The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume], July 26, 1861, Image 3

About The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865

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pioneer & jtnwcrat.
SAINT PAUL.
Saint Paul, Friday, July 90,1861.
Minnesota Disgraced at the Capital.
A gallant and reliable officer of the first
regiment, in a letter published by us yester
day, calls loudly for aid for the regiment.
He says the condition of the men is deplo
rable ; “ that we are probably the worst
“ provided regiment in the whole service.
“ Many of our men have not been out for
“ days, because they had no pants to wear.”
Why is it that Minnesota is thus disgraced
at Washington? Upon whom should the
blame fall ? We answer upon the State
authorities alone. It was the duty of Gov.
Ramsey, if he was disinclined to convene
the Legislature to make proper provision
for the comfort of our soldiers, to have
assumed the responsibility himself, and
looked to the people’s representatives for a
ratification of his acts. They were free of
their pledges of “men and money” last win
ter, to support the Federal Administration.
Why uot make them good ? The fact is,
our weak-backed Governor was afraid to
assume auy responsibility whatever, and in
this he was most ably seconded by his Ad
jutant General. We do not believe the
record ui recent military operations, in any
State of the North, will begin to equal in
inefficiency and vacillation, the action of our
State authorities. It will be a rich history
when it is written.
—The Press — “the organ”—is endeavor
ing to white-wash the State functionaries
from the attacks made upon them by Kino,
of the Minneapolis Atlas, who is now at
Washington. Its success has not been re
markable, and, we do not think, has affected
in the least the almost universal sentiment
of this community. In a late article, in
speaking of the matter of clothing, referred
to above, it says :
It is true, the articles were not quite as good
as might have been had in the Eastern cities;
but they were the best that could be provided
here at the time, and in time to get the Regi
ment into the held. They were all examined
by United States army officers, who decided
that they would answer, and that of course the
soldiers would not be charged in their clothing
account for more than they were worth.
The last sentence of the above quotation,
which is an attempt to throw the blame of
the purchase of worthless articles upon
Unitid States Army officers, is without the
slightest foundation. The goods were not
examined by United Mates Army officers,
and the responsibility oi their purchase and
quality rests solely with the state authori
ties.
—We 6ee only OBe way to even partially
remedy the blunders or ciimes of the State
Administration, in the equipment of the
First Regiment. Let it be doue by volun
tary subscriptions from cities, towns and
counties of the State; from individuals,
churches, and schools. The suggestion of
Chaplain Neill to the parsons, is a good
one; but let everybody put his shoulder
to the wheel. Why should not the Board
of Commissioners of this County, or the
City Council of St. Faul, devote a §I,OOO
to this purpose. It will stimulate subscrip
tions from other towns and counties in the
State ; and a commencement of the good
work is all that is needed.
—The following is the article from the
Minneapolis Allas, which called forth the
strictures of the Press :
But I cannot refrain from remarking in this
connection, that the infamous swindle perpe
trated upon the Regiment in the furnishing of
uniforms, was most painfully evident upon their
arrival here. Their shirts, pants and shoes
were “as good as gone,” when they reached
this city, and they will have to be refurnished
before they can ever take the field. If certain
distinguished geutlemen, whose duty it was to
procure uniforms for our brave volunteers,
will not think me too inqusitive or impudent, I
would like to ask who it was that robbed them
of the clothes ou their back, and the shoes .on
their feet; who it was that thus picked the
pockets of those noble fellows, who so cheer
fully tore themselves away from home and
friends to fight and die, if need be, for their
country’s salety and honor ? If certain gentle
men can spend the time, can forego their
“regular business” of rubbing their sore heads
and swearing about our Congressional delega
tion and the federal appointments long enough
to furnish such information, and will do it, I
won’t stop to inquire why the First Regiment
was sent off without sufficient camp equipage,
without baggage wagons, without ambulances
for the sick and wounded, all of which other
States have supplied, and tor which the Fed
eral Governmeut pays the bills. 1 won’t ask
our worthy Governor why our Regiment was
thus turned out of the State in such a con
dition, uncovered and uprovided for by the
State authorities as other State troops have
been, if I can only have an honest and truth
ful answei to the question of who stole them
naked ?
