The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume], November 08, 1861, Image 4

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

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
2
Hiflnmr&gtmocrat
SAINT PAUL.
Saint Paul, Friday, November 8, 1861.
Lieutenant General Winfield Scott
Retired from Active Service.
The telegraph brings, not unexpectedly,
the news oi the voluntary retirement of
Winfield Scott from the military service
of the country. For years he has been a
sufferer from diseases which would long ago
have driven aDy man of ordinary will from
the active pursuits of life. For months he
has labored under bodily pains, whioh, had
the labor been compulsory, would have
been counted not merely cruelty but inhu
manity. At lust these sufferings have proved
too great even for the endurance of such a
man as he, and he is compelled to relinquish
the burdens of a service in which he has
gained world-wide reputation, and in
which, too, regard for his country and his
own fame, made him desirous to continue,
until the spirit of treason, which he had
once quelled, had been a second time, and
forever, buried in an infamous grave. To
crush out this rebellion was the sole remaining
object of ambition with the brave old hero.
He hoped to live and guide the armies of
the Republic until the Union and the Con
stitution were restored and supreme. “Man
proposes, but God disposes and the victor
of half a hundred battles is forced to resign
bis patriotic work into younger hands.
Winfield Scott was born in 178 C
native of the State of Virginia. He was
liberally educated, a graduate of a Virginia
college, originally intended, and qualified by
3tudy, for the practice of law. A military
man by nature, ne never exercised himself
at the bar, but early sought military em
ployment, and at the age of twenty.three,
became a Captain of Light Artillery. At
twenty-six, on the breaking out of the war
of 12, he was commissioned a Lieutenant
Colonel; and for gallant services in that war
was successively promoted to be a Colonel,
Brigadier General, and Major General—at*
taining the last distinction when he was but
twenty-eight years of age. It is not neces
sary to record the details of the exploits
Derformed by the young general, on the
northern frontier, from 1812 to 1814. It
needs only the naming of Queenstown
Heights, Niagara, Lundy’s Lane, to recall
the most brilliant period of our military
history, and the distinguished part borne
through it all by the subject of our sketch.
The Mexican War, and the services ren
dered during that struggle by General
Scott, are lresh in the mind of every reader.
From the bloodless capture of Vera Cruz
to the taking of the Mexican capita), no
campaign in the world's history shows suc
cesses so brilliant, gained at so slight a cost
of life. Thenceforth he ranked among the
great warriors of all the earth and of all ages
—the peer in our modern times of Napo
leon and WELLINGTON.
When the present rebellion broke oat
General Scott was almost incapacitated tor
duty by physical infirmity. During the
heavy preliminary labors of organizing tne
vastly increased force rendered necessary for
the protection of the Government, he fre
quently passed dayß and nights together in
bis office, near the War Department, prop
ped up by pillows, and unable to move or
be moved. It has been under sneb circum
stances that the patriotic oid man has laid
the plans for crushing out the unholy treason
which menances the life of the Union
The execution of these plans he is forced by
his infirmities to resign into more vigorous
hands. We hardly dare hope that he will
live to see them executed. Relieved of the
weight of responsibility, and of the labor
and excitement of command, we fear he
may suddenly sink into death and the grave.
God grant that the change may be peace
ful and painless which shall translate the
grand old hero from earth to the heaven he
has earned so well.
Educational
State of Minn., Departm’t Pcb. Instr n, i
St. Paul, October 29, 1861. J
We would respectfully cull the attention
of Secretaries of Boards of Education, in
towds and cities, Presidents of Universities,
Colleges and Seminaries, and all others a
the head of schools in Minnesota, to the
following law :
Sec. 63. That incorporated Boards of Edu
tion of towns and cities, and the Trustees of
all incorporated Academies, Colleges and other
literary institutions, shall, on or before the
first day of December annually, report to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction the name
of each Trustee, Treasurer, and other officers
and students, with a statement of their indebt
edness, and such other information as m y
tend to exhibit their condition and operations.
The annual report of the Superintendent
should be a lull and accurate exhibit of the
educational interests of the State; hence
the law requires a report Irom each school
in the State, of every grade and of all de ß
nominations. We issue this circular to se
cure an early and satisfactory response from
all parties interested.
Editors will very much oblige us by pub
lishing this notice.
B. P. CRtRY,
State Superin’t. of Public Instruction.
The Affair at Edwards’ Ferry.
We find but few details in the papers of
this affair. The Philadelphia Press con
tains the following from its special corres
pondent :
I have just returned from Edwarde’ Ferry.
