The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-22

shore she passed down without gun having been fred
at her. Less than half hour after she had passed
another steamboat observed coming down tho river
She appeared TO be the ferry boat wyandank
with the nota The moon just rising enabling tho
rebels to distinguish her pretty clearly She slackened
her speed like the other The rebels fred two shots at
her, neither of which hit her. One shell burst high in
the air and the other TO the Maryland Shore
where II struck without exploding. Finding it imposs
BILE to hit her they rng and all was quiet during
the remainder Of the evening
AFFAIRS ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.
letter from Darnestown dated today saws nothing
has been hoard for several days any movements Of the
enemy opposite our lines. Everything Is apparently
quiet In his lines. This may be caused by the with
drawa Of the weight Of his force the defence Of Win
chester.
THE RECENT sKRMIsH BETWEEN THE NEW YORK
FOURTEENTH AND THE REBEL CAVALRY.
The loss Of the Brooklyn Fourteenth regiment in the
skrmsh which took place between the picket guard at
Duins farm, and considerable body of rebel cavalry
on the 10th instant proves be somewhat more serious
than at first reported. Two additional dead bodies
passed through the city today the way the North
They were found yesterday In the woods where the sk
mish took place It that Of the twenty who were
engaged only two returned unhurt One returned badly
wounded four known to have been killed and IL is
supposed the others prisoners.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PoNr0oN BRIDGES.
The matter Of providing pontoon bridges for crossing
rivers in an enemy's country, which, considering how
indispensable IT is to the active of troops has
been up to very recent date most unaccountably me-
elected likely at last receive proper attention
Quito large number Of pontoons have lately been con-
sructed at the Navy Yard the superntendence of
Colonel Murphy, of the New York Fifteenth Volunteers
To-day the first trial Of laying them into bridges occurred
on the eastern branch of the Potomac, short dig
tance above the Anacosta Bridge. The intention
WAS to have laid the bridge across the river the
process to DC witnessed by General Mcclellan and the
heads OF the but. owing to the ateness
the hour when the preparation completed it was
deemed best postpone extensive an experiment until
another day. Eight hundred feet were however laid in
just thrtythree minutes, which file Of troops was
marched in double quick time, and the bridge was pro.
nounced by experienced officers present to be strong
enough and steady enough for the passage Of artillery
So far as 1t was carried the trial was complete success
ORDERS FROM THE GENERAL COMMANDING.
The following order has just been issued
GENERAL NO. As.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY THE Potomac !
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 1861. I
L-No change will be made in the armament established
by the Chief Engineer and Chief Of Artillery for the field
from the original location Of the Implements equipments
or ammunition pertaining to the guns Of the field works
without the express sanction Of the commanding General
Fort Ramsey and that heretofore called Fort Ramsey as
Fort Cass. BY commanded
Major General MCCLELLAN.
s. WILLIAMS Assistant Adjutant General
POSTAL FACILITIES WITH THE ARMY AT PORT ROYAL.
The Post Office Department to-day received information
that fifteen thousand letters have reached New York
from Hilton Head by the last arrival that city j. H.
Sears who is acting as postmaster under military author
ty, having forwarded them without prepayment Of pos
tage The Postmaster General has ordered that they be
sent to their respective destinations endorsed on each
"Due three cents"
The department today established Post Office at Port
Royal to be called by that name has sent out blank
commission to General Sherman, be filed with the
of suitable person Postmaster, who will give
the required bonds.
Letters designed for Port Royal should be sent to the
New York Post Office. The Navy Department today in
sructed the Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard
inform the Postmaster Of the departure Of vessels for
Port Royal in time 10 despatch the mails.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS AT PORT ROYAL.
In the course Of this week. probably the Treasury De-
partment will take action with regard custom regula
tons at Port Royal.
THE CASE OF COMMANDER POOR.
The Naval Court Martial for the trial Of Commander
Poor is making but little progress They examined
raj witnesses to-day, but no new facts elected
Nothing has yet appeared duplicating the accused.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ARMY RETIRING BOARD.
The Army Retiring Board had before them to-day Major
H. B. judd Of the United States artillery His has
not yet been decided Colonel Merchants case will be
taken up by the Board tomorrow.
ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR OF KANAwHA.
Governor Perrepoint Of Northwestern Virginia. or Ka
nawha, this State is called arrived here to-day
accompanied by his aids. Coonels wilkinson and Ford
confer with the government in reference matters in
that interesting section Of country.
PAYMENT OF GOVERNMENT CREDITORS.
Since the negotiation Of the new loan Friday last
Secretary Chase has placed to the credit OF dsbursng
officers Boston, New York and Philadelphia the Of
So s4 to be paid to contractors and other govern
ment creditors.
NEW MILITARY TENT.
The invented by General Morgan of Ohio has
brought to the attention of the government It's chief
sanitary excellences the arrangements for ventla
ton and eevatng the beds from contact with the ground
Nothing more complete and desirable in tentng has yet
been presented.
MARRIAGE OF GENERAL sToNEMAN.
General Stoneman chief Of cavalry, led to the altar to-
day Miss Mary O. Hardisty, of Baltimore. The General
was attended this interesting occasion by military
party composed of Colonel Van Allen, of the Van Allen
cavalry Lieutenant Colonel Hudson and Lieutenant Colo
C0lDuTu Aus 10 UeHcTA NCCieuau, SttptauS fuTkc
and Pleasanton and Leutenans Summer and Alexander
and Dr. NJ Miller surgeon to the cavalry brigade. The
appearance the cortege in full uniform made quite stir
in the Monumental City
THE ARMY.
The following named gentlemen have just been pro-
NOTED TO be Majors in tho regular armyDeozer David
son, Arthur ]. Lee Christopher j. Lowell and Granville
O'Haller. Also the following TO be Lieutenant
Coonels-william S. Ketchum, William II. French
and Caleb G. Sbley. J. W. Hammond and Henry Clay
Mcdowell have been appointed Assistant Adutant Gene
rails with the rank Of captain The former report
General Sherman and the latter to General Rosseau in
Kentucky.
Additional appointments Of Second Leutenants have
been made from non commissioned officers, namely -
Daniel Loosely, Charles Bentzon Oscar Hagen Samuel
Oscar Hagen Samuel s. Cubertson, Joseph j. Wagner
W. K Lowe, Charles Berg, Walter w. Arnold H. Clark
and Alonzo 7. Bellows.
Lieutenant webor Of the Mcclellan Dragons has been
appointed Major Of the Ninth Illinois regiment Of cavalry
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 21, 1861.
The Old Point boat has arrived here but brings no news
Of importance.
flag of truce to Norfolk brought passengers or any