Pacific Railroad. —Co). Crooks, the
engineer of the Minnesota and Pacific Rail
road, informs us that the road bed from the
river to a point near the cemetery, in the
rear of the city, has been put in complete
order lor the superstructure. This portion
was most injured by freshets, and the re
mainder on to St. Anthony can be put in
good condition in a very short time. Mr.
Crooks will soon commence the erection of
a freight house near the river. There seems
to be an urgent necessity now for the ex
tension and grading of Third street to its
point of intersection with the railroad, and
we hope the City Fathers will be ready to
afford every facility for the accommodation
of the business interests of the city.
;V : V' v 4U.- ' v s
The Expulsion of tfee Seceding Sen-
It is humiliating to our State that one of her
Senators found nothing worthy of expulsion
from the United States Senate in the most fla
grant treason of those arch traitors, Hason,
Hunter, Clingman, Wigfall, etc. In the vote
upon Senator Clark’s resolution expelling
these miserable Catalines, Senator Rioe’s name
is recorded among the nays. The resolution
was adopted, 32 to 10.—-Press.
Mr. Bicb did not vote for the expulsion
of the seceding Senators for the reason ad
vanced by Mr. Latham, of California, who
moved that their names be stricken from the
roll, and their seats declared vacant. He
(Latham) made this motion because he
knew that some of the Senators proposed
to be expelled were not in favor of seces
sion—they had even labored to prevent it;
but they thought they had no right to re
main in their seats in the Senate after the
action of their States, in formally with
drawing from Union. Mr. Rick coin
cided with Mr. Latham, and voted to de
clare the seats of the Senators vacant, and
.to strike their names from the roll. He
voted, too, with Andrew Johnston, of
Tennessee, who favored the same policy.
The Press, with characteristic dishonesty,
suppresses a portion of the facts, to indulge
in a fling at Senator Rice, who has uniform
ly voted during the session, for every meas
ure sustaining the Administration in a vig
orous and energetic prosecution of the war
for the restoration of the Union. We pre
sume this is part of its policy, to denounce
as a “traitor” the man who does not sub
scribe to the Abolition vagaries of such
radicals as Lovejoy, Hale, Sumner, and
Chandler.
Another “Masked Battery.”
The Press pays no attention to those
masked batteries, chiefly engineered by
Simon Cameron, which are doing so much
injury to public service, by demoralizing
the army and plundering the government.
It has not the independence to criticise a
single act of the administration. Party be
fore the country ; the plunderers before our
gallant soldiers, appears to be its rule of ac
tion, except when, Titus Oakes like, it is in
search of “ a plotthen our cotemporary
is monopolizing and vociferous in his pa
triotism. We are glad this is not the way
with all Republican journals.
The New York limes, ot last Saturday,
exposes another of Simon’s ‘‘masked batte
ries,” in the removal of Colonel Craig, the
head of the Ordnance Bureau, and the ap
pointment in his»stead, in violation of the
regulations of the service, of Col. Ripley.
Colonel Craig has rendered himself obnox
ious to the mercenary crew of jobbers and
peculators who have dealings with the gov
ernment, by his unflinching resistance to
their schemes of plunder; and these men
have had the adroitness, through Cameron’s
agency, to get rid of him. The limes 7cor
respondent, after stating the fact that Col.
Craig was before removed from the Ord
nance Bureau, by Floyd, but reinstated by
the patriotic Holt, add 3:
The conduct of the present head of the War
Department in following in the footsteps of
Floyd, by making friends of his friends, and
enemies oi his enemies, is inexplicable. The
fact that Colonel Craig incurred the hostility
of that arch-traitor and prince of public plun
derers, by his refusal to connive at frauds upon
the Treasury, will commend his case to the
favorable consideration of all honest men, and
the people will demand the reason why a Re
publican Secretary of War has struck hands
with Floyd’s parasites in the effort to get rid
of this officer.
Colonel Craig, as I am assured by well in
formed persons, who have given spe.ial atten
tion to army affaiis, has seen more hard ser.
vice than any other officer of his corps. He
was in the war of 1812, and in that with Mexi
co he was honorably mentioned by General
Taylor in his official reports of the patties of
Palo Alto, ltesaca, Monterey and Buena Vista,
and was breveted. During a ten years’ admin
istration ot the affairs of the Ordnance Depart
ment, he bas incurred the ill will of the whole
army of jobbers and speculators.
JHor« Privateers off the Coast.
