. Court of Claims-From the Ar,ny 81
| cotn at the Sous Of Temperance Celebration
capture OF Blockade Runners.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30.
Provost Marshal General Fry has perfected
his arrangements for the arrest OF deserters.
Having large number of deputies in addition
to the Provost Marshals in all the Congress
sional districts, the chances of escape are
much lessened. The reward Tor the arrest OF
deserter Is increased to thirty dollars. 1t is
determined to treat such parties with the ut
most riSor in order, il possible, TO prevent the
practice OF deserton.
The United States Court of Claims will
commence its October term next Monday
Its jurisdiction was enlarged by an act of the
last Congress. A very large number of new
claims have been filed, including the Floyd ac-
ceptances Of Russell, Majors d Co.. to the ex-
tent OF 100000 dollars. Judges Brock, Curtis,
Gushing and Broadhead, of st. Louis, are
the counsel in the case, which will be argued
as question of law. Many claims come
from Louisiana, Virginia and other States for
losses and lepredations by the military.
letter from the Army of the Potomac,
says Gen. Meade, accompanied by the MeX-
can General. Cortez, yesterday, reviewed the
9th corps. The weather was splendid aud the
review passed off in most satisfactory man
ner.
For some days, an address has been widely
circulated through the army, soliciting ten
cent subscription for memorial OF esteem to
be presented to Maj. Gen. Mcclellan. The
parties who subscribed had their money re-
turned to them yesterday, and were informed
that the design had been abandoned
All is quiet in the front. The cars, yester-
day, took to the army, 800 conscripts.
The 2lst anniversary of the organization of
the Sons OF Temperance was celebrated here
to-day. The procession on reaching the White
House was invited TO enter the East Room,
which was nearly filled by the ladies and gen.
tlemen participating in the ceremonies Pres
ident Lincoln on entering was enthusiastically
applauded and in the course of his response
to the address presented to him said, that when
he was young man, long ago. before the Sons
OF temperance, as an organization, had an
existence, he, in humble way made temper
ance speeches, and he thought he might say
that to this day he had never by his example,
belied what he then said. As to the sugges-
tons for the purpose of advancing the cause
of temperance in the army, he could not now
respond to them. TO prevent intemperance
in the army is even great part of the rules
and articles OF war. 1t is part OF the law of
the land, and was so, he presumed, long ago, to
dismiss officers for drunkenness He was
not sure that consistently with the pubic SER
vice, more can be done than has been DONE
All, therefore, that he could promise was to
have copy of the address submitted to the
principal departments, and have it considered
whether 1t contains any suggestions which will
improve the cause OF temperance and repress
drunkenness in the army any better than it is
already done. He thought the reasonable
men of the world had long since agreed that
intemperance was one of the greatest, if not
the very greatest, OF all the evils amongst man.
kind. That was not a matter of dispute. All
men agreed that intenperance was a great
curse but differed about the cure The sug-
gestion that it existed TO great extent in the
army was true, but whether it was a cause of
defeat he knew not. but he did know that there
was a great deal of it on the other side there
fore they had no right to beat us on that ground
(Langhter.) The remarks of the President
were listened TO with great interest, and were
repeatedly interrupted by applause.
Commodore Bell. commanding the Western
Gulf Blockading Squadron, reports that on
the 18th the steamer Fox captured by the reb-
els in April last, was chased into Mississippi
Sound and burnt AT the same time another
blockade runner called the Alabama, one of
the river boats from Mobile, was chased into
Chandelier Islands and captured. or this cap
ture the Commodore says, "on shore they have
been deluded into the belief that the vessel
captured is the privateer Alabama, and she
NAV be so publicly announced"
The U. 5. steamer Connecticut, Capt. Almy,
reports that on the 23d inst, she drove on
shore and destroyed the Confederate steamer
Phantom, loaded with arms &C. intending to
run the blockade at Wilmington. She was
built in England, and is supposed to have been
intended for a priva,eer. The Connecticut
chased her about four hours. and finding that
she was about being captured. her officers run
her ashore and took to their boats and escaped.