The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-18
SYNOPSIS OF WAR NEWS.

troops are believed to have come up re-
Gently from the South.
Some who are we'll fitted to form an
opinion on the point, express their belief
that the Union Army on the Potomac is
about to sc into Winter quarters, as ex-
tensive preparations are making to build
huts
From Kentucky we learn that Capt
Nevitt and 40 men a few days ago burned
the bridges at Whippoorwiil, five miles
from Russelville, on the Memphis branch
railroad They attacked the rebel guard,
killed two, and took eleven prisoners.
! We have again report about the pi-
rate Sumter That craft was at Martin
ique on the 9th ult., and the United
States gun-boat Iroquois was in pursuit
Of her but she escaped, as she has SO
many times before done.
/ There continues to be great excitement
in eastern Tennessee. Bridges are being
burnt, Crops destroyed and in districts
where the Unionists are in minority
they are prosecuted by the Rebels in a
most outrageous manner. The report
that Parson Brownlow had met aud de-
feated large band of Rebels is Confirm
ed
Minister Faulkner, released from
Fort Warren on parole, has gone to Rich
mond to endeavor to exchange himself
for Mr. Ely.
News from the South report that the
! Planters are setting fire to their crops to
keep them from falling into the hands of
the Federal troops.
WASHINGTON, Dec IA private
| letter from au officer in Fort Pickens states
that Col. Brown had all his guns shotted
for two or three days, waiting unit! all
the rebel boats that had habtually piled
between Pensacola and the Navy Y ard
were safely hived at the latter, when he
opened fire. The result was, two of them
were sunk and others disabled, Warning
ton and the Navy-Yard were burned, and
the fag-stafs of Forts McRae aud Bar
rancas were shot away. The Rebels loss
of life was unknown. There were one
killed in Pickens and seven wounded -
Many shells were thrown at It's flagstaff,
which was not hit, although the rebel
gunnery was unexpectedly good. AshelI,
three days after it was thrown into Pick
ems, exploded, apparently without cause,
and killed six men, beside wounding a
number.
The War Department received dis
patch to-day from Col. Brown at Fort
Pickens, briefly telling the result of the
bombardment of Warrington, Fort McRae,
and Pensacola Navy-Yard. Warrington
was destroyed, Fort McRae silenced, and
the Navy Yard fired, Our loss was a
Captain of a gun killed and six men
wounded. The only damage sustained
by Fort Pickens was the dismounting of
one gun.
A private letter from an officer at Port
Royal, dated at noon on Friday, the 9th
inst, says that Gen. Stevens with his
brigade was at last embarked, and was
then moving from Hilton Head for Beau
fort. "Lt is expected that there will be
sharp fighting" says the writer, Gas it is
the opinion of Gen. Stevens that three
thousand Rebel troops are now there. -
We also learn that the 46th New York
Regiment, under Col. Rosa, was to leave
on that day, to occupy Tybee Island and
also that orders had been given to cstab-
} lish several large guns in an abandoned
, fortifcation on Otter Island, which COM
} mands the entrance of St. Helena Sound
J on the north, and to garrison the place.
, This point is only about 20 miles from
; Charleston.
, A deserter was shot in Gen. Franklin s
: Division by order of the Court Martial.
y Rebel prisoner yesterday taken near
Washington declares that the Southern
army is on the point of moving from Cen.
treville in three columns, of Is, 900 men
expecting to find our advance off guard
, H says that four days rations had been
: given out. 1t appears certain that the
j Rebel army on the Potomac has been
: largely reinforced within some DAYS.
J There is much anxiety felt at this mo.
r ment concerning Kentucky. Ga the
5 10th inst, at Somerset. they were expect
i, ing fight Immediately. More recent
f advices state that there had been nc
fighting before an attack was hourly ex
: pected that an order to throw all Indiana
: regiments which have a minimum mum
s Der into Kentucky would give our troop;
an additional strength of9, 900 or 10000
r There is naturally great interest excited
for the fate of the war in that section.
!, From Missouri we learn that the com
e merce of the Mississippi has been placed
= entirely under the charge of the Govern
ment; all owners, officers, and employee:
of boats will be compelled to take tht
oath of allegiance, and severe penaltie.
:, are affi yed to the commission of any ac