In addition to the Sumpter war steamer,
which got to sea from New Orleans, the re
bels have other marauding vessels off the
coast. One of them, formerly the revenue
cutter Washington, seized at New Orleans,
but now sailing under the name of the Jeff.
Davis, captured five merchant vessels, and
sent them with prize crews to Southern
ports, during the first ten days of this
month, in the neighborhood of Cape Hatt
eras. The Davis is heavily armed and com
manded by an ex officer of the Federal navy,
Postell, by name. On the 12th, a fleet of
revenue cutters sailed from New York, in
search of the Davis, aDd on the 13th, the
gun boat Iroquois left in pursuit. We will
probably hear more of the privateer in a
few days.
The worst feature about this privateering
business is, that it demonstrates that the
Southern ports are very imperfectly block
aded. This fact will give John Bull a suf
ficiently valid reason for interfering to break
the blockade.
—The Memphis Bulletin of the 12th,
says that the Confederate States war
steamer Sumter, Captain Richard Semmes,
has reached New Orleans with fifty-five
thousand Enfield rifles, rifled cannon, and
other accoutrements, the same having been
imported from England and brought to
Cuba in an English vessel, and transhipped
to the Sumter, which brought it to New
Orleans, independent of the blockade.
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
The Judges of the Supreme Court.
Justices Catron, of Tennessee, and
Waynr, of Georgia, are now the only mem
bers of the Supreme Court, residing in the
seceded States. Judge Watnr is repre
sented to be loyal to the federal government,
but Judge Catron is unmistakably so. In
his recent charge to the Grand Jury of the
U. S. Circuit Court, at St Louis, he re
pudiated the pretended right of a State to
secede, and held that all citizens of the Uni
ted States, no matter under what pretence,
found in arms against the Government, are
guilty of treason, and should be so dealt
with. Recently, Judge Catron went to
Nashville, to hold the appointed term of
the United States Court in Tennessee, after
the secession act of the Legislature. He
was warned by the Marshal to desist, or his
life would pay the forfeit. The intrepid
Judge commanded the Marshal to do his
duty in preparing for and opening the Court,
and spare himself all care of the Judge’s
life. The Marshal then confessed himself
afraid to discharge his duty, and flatly re
fused. And he and all other subordinates
declined to act; and so Judge Catron failed
to hold his Court in Tennessee.
There are now three vacancies in the Su
preme Bench, caused by the death of Jus
tices M’Lean, of Ohio, and Daniels, of
Virginia, and the resignation of Judge
Campbell, of Alabama. The telegraph, in
contradicting the other day, the rumor that
Mr. Holt, of Kentucky, would be appointed
to one of the vacant Judgeships, announced
that the President would make no appoint
ments until the Court was reorganized
This, of course, puts off the appointments
until after the meeting of Congress, in De
cember.
An Investigation Promised-—General
In pursuance of a resolution introduced
by Mr. Van Wyck, of New York, the
Speaker of the House has appointed as a
Committee to inquire into the subject of
army contracts, Messrs. Van Wyck, Wash
burne, Holman, Fenton, Dawes, Steele
of New Jersey, and Jackson, of Kentucky.
Five of the committee are lawyers and the
other two practical business men. The
Herald correspondent says:
Mr. Van Wyck, the Chairman, has been in
Washington most of the time since the army
of occupation has been here, and has observed
the kind ot provisions that have been dealt out
to our troops, and tbe quality aud quantity of
clothing distributed among them. He has in
formed himself to some extent of the manner
in which ships have been chartered for trans
portation purposes, and how cattle have been
purchased, from whom, and what reputation
the parties bear with whom some of the con
tracts have been made. It will be shown
whether some of these contractors were giv
ing “aid and comfort” to the enemy when the
federal government saw fit to select them in
preference to thousauds of good loyal citizens,
who were ready to supply the goverumeut
with all the cattle and provisions needed. The
great coffee and pork frauds will be veutilated,
and various other things too num rous to men
tion. The manner in which horses have been
purchased by authority of the governmeut, in
different parts of the country by agents de
tailed to that duty, will afford material for a
most interesting chapter.
The Washington correspondent of the
Herald, in a lengthy letter, gives a circum
stantial account of the reasons why Gen.
W ool, the experienced commander in the
war of 1812 and the Mexican war, is kept
in retirement, while politicians aud civilians,
who have not the least qualification for the
positions, either by nature or education, are
appointed to the command of our gallant
soldiers. It appears it is a matter of Cam
eron’s contracts which keeps tbe old hei;o
in a New York village, while thp public
service is suffering for just such officers.