There were two engagements. One at Ed
wards’ Ferry, in which the New York Second,
Dana’s Minnesota regiment, detachments from
Major Mix’s cavalry, the Massachusetts Nine
teenth, New York Thirty-fourth, the Seventh
Michigan, and Colonel Murphy’s Pennsylvania
regiment—in all, eighteen hundred men, with
two gunB —were engaged. General Gorman
assumed command on the Maryland side, hav
ing charge of transportation. Colonel Tomp
kins commanded on the Virginia side. He
crossed on Sunday last, and on the afternoon
of that day,torming a line of battle on the hills,
shelled the woods for two hours, but saw no
enemy. Companies of skirmishers were sent
forward, escorted by cavalry. They advanced
a mile and a half from the shore, and lay on
their arms all night. On Monday the forces
slowly advanced. On Tuesday morning an In
diana regiment arrived, with a company of
sharpshooters belonging to Lander’s brigade,
to act as skirmisher-. As the sharpshooters
advanced the enemy opened.tire, the Mississip
pi Thirteenth being among the number. A
company of the Seventh Michigan regiment
took the bridge, two miles from the Potomac.
Gen. Lander arrived on Tuesday afternoon,
but refused to take command, being unwell.
He offered to do anything in his power to as.
sist Colonel Tompkins. As he rode along the
line the pickets of the enemy wounded him in
the leg. About four o’clock on that day a
sharp skirmish occurred. Two howitzers
opened on them, when they retired behind em.
bankments. Many of the rebels were killed
and wounded. These victims were removed
at night in wagons. At this time the Federal
force numbered four thousand men, with two
gnus and thirty cavalry. Two men were killed
and one wounded on our side. All Tuesday
night the cars were heard running from Win
chester on the Loudon and Hampshire railroad.
Large reinforcements came to the enemy. We
had twenty thousand men on the Mary'and side
but having no transportation, with the river
behind our forces, General McClellan, who by
this time had arrived, directed our forces to
recross the river. General Banks crossed to
Virginia on Tuesday afternoon, but came back
anefrmade his headquarters at Edwards’ Ferry,
where his division now is.
The item below is taken from the Philu*
delphia Enquirer :
The Minnesota First was the nearest ex
hausted of any, but we heard no grumbling.
All seemed thankful to have got over sate; not
a man was injured in the recrossing, nor any
baggage lost; everythisg came over safe. Gen.
Gorman aud Stone personally superintended
the crossing, and were the last to leave. Gen.
Gorman has been in the saddle for two days
and nights.
The Keiistone State at Philadelphia
Her Chaae sf the Sumpter.
The United States steamer Keystone
State, purchased by the Government, are
rived at Philadelphia on Friday the 25th,
after a cruise of a little more than three
mouths amoDg the West India islands, in
search of the privateer Sumpter. Her log
shows that she has ruu 15,000 miles in this
fruitless chase. The nearest she ever came
to the Sumpter was five days. The follow
ing is the substance of her log;
First proceeded to Kingston, Jamaica, and
from thence to St. Thomas. Then accomplished
the complete circuit of the island ol Porto Rico,
stopping at Martinique. From thence started
for Barbadoes. and reached Port Bpaiu five
days after the Sumpter had left. Then went to
Curacoa, Havana, Key West, Allucau, Gulf
Cazonas, Grand Camana, Curacoa, Puerto Ca
bello, St. Thomas, Surinam and Aspinwall.
From Aspinwall, convoyed the Champion clear
of the West India Islands, and at Key West cap
tured the steamer Salvor.
The prize steamer Salvor, which the Key
stone State brought up to Philadelphia, is
thus described:
The Salvor started from Cardenas, and while
attempting to run the blockade at Tampa Bay,
Florida, on the 14th inst., was captured by
the Keystone State, which had been on a
cruise alter the rebel steamer Sumpter, The
cargo of the prize consists ot eight large cases
of shoes, 600 pistols, 5< 0.000 percussion caps,
40O,i'G0 cigars, and 400 bags of coffee. Bhe
was built at Buffalo, New York, in the year
1656. has a first class oscillating engine, with
30-inch cylinder, issoJtons burthen,und owned
by James Mackep, of Tampa Bay. The Mar
shal of Tampa Bay desired to retain the steam
er at that place, but Captain Scott determined
to bring her to a more loyal port-
The Salvor was formerly a river steamer in
New Yoik, and for some time previous to t.ie
rebellion was running as a packet to the island
of Cuba. It s said that Mr. Mackay had dis
posed of the 6teamer to the rebel government.
