The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-11-20
SYNOPSIS OF WAR NEWS.

cernlne several Military departments :
The Department of New Mexico is to be
commanded by Col. i. r. S. Cauley !;
the Department of Kansas, including
Kansas, part Of the Indian Territory, Ne
braska, Colorado, aud DaEota, is to be
commanded by Maj Gen. Hunter; tbc
Department of Missouri, including ,lis-
souri,, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, lii.
nois, Arkansas, Kentucky west of the
Cumberland River, IS to be commanded
by haj Gen. Halleck; the Department
Of Ohio, including Ohio, Michigan, In
diana, Kentucky east of the Cumberland
River, aud Tennessee, is to be command
cd by Brig. Gen Buell.; the Department
of Western Virginia, Including that por-
tion Of the State lately in the old De-
partment of Ohio, is to be commanded by
Brighten. Rozencrans.
Gen. Hunter has issued orders to the
Missouri army to avoid any encounter
with the enemy not forced upon it, till
the Department can be reorganzed and
the trotps consolidated.
We have further news of the disas-
trous affair at Guyandotte, Va, some ao-
count Of Which we gave yesterday. The
Intelligence we print this morning is of a
nature to make ones blood run cold 1t
appears that the inhabitants Of the accurs-
cd town entered into conspiracy with
the Rebels outside to destroy the 250 or
300 Union troops there placed. Accord
ingly they profered to our men kindly
LUspitalitics, and invited them on a GER
tain night to their houses. Having them
thus at their tables, they hung out sig
mails 20 the Rebel cavalry, marking every
house where we're any Union soldiers
The Rebels rushed luto the town, enter
ed the houses, aud massacred their vic
tins in cold blood, the treachcrous enter
tainers-men. women, and, Incredible as
IL seems, children even-aidiug in the
carnage Col. ZiegIer came to the rescue
Of his comrades too late to save them, but
he laid the town in ashes Full particu-
lars have not reached US, aud if the intel
ligcnce yet to come shall prove this story
lie, all viii rejoice; We fear, however,
that it is too dlsmaIly true.
We have excellent news from Eastern
Tennessee The Union men there have
risen, burned railroad bridges on the
East Tennessee road, cut down telegraph
wires, and in various effective ways con
tubuied to the ruin of the Rebel cause
The greate,t rage and almost despair has
possession Of the traitors at these evden-
ces OF the feeling they hoped they had
forever suppressed.-Yrijme.
New YORK, Nov. IA battle oc-
CURED in Plketon, Pike County, Ken
tucky, between the Union forces under
Gen. Nelson and the Rebels under Gen
Williams, 10 which the latter were defeat
ed with a loss of 400 killed and over
Z090 prisoners taken. Gen. Williams
aud other prominent officers are among
those taken.
FoErRrss MONROE, Friday, Nov. 10,
1861 The feet is understood to have
gone to Pensacola. 4 dispatch from Sa-
yannah, The l4th, states that the feet
had passed Fernandina, standing South
ward.
Private adyices represent that the cap
ture Of Port Royal has produced the
greatest excitement through ghout the South,
sud especially along the seaboard, from
The cities aud villages Of which the peo-
pie are feciug in the greatest prccipita-
Won.
A dispatch from Charleston to gHe
Rjchmond Eaqaircr, the l4th, states that
Gen. Sherman had taken possession OF
Pitkuey Islands, seized ali the able bodied
negro men and sent them to the fleet
No attempt has been made to land on the
main land.
The United States frigate San Jacinto
Capt. Wilkes. came into the Roads to-
day with Slidell and Mason as prisoners
on board.
They had embarked on board an Eng
lish mail steamer. Hearing Of the fact
Capt Wilkes determined to take them
and coming up with the steamer in The
Bermuda Channel, be sent aboard snC
demanded the surrender of the arch reb
els. The reply was, that there was not
force enough to take them. Capt. Wilkes
thereupon sent an additional force, ao(
at the same time put the San Jaciuto int
convenient position. Messrs. Sldei
and Mason were then surrendered. Th
English steamer took them on boarc
knowing who they were, their destination
and business. Capt Wilkes is under
stood to lave acted on his own RESPONSE
bihty. Messrs. Shdel and Mason asket
permission of Gen Wool TO send letter
to their friends, which was granted. Th
letters were open, Of course.
Between 1000 and 5000 Union troop
have suddenly appeared in Aecoma