Gen; Wool, while in New York, at the
breaking out of the revolution, intervened
to prevent the Pennsylvania followers of
the Secretary from plundering the govern
ment, retarding military operations, and
stealing from the soldiers. He put an effec
tual stop .to all such rascality and misman
agement. And this, the Herald correspond
ent urges, is the reason why the old veteran
was “ turned out to grass.” Since then,
Simon’s camp followers have been having
‘(kings all their own way. The correspond
ent also shows the great value of the ser
vices General Wool performed during his
brief stay in New York. It was to him,
in fact, that the credit of securing the fed
eral arms in the Arsenal at St. Louis, be
longed, and his services in forwarding aud
equipping troop 3 were equally valuable.
The Herald demands, on behalf of the pub
public, that a joint investigating committee
be appointed on the treatment ot General
Wool and like operations. Unless some
thing of that sort is done the lobbyists,
who have so loog flourished unmolested at
Albany and Washington, will resolve them
selves into disastrous army and navy worms,
and prove an expensive appendage to the
war, causing the loss of millions by their
operations.
Professional Exchanges. —lnasmuch as
gentlemen whose specialty is the law, are
transferred to high military commands, the
Philadelphia Inquirer suggests that Capt.
Doubleday and Lieut. Slemmer be appoint
ed United States counsel to conduct the
case when the privateers of the Savannah
are to be tried.
—Let the North and the South inter
marry their sons and daughters. That’s
the best way for them to “join issues.”—
Louisville Journal.
Wool.
The March of the Grand Army.
“ON TO RICHMOND.”
Gen. McDowell’s movement has thus
far been crowned with success. His force
marched from Alexandria on Tuesday, in
different columns, one of which reached
Fairfax Court House and the other Vienna,
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, on
Wednesday. The advance had also pene
trated as far towards Manassas as Centre
ville, where the enemy were in force. This
is about twenty miles from Alexandria, and
ten from Manassas. A battle, it was ex
pected, would be fought there yesterday.
There can hardly be a doubt of a decisive
engagement before the close of the week.
We do not doubt the result. Manassas will
be occupied, if deemed necessary, by lederal
troops. It is on the route—ninety seven
miles distant—to Richmond, and in the oc
cupancy of the United States, cuts Vir
ginia in two, so far as Railroad communica
tion is concerned.
The He) aid, of Sunday last, published
the following, from its Washington corres
pondent :
A thousand of the sturdy lumbermen of
Maine, selected from five regiments from that
State, and composed of the well trained hew
ers from the Aroostook, the Androscogin and
the Kennebec, supported by a squadron of
regular cavalry, are now in possession of Fair
fax Court House, which they occupied without
a contest They found the roads covered
with obstructions, felled trees, strong abatis
across the roads, and in some instances in
trenchments. The brawny arms of the Maine
lumbermen, armed with axes, cleared the roads
from these obstructions as they went along.
The rebels left the place twenty-four hours
before our forces entered. This is a forward
march in good earnest.
This was denied the next day, and the ori
gin of the statement ascribed to an adven
ture of a scouting party. So, there i 3 no
doubt but that Gen. McDowell’s advance
first occupied Fairfax Court House.
Gen. Patterson, at last dates, was on
the point of marching Irom Martinsburg.to
attack Gen. Johnston, who was encamped
near Winchester, distant about thirty miles.
The Federal force consisted of about 30,000
soldiers, including several squadrons of cav
alry and batteries of artillery, among them
one or two of rifled cannon. Johnston’s
force is inferior to that of Patterson’s, but
is entrenched. If the former does Dot give
battle, he will undoubtedly fall back on
Manassas, and eflect a junction with the
main rebel force under Beauregard. Col.
Stone, who marched from Washington, via
the Potomac, effected a junction with Gen.
Patterson ou the Bth inst.
Gen. McClellan has at his command, in
Western Yirginia, a force of probably 50,-
000 soldiers, but they are dispersed over a
great extent of country, a portion of the
command being on the Kanawha, under
Gen. Hill, and others at Grafton, under
Gen. Cox. At Beverly, and at the scene of
the recent brilliant engagements, all in close
contiguity, there were on the 13th, upwards
of 20,000 men, under the personal command
of Gen. McClellan, assisted by Gens. lio-
SKNCRANTZ and SCHLEIGH.