In addition to the above statement of the cargo
we understand that a case of arms was secret
ed under the coal. While at Key West. Major
French caused to be arrested J tines McKav,
the former owner of the st ami-r. Dr. R H.
Barrett ol Key West, and W. G. Ball, and re
moved them to Fort Taylor, where they were
detained as prisoners. Key West is loyal to
the United States Government, and it Is said
that a demand will be made to have the ship
and cargo returned to Key West. Capt. Scott,
of course, claims the steamer as his prize, aud
the right to take it wherever he chooses.
A telegraphic dispatch of the 28ih, states
that the commander of the Keystone State
has been arrested in Philadelphia for not
obeying his orders to the letter, which were
to follow the Sumpter until he fouud her.
Immense Exports —The shipments of
domestic produce Irom the port of New
York, for the week ending October 19th,
were larger than lor aDy previous week in
the history of the trade, the total being
nearly four million dollars 1 Included in
this total are 98 007 barrels of wheat fl >ur;
928.861 bushels of wheat; 83 585 bushes
rye ; 367,514 bushels Indian corn ; 1,160
boxes cundles; 2,405 tons of coa 1 ; 200 hubs
of bay; 174 bales of hops ; 817 barrels
rosio; 40,826 gallons whale oil; 14 263 gal
lons sperm oil; 2.420 barrels pork; 426 bar
rels and 54 tierces beef; 212 385 p? unds cut
meats; 1,397,611 pounds butt r ; 1 871 020
pounds cheese; 1,212.139 pounds iurd; 445-
804 pounds tallow ; 5 383 packages crude
tobacco; 195 760 pounds manufactured to
bacco; and 5 116 pounds whalebone This
is the tenth time eince New York was set
tied that the vulue of the week’s exports
of produce exceeded thrte million dolb.rs
The exact total is $3 815,470. The l..rg st.
previous total was for the week eiminir
October 13th, 1860 when the shu rm-i ts
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
reached 93,614,784. In one other case the
exports exoeeded three and a half millions,
bat the week now under review bears the
palm over any similar period by nearly one
quarter of a million.
Earl Russell, in his reply to the memo
rial urging active intervention in the affairs
of Mexico, questions the policy of the
course recommended by the mercantile
community. He holds that even a “ very
large” foreign force would fail to restore
public tranquillity in that conntry, and this
task must, therefore, be left to the Mexicans
themselves. He lays down the doctrine
that “ there are very few cases in which fo
reign interference can be beneficial, and in
these few cases there must be a large and
numerous party in the country prepared to
avail itself of foreign aid.” Mexico, in his
opinion, ofiers no such encouragement to
European intervention, and “ Her Majesty’s
Government, therefore, must confine their
action to the clear and legitimate purpose
of demanding from the de facto government
of Mexico, however constituted, respect for
the persons and property of British subjects
and the fulfilment of recorded obligations.’
Rosecran’s Headquarters. —A corres
pondent of the Wheeling (Ya.) Intelligencer,
writing from the headquarters of General
Rosecrans, who has shown by deeds that
he is a man to fight and command, says :
We found Gen. Rosecrans’ headquarters
to be one of the most ordinary tents on the
ground, not even having a board floor, its
simple furniture consisted of two or three
camp stools and camp chests, and a bed of
the most primitive character. There was
nothing whatever about the tent save the
stars and stripes floating above it to indi
cate that it constituted the headquarters of
the army of the United States in Western
Virginia. As to bis present position and
the movements of those under his command,
we have but one word to say : He knows
what he is doing, and what he should do—
what the enemy are doiDg, and what they
can do. All is quiet, and likely to be so.
A Poor Rich Man. —The Chicago 7 imes
gives the case of a gentleman in that city
which we presume is only one of many si nr
ilar cases which might be named. A gen
tleman. some years since, by the rise ot real
estate, became noted for the increase of his
wealth. His paper ranked fair for almost
any amount, and fortune seemed to favor
him at every turn. The pressure came,
however, and found him in the act of erect
ing one or more fine blocks on prominent
streets. As the buildings seemed necessary
and an equal necessity existed of obtaining
fuods to finish them, he resorted to the plan
of mortgaging the property for that pur
pose. The buildings were finished, and the
gentleman’s pecuniary matters stand very
much straightened. The rents he receives
trom the buildings are absorbed by interest,
insurance and taxes. Real estate cannot
be sold for anything greater than a sacrific
ing price, and the gentleman has no other
property than these buildings and his
homestead. He is worth from 850 000 to
§BO 000 ; yet he is actually obliged to la.
bor, day after day, to furnish the necessaries
of life for his family, or starve. Who
wouldn’t be rich ?
