The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-10-23
NEWS ITEMS.

PORTANT ACHlEN MENT.--A uisPdlCu
from New Orleans of the 4tll inst. ttothe
Redmond E.ramine,) tells US of one of
the most important achievements OF the
war, so far. Thus it embraces, informa-
ton that the United States bleckading.
squadron have dug a passage through the
mud of one of the FIVE mouths of the Mis-
sissipEi to the Sand Spit, which COM
mands the whole FIVE of them, and now
have the Vincenues, Water Witch and
two other vessels of the squadron to pro-
tect the prompt erection Of works, which
=in less than a week will command all FIVE
of the mouths, passes or entrances to and
from the Mississippi river Once prop
.erly built, this work alone win absolutely
control the communication of New Or
leans with the sea, as completely as a
bockading squadron of twenty ships of
war could accomplish that object.
r. Great complaint is made by the author
tiles of the general carelessness displayed
in addressing soldiers letters At the
present time there are over 4 900 letters
hing in Washington, which, from the
careless manner in which they have been
addressed, will scarcely ever reach the
parties for whom they are intended. In
writing to your friends in camp, you
should use a plain envelope, and write as
legibiy as possible the name Of the per
son addressed. or
Dr. Hayes, Polar Expedition, which
sailed from Boston on the 7th of July,
1860, has just returned. The party, are
all well Two have died, including Au-
gust Sontag, the astronomer, and Gibson
Caraltes Dr. Hayes reached Smiths
Straits on the 26th of August of last year,
but could not penetrate the straits with
his vessel. either last season or: this He
wintered at Port Foulke, near Cape. Al
exander. ard with dog sedge reached
lat So 80" on May 18th of this year,
A very curious calculation has been
made relative to the Union troops on the
bank of the Potomac Taking as a ba-
Sis the regular allowance Of room that is
required for soldier to stand upright,
and with his musket at shoulder arms, J"
and placing them in close single file, it
would require the whole roadway from
Jersey City TO the capitol to form the line
If the SANE troops had to be reviewed it
would take a railway train, going at the
rate of sixteen miles an hour, over four
teen hours to pass along the line Of
soldiers
ELLIS B SCHNABEL The Secretary
of War, IN letter now going the rounds
Of the press, very properly refuses to open
u correspondence with Elhs B Schnabel
who sought to be released from his con
fnement in Fort Lafayette Devoid Of
mora! reputation, as we'll as political in
tegrity, he deserves no better treatment
from the government than he has re-
ceived
We see it stated that there are now
stored in the Arsenal, al Harrisburg,
1900 stand Of aruls, 43 brass six pound
ers, | brass eighteen FOUNDER, 4 brass
six Founders brought TO this country by
LAFAYETTE as present from the King
of France to the Continental Congress,
600 horse pistols, 600 cavalry sabres.
10000 sets complete infantry accoutre.
merts 10000 rounds of cartridges.
Senator Baker, of Oregon, has conclud-
ed to accept a position as colonel of Il reg
iment, and will be commissioned by Gov
ernor Curtin; he says he wants to fight
for his country, and will do it if he has to
go as a private.
CosT OF MUsIc.--Tt is stated that the
cost of music for the army is now at the
rate Of S4,000,000 year.
Berks county elects the whole Demo
cratic ticket, as usual, by 1000 majority.
In Chester county the Union ticket beats
the Democratic ticket by over 1000 ma
jority., .......
Tod, a Democrat, and the Union can
didate for Governor of Ohio, has been
elected by a majority Of over $4,000.
Gov. Morgan, of New York. has ap-
pointed the 18th of November as day
of Thanksgiving in that State. His
proclamation is very appropriate and elo
quent. We presume Governor Curtin
will appoint Thanksgiving Day in
Pennsylvania.
STOCKINGS FOR THE ARMY-The fol-
lowing rules are Land down for the drec-
tion of ladies wishing to knit socks for
the soldiers. Get large needles aud a
coarse yarn. Cast on seventy-eight
stitches, and knit the leg ten inches be-
fore setting the heel. The heel should
be three aud a half inches long, and kuit
of double yarn, one fine and one coarse
for extra strength. The foot should be
eleven or twelveinches long
! - Dierata los from, G. Da..l.. Ai:...=->....