It is undoubtedly intended that a junc
tion shall be made between the forces of
Gens. McClellan and Patterson, and
probably prior to the attack on Johnston
at Winchester. This may account lor the
dilatoriness of Patterson’s movements.
Beverly is about one hundred miles from
•Winchester, and by rapid marches the joint
armies of McClellan and Patterson
could be united in an attack on the rebel
force at that point by the time McDowell
reaches Manassas. Having defeated John
ston at Winchester, this western division of
the grand army, 50 000 strong, would have
a choice of railroad routes to Richmond :
either by Manassas Junction, or, as is the
most probable route, via. St aunton, Char
lottesville or Lynchburg. This latter route
would bring them before Richmond in a
different direction from that of Gen. Mc-
Dowell’s force.
Judge Catron’s Charge.
The following is a synopsis of the charge
of Justice Catron, of the United States
Supreme Court, to the Grand Jury of the
Circuit Court at St. Louis :
1. That to constitute treason, there must
be treasonaole intent, as well as a treasonable
overt act; aud in order to make' out treasona
ble intent and overt act, the party accused
must have been leagued iu a conspiracy to
overthrow the government.
2. That there are certain constitutional
guarantees which passion nor the frenzy of the
hour cannot touch, and among them is the
right of expression and discussion aud the free
dom of the press.
3. .That no sentiment, however hostile, can
be held to be treasonable.
4. That the right of every citizen to bear
arms is an inalienable right that cannot be in
fringed; and the fact of a citizen having arms,
without being in league with a hostile force,
was not an act for which his liberty could be
abridged.
5. That it is the duty of the Grand Jury to
protect both the citizen and the government,
and that they should not, on account of any
fear, favor or affection, shrink from the dis
charge of that duty. As an arm of the judi
ciary, the Grand Jury should diligently inquire
into all offences brought to their knowledge,
and bring to the bar of the United States Court
all who have been guilty of unlawfully uniting
against the Government and the laws of the
land.
—The third and fourth Massachusetts
regiments, aDd the illustrious Brigadier
Pierce, are to leave Fort Monroe, immedi
ately tor home, their three months time hav
ing expired.
From the South*
We are indebted to a friend tor a copy of
the New Orleans Picayune of the 6th July.
It contains President Lincoln’s Message
by telegraph, and the proceedings of Con"
greas, showing that the Southerners obtain
news much more readily from the North
than we do from the South. The Message
was published by the Picayune but a few
hours after it appeared in the New York
papers. The market report is the most in
teresting feature in the number before us.
As showing how the commerce of that city
has fallen off, under the operation of “ Abe
Lincoln’s odious blockade,” read the fol
lowing, from the market review, for the
week ending July 5 :
Cotton.— We notice sales during the past
week of none on Saturday, none on Monday,
45 bales on Tuesday, 24 on Wednesday, none
yesterday and none to-day, making a total of
69 bales. We omit general quotations as they
would be entirely nominal, but remark that
middling is held at 10&@llc. and has been Bold
as low as B£c.
Week’s receipts 248 bales; last year 1,478.
Total since Sept. 1, 1,851,838; last year, 2,209,-
110. Week’s exports, none. Week’s exports
last year, 12,864. Total exports. 1,916,973
bales; last year, 2,176,109.
The stock of cotton bn band, July 5, was
8,964 bales; same time last year, 58,995.
No molasses or sugar was exported for the
week, but the receipts nearly equalled those
of last year. Superfine flour is quoted, in
large lots, at §6, and choice extra at $8.50
to §9. The week’s receipts were but 941
barrels. Corn is quoted at 70 cents ; oats
at 55; hay S2O; mess beef sl4 to $lB, and
pork at $25.50. Butter is sold, wholesale,
at 25 to 30 cents.
The local column contains an account of
one or two suicides, a murder, and the fol
lowing instance of “ tar and cotton:”
Tar red and Cottoned.— A Gennau, named
Antony Hargood, was givea a coat of coal tar
and cotton by a volunteer company on Tchoup
itoula street, near Hunter, for having, as is al
leged, joined several companies aud then re
fused to go with auy of them. Hargood made
his escape, and ran for his life until lie reached
the First District Lockup, where he sought
protection. Mr. McClellaud. the humane Chief
of Police, ordered the man to be cleansed with
grease, aud put in a condition to return to his
home.