Stand by the Flag. —They are teiliDg
a good Btory in Troy, as follows : It was
rumored that a gentleman, known to be a
loyal citizen, had a secession flag fly rag from
his bouse. Of course there was a tremen
dous hue and cry raised, aDd an excited
party started for the premises. On reach
ing the house, it was found to be a lady’s
balmoral that bad been washed and hung
from a back window to dry ! The husband
avowed his determination to stand by that
flag as long as he lived, and the effervescent
crowd exploded and disappeared.
—Pennsylvania, says the Chicago Tri
bune, is bringing up her arrears quite nobly.
The Governor has announced that, including
independent regiments who are now num
bered as State troop 9, Pennsylvania has
60 000 men in the field, with 20,000 under
arms at home, and he gave the promise some
days since of a full 100 000 before winter
sets in. Eight regiments are now nnder or
ders for the sett of war. The quota of
Pennsylvania is 74 530. Let the old Key
stone State have the credit that is her due.
FROZEN CP IN THE ARCTIC REGION.—A
Peterhead (Englund) whaler, named the
Alert, has recently arrived in England, after
a winter involuntarily spent m the Arctic
regions. Ihe vessel was frozen up early
lust fall, at Kitferdon Island—the crew being
wholly unprepared to face the horrible rigore
ol the climate. One by one they perished
Irom cold and scurvy until, when assistance
reached them, only ten out of the original
crew of twenty remained, and they were
much enfeebled by disease. The Captain
of the vessel reports that the American
vessels which wintered out had met with
poor success. Up to the middle of August
no whales Ltd bsen caught in that quarter.
A gentleman who recently visited
W asiiii gton City informs the Pittsburg
(y'cze le that, in conversation with the Prea
i t ni. thf latter remarked, ‘ I bate Aboli
timiiets as much as you do. I hold them iD
utt. r contempt.”
INTENTIONAL DUPLICATE EXPOSURE
NOTES OF THE REBELLION.
WHERE GEN. PRICE 18 HURRYING.
The Leavenworth limes has advices that
General Price’s army is being concentrated
at Cowskin Prairie, in McDonald county,
Missouri, at the extreme southwestern cor
ner of the State. It says :
It is reported that the Arkansas troops have
been throwing np extensive fortifications in
McDonald county and will there fight to the
last. Their pickets are said to extend for ten
miles northward from the entrenchments,with
in which are mounted some heavy guns.
A large number of Cherokee Indians are
with McCulloch, who has been superintending
the fortification since the fight at Springfield.
The army is well supplied with provisions from
Arkansas and the Indian conntry, and it is be
lieved in some localities that the Confederate
forces will number nearly if not fully 40,000
men, which we may well believe, it they have
concluded to make a stand.
VVe do not know how much confidence to
place in these reports; but they have an air
of probability, in view of the mystery which
has surrounded the famed Texan chief Bince
the fight at Springfield. If, in reality, the re
bels have entrenched themselves in this posi
tion, it will need all Fremont’s strategy and
force to dislodge them.
THE LEESBURG BLUNDER.
A correspondent of the New York Post
writes from Washington that the Leesburg
reconuoissance was made without aDy con
sultation with General McClellan, and that
General Scott ordered it, or Stone executed
it, without orders. The writer adds that
General McClellan’s friends assert that he
will resign if such movements are to be
made without his authority, while he is at
I', ast nominally commander. It is said that
General Scott, without the assent of Mc-
Clellan, ordered General Stone to cross the
river tor a simple recounoissanee.
gen. lane's proolamaion.
