November 12.—Three regiments, and two companies of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, were sent from Bowling Green in the direction of Scottsville, Ky., supposed for Gen. Zollicoffer’s relief. This movement originated in the report of an advance by the National troops on Danville.—Bowling Green Courier, Nov. 12.
—Judge Haliburton, of the Confederate District Court at Richmond, charged a Grand Jury on the law of treason, and described as “alien enemies” “all citizens of the United States, except citizens of Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, and the District of Columbia.”—(Doc 153.)
—Thirty-seven contraband negroes arrived at Philadelphia, Pa., having walked northward from Accomac County on the peninsula of Virginia. They were supplied with money by the Wisconsin troops. Numbers of these people are constantly arriving at Philadelphia, which has stimulated a public meeting to be held to assist them.—Boston Transcript, November 14.
—Six regiments of infantry, two batteries of artillery, and three companies of cavalry, under command of Gen. Heintzelman, made a reconnoissance to-day, as far as Occoquan Creek, about Twenty-five miles from Washington, D. C., or eighteen miles from Alexandria, Va. They started at four o’clock in the morning and returned late in the evening. The entire force first went to Pohick Church, and there divided —a portion taking the telegraph road to Burk’s Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad; the other the road to a point on the Occoquan Creek, about three miles from the Potomac River. The latter crossed Pohick and Accotinck Creeks, and reached Occoquan without meeting with any opposition. Capt. Todd’s company of Lincoln Cavalry, which was with the party that went in the direction of Burk’s Station, were sent out to make a reconnoissance in advance of the infantry, and when several miles from the other part of the division were suddenly surrounded by a large number of rebels who had been concealed in the woods. Their only hope of escape, therefore, was by cutting their way through, and a skirmish accordingly occurred, the cavalry effecting their purpose, but with a loss of three men killed, one wounded, and three taken prisoners, including Capt. Todd, who had ventured too far in advance of his command. The object of the reconnoissance having been accomplished, Gen. Heintzelman ordered the troops to return to their encampments.—(Doc. 154.)
—This afternoon six companies of the Fifth regiment N. Y. S. V., or New York Zouaves, left their encampment at Federal Hill, near Baltimore, and took the steamer Pocahontas, for Salisbury, Md. They were commanded by Col. Governeur K. Warren.—Baltimore American, November 13.
—Several new military departments were defined by general order as follows: The Department of New Mexico is to be commanded by Col. E. R. S. Canby; the Department of Kansas, including Kansas, part of the Indian Territory, Nebraska, Colorado, and Dakota, is to be commanded by Maj.-Gen. Hunter; the Department of Missouri, including Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky west of the Cumberland River, is to be commanded by Maj.-Gen. Halleck; the Department of Ohio, including Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky east of the Cumberland River, and Tennessee, is to be commanded by Brig.-Gen. Buell; the Department of Western Virginia, including that portion of the State lately in the old Department of Ohio, is to be commanded by Brig.-Gen. Rosecrans.—N. Y. Tribune, November 13.
—An attack was made on the vessels of the United States fleet, in the Mississippi River, at the head of the Passes, by the steam ram Manassas, accompanied and assisted by the Calhoun, three guns; the Joy, two guns; the Jackson, two guns; the McRae, six guns; the Tuscarora, three guns; and the Pickens, five guns. These vessels were under command of Capt. Hollins. The Manassas, armed with a false prow, approached the U. S. ship Richmond, at three A. M., and by the force of the concussion broke a hole a foot square into the Richmond’s bow, near the water line. She then made for the Vincennes, which ship evaded her. A brisk fire was opened upon the Manassas from the Richmond and the Preble, and deranged her machinery. Signals were then sent up from the Manassas, and several fire-ships were let loose above, and came down the current of the river with the other vessels of the rebel fleet behind. In their endeavors to evade the fire-ships, the Vincennes and Richmond both got aground. Some attempt was made by the rebels to press the attack upon the vessels aground, but they were beaten off without difficulty.— (Doc. 155.)
—One of the police guard of Alexandria, Va., arrested a little girl, to-day, who wore a red and white cape, alleging that the colors of the cape were obnoxious. The mother of the girl accompanied her to the office of the Provost-Marshal, where she stated that the article of dress had been made four years since. Capt. Griffith promptly ordered the release of the little lass, and directed the guard to devote his attention in future to weightier matters than the clothing of children.—Alexandria News.
—Capt. John Brown’s company of sharpshooters arrived at Camp Jennison, Kansas City, Mo., and were attached to the command of Colonel Jennison.—(Doc. 160.)
—The privateer schooner Beauregard, of Charleston, S. C., Capt. Hay, was captured one hundred miles east-northeast of Abaco, by the W. G. Anderson, U. S. Navy, Lieut. W. C. Rogers commanding.—(Doc. 156.)
— By general order issued this day, all officers appointed on the staff of Gen. Fremont, from civil life, were dismissed the service; and all of his appointments not hitherto sanctioned by the President were cancelled.