The Picayune's correspondent, writing
from Gen. Beauregard’s army, speaks as
follows of the probable issue of that battle
which has doubtless been already fought:
As to the issue of the battle, though we have
here perfect confidence in our strength and po
sition, it may not be wise to predict it. This,
however, may safely be said : If we are victo
rious the enemy will be driven across the Po
tomac, and Washington will be at our mercy.
If we are defeated, we have safe lines to fall
back upon, in the midst of a people whose pa
triotism shines brighter aud brighter as the de
cisive hour approaches.
But while iu view of the uncertain fortunes
of war I make this reserve, I may say that
each and every maul meet looks forward with
perfect confidence in the result. This confi
dence, I also understand, is shared by ail the
people of the surrounding country, who are
best acquainted with the spirit and strength of
the opposing armies.
The same correspondent says the number
of the Northern troops “is exaggerated, aud
“ the material of their army is inlerior to
“ ours. With rare exception, tub kiiltd of
“the enemy are Germans of the lowest and
“ most degraded character.” He then says;
We have in camp a few live Yankees. Ou
Thursday iast one of the picket guard took a
sergeant and lieutenant prisoners, and they are
-in camp at present. Both were armed, and
both yielded to a single sentinel. Were they
not brave fellows? The odds two to one will
not turn out to be too great. The hearthstone
is a sacred spot, and will call forth energies
unknown to an advancing foe.
Sliakopee College Meeting*
At un adjourned meeting of the citizens
of Shakopee, held at the Court House on
Saturday, July 13th, the Shakopee College
committee on subscriptions being called on
for a report of their success, submitted the
following report, to wit:
The committee on subscriptions report
that the citizens of Shakopee and vicinity
have subscribed liberally lor the Shakopee
College. Nearly every person called ou has
given according to his ability, la two days
the committee have received subscriptions
to the amount of over two thousand dollars,
and in a few days as much more can be ob
tained.
The committee on resolutions report as
follows, which were accepted and adopted :
Whereas, The education ol youth is alike the
duty of the parent and the citizen, and literary
institutions are necessary to the just and prop
er discharge of that important duty; and
Whereas, The Order of St. Benedict of the
State of Minnesota is about to commence the
erection and establishment of a College at
Shakopee to be called the St. John’s College,
with arrangements ample for the accommoda
tion of all who may choose to bestow upon
them their patronage; therefore
Resolved by the citizens of Sliakopee in mass
meeting assembled, without distinction of sect
orifaith, That the establishment of the Shako
pet College in their midst is an enterprise for
which the founders are entitled to receive and
do receive their thanks, and the successful
opening of the institution will be the source of
congratulation and encouragement among all
good citizens, aud ought to receive aud will re
ceive liberal support and patronage.
» HENRY HINDS, )
J. W. SENCERBOX, J- Com.
M. HESS DAMARA, J
On motion, it was then
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meet
ting be published in the Shakopee, Belle Piaiue
and St. Paul papers.
J. W. SENCERBOX, Cli’n.
Frank McGkade, Secretary.
Parson Brownlow, ol the Knoxville
(Tennessee) Whig, declares that an attempt
has been made to destroy his life by inocu
lating him with small pox. He says that
a package was sent to him containing about
a halt yard of brown domestic, with blood
and scales on it, resembling a <cloth taken
from some one afflicted with small pox.
MaJ. Heinselman* Gen. McDowell, Ac.
Thublow Weed, fresh from Washington
and the table of Gen. Scott, gives a rebuke
to the newspaper “ Generals” who are qui
etly sitting at their desks and crying, “ on
to Richmond,” and says:
Some years ago, in Mexico, a bush-house,
containing all the ammunition of the regiment,
caught fire. The danger was imminent. An
officer commanded the men to rush through
the flames and bring out the powder. But the
men hesitated while the flames spread. At
this critical moment Colonel (then Captain)
Heinselman appeared, exclaiming, “Boys, fol
low me!” and rushing himself in the magazine,
was the first to emerge with a keg of powder
in his arms. The men did follow and the work
was accomplished. In that spirit, “on to Rich
mond!” means something. Col. Heinselman is
in command of one of the columns now form
ing upon “sacred soil.”
