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Northern War News.

Slave Property Declared Free in Missouri--The War in Northwestern Virginia--Soldiers Prohibited from Transporting Slaves not Their Own, &c., &c.


We have received Baltimore and New York papers of Friday's and Saturday's dates.--The following is a summary of the war news at the North.


Slave property of a Missouri Confederate Declared free.

St. Louis Sept. 12.
--Provest Marshal McKinstry will issue the following proclamation to-morrow:

"The Major-General" commanding the Western Department having satisfactory evidence that Thomas L. Smead, of the city and county of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, has been taken active part with the enemies of the United States in the present insurrectionary movement against the Government, and the military commission now in session at the Arsenal, in this city, having reported the facts to these headquarters as the result of deliberation, the Major-General Commanding has executed and ordered to be published the following deeds of manumission:

Here follows two deeds declaring, by the authority of law and power invested in the commanding General, Frank Lewis and Hiram Reed, heretofore held to service or labor by the said Thos. L. Smead, to be free and forever discharged from the bond of servitude, giving them free right and authority to have, use and control their own labor or service as to them may seem proper, without any accountability whatever to said Thos. L. Smead or any one to claim by, through or under him.

A party of Secessionists went to the house of Judge Birch, a member of the State Convention, a few days since, with the intention of killing him and his son, but they were fired on and repulsed. Judge Birch came to St. Louis, and to-day returned to his home in Clinton county, with arms for the Union men of that county.

The life of Judge Ryland, late of the Supreme Court, who is in the hands of the rebels, has been threatened, if Capt. Magoffin, lately sentenced in Lexington to be hung, is executed.

Montgomery Blair, Quartermaster General Meigs, Com. Foote, Captain Kelly and Lieut. Shirk, of the United States Navy, arrived here to-day.


Washington items.

Washington Sept. 13.
--Albert N. Archibold of Fort Union, New Mexico, was, to-day, appointed United States Marshal to that Territory.

Captain James H. Holmes, the newly appointed Secretary of New Mexico, left Washington to-day for that Territory.

The Government is about to investigate the alleged frauds committed upon it in the sale of horses furnished by the Pennsylvania contractors.

The inspector at Perrysville, Maryland, within the last ten days has condemned between four and five hundred army wagons, and notified the manufacturers to remove them.


From St. Louis.

St. Louis Sept. 12.
--It is reported that Captain Boyd, commanding the Secession forces in Buchannan county, marched into St. Joseph, on Sunday last, and plundered the stores there of some $40,000 worth of goods.

Captain Hazzard, United States Navy, has arrived here.


Arrest of Secessionists in Iowa.

Burlington, (Iowa) Sept. 12.
--Six Secessionists who were identified as having served under Martin Green, with 180 head of cattle, which they said they were driving to Chicago, were arrested near Salem, Iowa, yesterday, and the cattle confiscated. The men were held as prisoners.


From Fortress Monroe.

Fortress Monroe Sept. 12.
--A flag of truce has gone to Norfolk to-day with Mrs. Phillips, of Washington, who was retained some time in her own house as a prisoner, several Southern ladies and released Confederate prisoners. General Wool permits none but official letters to be carried by flags of truce, and but one Federal officer to accompany them.

The detachment of Col. Baker's Regiment at Old Point will to-morrow join him at Washington.

The gun-boat Flag has returned to Hampton Roads in a disabled condition, having come in collision with the steam frigate Susquehanna at sea.


The War in Northwestern Virginia.

We take the following items from the Wheeling Intelligencer, (Black Republican,) of Thursday last:

‘ Gentlemen who arrived yesterday from Roane county report that they have recently had very exciting times in Roane and Wirt counties. Major Slemmer of General Rosencranz's staff, was sent down to Spencer with a force sufficient to clean out the Secessionists of that vicinity. Unfortunately the coming of Stemmer was ascertained by them and they managed to escape from the vicinity of Spencer. The latter part of last week, however, Stemmer encountered a considerable force of Secessionists at Big Bend, in Wirt county, about 10 miles from Burning Springs, and atter skirmishing with them for two days, caused them to beat a retreat with a lose of fifteen killed. Lieut. McClosky, of the Union company from Ritchie county, was shot in the abdomen, and after lingering about twenty-four hours, died. The Union forces then burned the house of Peter Seibargh, a prominent Secession leader, and also the house of another rebel, whose name we did not learn. Both of the houses were fortified. Two rebels who had taken the oath of allegiance, and were caught with arms in their hands, were taken out and shot. Two more men, caught under similar circumstances, were to have been shot the next day. Major Slimmer, in marching through Roane county, found eight dead men in an obscure thicket. It was not known whether the bodies were those of Union men or rebels. Major Slemmer is satisfied that the rebels have signal rockets, by which they warn one another of the approach of his force. They also have a signal like the hooting of an owl, which is very advantageously used. By these and similar means they are enabled to elude the pursuit of Slemmer's command and scatter into small bodies.

The military authorities at Parkersburg are tightening the lines upon the rebels, and have inaugurated vigorous means to crush out rebellion in that part of the country. No man is permitted to leave the town without a pass, and without first taking the oath of allegiance. Guards are placed upon all the roads leading from the town. Major Slemmer has taken possession of the town of Spencer, in Roane county, and made it his headquarters.

A skirmish took place at Cheat Mountain Pass on Monday, between the rebel and Federal forces, during which a North Carolina captain was killed and eight rebels wounded. Two of the Federal forces were wounded.

The Federal forces at New Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, East of Piedmont, anticipated an attack at daybreak yesterday morning from the rebels at Romney, but none came. The pickets had been firing upon one another there for several days.--There are only about six hundred men at New Creek, including the Ringgold Cavalry. A battery of artillery, however, was sent down there yesterday morning.