General Jim Lane has issued his procla
mation to the people of Western Missouri,
now occupied by the Kansas Brigade. It
is characteristic of the man and his mode
of treating rebels in arms. He informs the
Missouri people that his brigade are not
thieves, or plunderers, or jawhawkers, but
soldiers—soldiers regularly mustered into
service and sworn to obey the rules and ar
ticles of war—that his brigade is fighting
for peace—to put down a rebellion—to cause
the stars and stripes to float over every foot
of American soil, See. To secure peace and
protection, General Lane conjures every
man in arms to return to his home and re
sume his business—and he gives the people
sound advice on u variety ot topics, as well
as invites the County Commissioners, Magis
trates and Sheriffs to visit him and talk
over matters face to face. After talking to
the rebelliously inclined Missourians “ like
a father,” General Jim Lane thus warns
them of the wrath to come if they do not
give heed to his peace councils :
Should you, however, disregard my advice,
the stern visitations of war will be meted out
to the rebels and their allies. I shall then be
convinced that your arming for protection is a
sham, and rest assured that the traitor when
caught shall receive a traitor’s doom. The cup
of mercy is exhausted. Treason, hereafter,
will be treated as treason. The massacre of
innocent women and children by black-hearted
traitors, lately burning a bridge on the Hanni
bal and St. Joseph Railroad, has satisfied ua
that a traitor will perpetrate crimes which dev
ils would shudder to commit. They shall be
blotted from existence, and sent to that hell
which yawns for their reception.
The two roads are open to you, People of
Western Missouri, choose ye between them.
The one will lead you to peace aud plenty,
the other to destruction. J. LANE,
Brig. Gen. Commanding Kansas Brigade.
promotion from the ranks.
The Secretary of War has directed the
promotion of twenty sergeants, on account
of meritorious conduct, to the position of
Second Lieutenants. Among them was
William Griffin, a sergeant, who served
twenty years under the heroic General Ly
on, having shared with him the dangers of
every battle in Missouri, and earned the
deserved admiration of his officers for cour
age and soldierly conduct. The only favor
the lamented Lyon ever asked of the Gov
ernment was the promotion of SergeaDt
Griffin.
A SECESSION BAROMETER.
Baltimore is a perfect barometer of the
war. If you would see bow the National
fortunes stand, you have Dut to note the
state of feeling and its manifestations in
that divided city. Let oar arms meet with
a reverse—up goes the secesh mercury ;
let the Government show the tusks of pow
er, and down sinks treason to the lower
registers, though only to lie perdu till an
opportunity comes. A fortnight ago, Mon
umental City polled a splendid Union ma
jority. But the disaster at Ball's Blufi has
made reason once more rampant, and Bal
timore is reported again all feverish and
unsettled. Happily while secession pro
poses, Fort McHenry disposes ; and Gen.
I»ix is altogether too keen to be dixied.—
Aew York limes.
Flax Cotton Calico. —The Providence
Journal, speakiLg of prints made in that
neighborhood from a combination of flax
and cottoD, in tbe proportion of twenty
five per cent, of the latter material to sev
enty-five of the former, says that “ they
show a decided advantage in texture, color
and general appearance by tbe side of the
cloth made entirely of cotton. The raw
material is offered at seven cents per pound.
—England does not liberally patronise its
own authors. Dickens’ last story, “ Great
Expectations,” has run through only four
editions, each of one thousand copies, in
England, while one publishing firm in
Philadelphia have already sold about fifteen
thousand copies, with thirty-four illustra
tions, by McLellan, of New York, none of
which bare appeared in London.
8t« Louis on Sunday
Correspondence of the Pioneer anil Democrat.
The sun shines in all his autumn bright
ness on the spotless blue of the eky. But
the sky of our Republic is overhanging
with dark clouds, and the storm rages
through the blessed land of plenty, and
sorrow fills the hearts of families, free and
happy families, separated and afflicted by
the evils of war. Still war has also its
blessings. A nation that looked down with
pride on every other nation of the earth ;
whose commerce has brought distant conti
nents in near contact; and whose flag was
respected by ail ; this nation, absorbed by
the exclusive mercantile influence, having
no higher object of worship than that of
the almighty dollar, has become in less than
a century so much demoralized, that the
hunting after money and office, without re
gard of right and humanity, has brought
upon ns a war, which, horrible as it may be
in its destructive effects, may bring still
some good moral lessons, and a purer love
of patriotism and liberty, after the bloody
conflict shall be over.
I have visited, in a journey of two
months, in the States of Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri, many
camps of Union soldiers, and have seen
more soldiers in one hour than in twenty
live years of my citizenship in this country.
I said, and had it printed, before our last
Presidential election, that the torches of
the Wide Awakes would turn into bayonets,
and the foretelling words have been mourn
fully fulfilled. 1 will say nothing of the
general stagnation of business, nothing of
our glorious stream, the father of waters,
where the wild animals are but littie dis
turbed by the sound of the steam whistle.