Another word of this gallant officer. Some
weeks since, when the field officers for the new
regiment were about to be designated, we were
dining with General Scott, and asked to say a
word on behalf of an officer we thought enti
tled to promotion. “Who sir?” inquired the
General. “Major Heinselman,” and as we
were gbout to add something more, the veter
an interrupted, “Not a word, sir—l am respon
sible for Major Heinselman’s promotion.” This
was stgrnly but kindly said, when Colonel
Stone, who was present, related the magazine
incident.
Gen. McDowell, who is to have the immedi
ate command of the columns forming around
Arlington, Alexandria, &c., is a young officer
of great intelligence aud indomitable energy.
He is looking actively to the discipline and ef
ficiency of his men. Hi 3 general orders indi
cate capacity and good sense. They eDjoin, in
the most forcible language, order, sobriety and
obedience—especially in regard to the protec
tion of the persons and property of non-com
batants. General McDowell is in his saddle
early and late, giving direction and effect to
whatever concerns his command. He is in ro
bust health, equal to an}’ emergency, and will
do his whole duty. He will be seconded, ably
and gallantly, by Sherman, Tyler, Hunter,
Heinselman, &c,, who are to lead columns.
And now (or an instance of the bravery
of “Old Chippewa,” when headlong cour
age was of avail. In a recent speech deliv
ered at Newark, N. J., Judge Conrad, in
answer to a charge of cowardice made
aguiDst General Scott, produced a docu
ment which was sworn to a few years since,
as part of the evidence oi a soldier at Lun
dy’s Lane, who stated in his affidavit that
General Scott, after he was wounded, rode
to where the soldier was stationed, “ his
neck, breast aud arms in a gore of blood,
which ran down his legs aud trickled from
his boot upon the ground,” and said to the
commander of the line : “I am wonnded
and very weak ; I want one of your young
men to get up behind me and hold me on
my horse.” A young man threw down his
musket, and at one spring leaped upon the
horse, and they swiftly galloped away to the
muiu body of the army. The excitement
produced by reading the document was tre
mendous. Hundreds rose on their feet and
gave most vehement cheers, so that it was
some minutes before the speaker could pro
ceed.
Congressional Intelligence
Uur Congressional reports, by telegraph,
have not been very full of late, and we are
therefore compelled to fall back on our old
resource, the Eastern papers.
In the Senate, on the 16th, Mr. Sumner
presented petitions for the abolition
of slavery, in the Southern States;
he also introduced bills for the confiscation
of property iD the rebel States. Mr.
Breckinridge spoke at length in opposi
tion to the bill approving the acts ol the
President, in calling out troops, &c.
In the House, on the 16th, 20,000 copies
of the obituary speeches on Senator Doug
las were ordered to be printed. The fol
lowing resolution, submitted by Mr. Ed
wards, was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the thanks of this House be
presented to Major General McClellan and the
officers and soldiers of his command, for the
series of brilliant aDd decisive victories which
they have by their skill and bravery achieved
over the rebels and traitors in the army,on the
battle fields of Western Virginia.
A Senate bill was passed, fixing the 30th
day of June as the date when the sloop of
war Levant fouudered at seo.acd providing
ior the relief ot the widows aud orphans of
those lost.
Mr. Burnett made a lengthy speech, in
which he denounced the President, in his
official acts, as having violated his oath to
support the Constitution. He advocated a
peaceful solution of our difficulties.
Commentary 0:1 Civil Oenerals.223
Once upon u lime, in a Grecian Assembly,
the Legislature made by oue edict an hun
dred Generals. The extraordinary action
incensed a veteran of the army, who, by
permission, thus addressed this venerable
Assembly :
Fathers, Magistrates Only yesterday we
had but lew great warriors, Generals. Your
grave body has, by legislative edict, supplied
us with an hundred. We now lack horses. Will
you not by a similar happy act ol legislation
transmogrify our asses into horses aud supply
our lack of cavalry.
Tbe General Government has supplied us
amply with Geuerals, nut our army is iu
singular need ol horses.
—Dr. J. Simmons, ot the Medical De«
partment, United States Army, has been j
detailed for a very important mission by
the Secretary of War. He has been sent *
to the great camps ol the west, to survey
minutely the hospital regulations there s[bd
to report on their condition, making such
suggestions for the introduction of new, and
the removing of old systems as may appear
fit to him. It is said that the eminent gen
tleman is not prepossessed in favor of the'
practice of appointing fema nurses. .
i