Proclamation of Gen. Kelly.

Brigadier General Kelly has issued the following order:

Headquarters District of Grafton,

Grafton, Va., Sept. 7, 1861.

The General commanding desires to reassure the people of Western Virginia that it is the desire and intention of the United States Government to give to the citizens full and ample protection in all their civil and political rights, and that private property, of whatever character or description, shall be held inviolate.

In order to secure to the owners of slaves the most ample protection that can be given, as well as protect the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from loss and damage under its charter, it is expressly prohibited for any officer or soldier to transport, or cause to be transported, over the lines of the Baltimore and Ohio and Northwestern Virginia Railroads, any black or mulatto persons, the same being a slave, unless owned by such officer or soldier, or transported by permission of the owner.

This order is not to be construed to prohibit officers from traveling over the above roads with their private servants, provided such servants are free, or if slaves, property hired from their owners.

Any person in the United States service violating the above order will be severely punished. By command of

Brig. General Kelley.


Rules Onserved at Fort Lafayette.

Col. Burke, who has charge of the political prisoners at Fort Lafayette, seems to be an officer who implicitly obeys orders judging from the following from the New York Post.

A day or two since a gentleman of this city went down to Fort Hamilton with a note from an official source, asking the Colonel, ‘"if his duties would permit to allow the bearer to visit Mr.--,"’ one of the most distinguished guests of the nation at Fort Lafayette.

The Colonel knew his visitor to be as loyal as need be, read the note, and then said:

‘ "My dear sir, I would give twenty dollars to Mr.--myself. He was formerly an old and esteemed friend of mine, and I should be deligated to pass an hour with him; but my official position and my orders for him such an interview. The only communication I have had with him has been through one of my officers. Only yesterday his sister came here with a priest and beggen permission to see him. The family is Catholic, and I am a Catholic myself, but I was obliged to refuse their application. No one, excepting the proper officer in charge, can have any intercourse with my prisoners."

Just then the mail from the city was brought into Colonel Burke's office. There were 20 or 30 letters addressed to the prisoners. Colonel Burke looked them over and picked out one. ‘"There is a letter for Mr.--, and I know the hand which addressed it; the letter is from his sister, but I cannot send it into him. As you know the family you may open and read it. I shall be obliged to; as I open all letters which come to or from the prisoners. Their family letters I glance at, and if there is anything important to communicate, the purport of the letter is sent to the person to whom it is addressed. My orders with regard to the prisoners are very strict, and I obey them."’

‘"May I leave my card for Mr.--?"’ said the visitor. ‘"Certainly, you may write him a note if you wish."’ The visitor wrote a note, merely stating that he had called, &c., and Colonel Burke sent it in by a Sergeant.

‘"It must be very much like a State prison over ther."’ ‘"Oh, no,"’ said the Colonel, ‘"the prisoners have nothing to do, plenty to eat, plenty of air and exercise. They have the run of the fort at proper hours. Do you see that man leaning against the doorway?"’ ‘"Yes."’ ‘"Well, let me get the glass; I think that is Mr.--"’ He looked, handed the glass to the visitor, and it was Mr.--.The visitor returned to the city with the following consolation from the Colonel:

‘ "Well, you came down to see Mr.--, and you have seen him."

’ And the Colonel bade his visitor a courteous farewell.


Ex-Mator J. G. Berrett ordered to be released.

The Washington Star announces that Thursday evening's mail carried to New York an order from the Department of State directing the release of James G. Berrett, late Mayor of the Federal Metropolis, from his present confinement in Fort Lafayette. This order is on condition that he takes the oath of allegiance to the United States against any and all enemies whatsoever, and also resigns his office as Mayor.


Federal report of a skirmish.

The following is the official Federal report of the reconnoissance which took place from the Yankee encampment, near the Chain Bridge, a few days ago. Although there is very little truth in the statement by this Federal officer, still it will be amusing to our readers to see with what cool deliberation they lie themselves out of every defeat which they sustain in their sorties upon our forces.

Camp Advance, Va., Sept. 11, 1861. --The Seventy-ninth regiment of Highlanders, New York State militia, ordered on a special reconnoisance in the direction of Falls Church, left camp at one o'clock A. M., Sept. 10, and proceeded to a place designated through the various by paths, without disturbing the enemy's pickets, and arrived there at daybreak. The command was divided into two wings to guard the approach of the enemy. Soon after the men had been posted firing was heard in the direction of Lewinsville, and a body of cavalry came from the direction of Falls Church, and when endeavoring to pass where we were posted, our men were ordered to fire, which they did, causing the enemy to retreat. Previous to their retreating, which was caused by a well-directed fire from the left wing, under command of Capt. John Falconer, the enemy fired on us, killing one, private John Downie, of the eighth company. At the same time the right wing captured a prisoner, who was wounded, and who had on when captured a major's shoulder straps. His name is Hobbs, of Col. Stewart's cavalry regiment.

Having successfully accomplished the mission we were ordered on — the prevention of the pickets at Lewinsville being reinforced — and the enemy having retreated, and the alarm being sounded in all the enemy's camps in the neighborhood, we left our position, and arrived in camp by way of Langley at half-past 10 o'clock, A. M. The lowest estimate of the enemy's losses is four killed, two wounded and one prisoner. Much of the success of the expedition is owing to the exertions of our guide, Mr. Sage.

Lieut. Alexander Graham, of the Eighth company, was conspicuous for his coolness and bravery during the engagement. Mr. Hazard Stevens, volunteer, distinguished himself in the expedition for his usefulness and his bravery during the engagement.

With these remarks I beg to submit the above report. Yours, obediently,

David Ireland,

Adjutant Seventy-ninth Regiment.

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