1 shall give your readers but a short glimpse
into the Sunday life of St. Louis. Without
Fremont this important city would be at
present in the barbarous hands of secession,
according to the testimony of many citizens
I have conversed with. Their hearts are
with the Pathfinder ; the soldiers worship
him; and as 1 witnessed all through my
journey, he carries not only armies but the
population of the whole great northwest
with him ; notwithstanding the “ sword of
Damocles ” that hangs over him by the in
fluence of aspiring politicians and the an
athema of our Cabinet and Executive,
whose politics and proceedings are an indis
soluble engine to me, and many others who
have not yet lost all the hope and confidence
placed in them.
Should the trusting people be disappoint
ed, the day of retribution, I am aware, will
be a terrible one. I have heard voices
which resemble the sound of a terrible vol
canic eruption. In the still unsettled ques
tion of superceding Fremont, an event that
probably may come, there is hid the germ
of great events.
1 have made a promenade on the levee.
There I 3aw a long line of over one hundred
stearmrs, without steam and idle, who
knows for how long a time to come '! Very
iittle freight there is for the Upper Missis
sippi, where a few boats are receiving.
Belore the steamer Des Moines, owned by
the United states, a large crowd was as
sembled, looking on a thousand square
boxes, guarded by soldiers, loaded with pills
for secession, and to be shipped to some
unknown place of'action.
I looked for the Northern Line and was
told that their trips are very irregular.
But tell me what is now regular? Nothing
but treason and vengeance.
1 went out to the fortifications, necessa
rily ereGted for the safety of the city, that is
in itself swarming with secessionists, kept
down by six thousand soldiers. These en«
trenchments, eleven in number, mounted
with thirty-two pounders, are built accord
ing to military art, by Fremont, and stroug
enough to defy any number of foes ap
proaching from the western side of the far
extending city. This is one of the great
works of Fremont's skill, and by Frank
Blair charged as extravagance. I met
here a gentleman who was a short time
ago a member of the committee to Came
ron, our Secretary of War, on his tour of
inspection and investigation, fie said to
me that Cameron’s words were —“ The ex
travagance of Fremont is enormous. What
are these fortifications for? Would it not
be better for the citizens to shoulder the
musket and meet the enemy V “ Mr.
Cameron,” replied the gentleman, “ we, es
pecially the (Germans, have raised Biair to
his present high position, and should he,
the enemy of Fremont, ever run again, he
would not be elected as a constable.”
Cameron was thunderstruck. “You call
this extravagance, sir,” continued the for
mer ; “ we differ with you in opinion, and
dread the idea of Fremont being removed,
in whom we set all our confidence.”
1 saw here also a company of Fremont’s
Body Guard, on horseback—excellent sol
diers, Americans and Germans, headed
by Lieutenant McLean, of martial ap
pearanceand bearing. Notwithstanding the
order of the President that these fortifica
tions should not be completed, they are to
be completed, and they are working at
them, even to day on the Sabbath. Fre
mont is also building a railroad through
the city and on the levee connecting the
camps with the Iron Mountain road. Also
on this road they were busy in digging to
day.
At Fremont’s Headquarters—the upper
story of which gallant Jessie is occupying
now —I paid a visit to Colonel Fidla, on
excellent officer from the late Hungarian
war. Although busy with official writings,
I was admitted without delay. Nothing
is more ridiculous on the part of Blair’s
complaint, than tbe inaccessibility of Fre
mont, a fact that every body well knew
who knows any thing about tbe noble
and cosmopolite character of the Major
General, whose great popularity and radi
cal proclamation, that touches the rebellion
at the roots, has brought the fear and ven
geance of oar wise Cabinet over his bead.
Yes, Sir, if Fremont bad the brain of a
Napoleon, the politicians at Washington
would still mercilessly break his skull.
Corruption seems to have gone to such
an extent, that merit aDd honesty are consid
ered in some quarters as a crime, if such
merit threatens to overshadow the medioc
rity of those in power. Indeed, the school
master is abroad, and if W e will not study
the logic of causes and consequences at
home, we shall dig our common grave, upon
which Mocarchs will hold their jubilee, and
the hope of Liberty and National strength
will turn in a melancholy dream of juve
nile grandeur. Mars avertat.
S. LEWVIGH.
Gallantry of our Troop*.
From liie Chicago Post.
A statement which we have seen in some '
of the papers, that of a large number —we
think more than one hundred—of privates !
in the regular service who Lave been raised
by commies.ons signed by the President to
Lieutenants, only two of them have resigned
their commissions on account of sympathy
with the rebellion, reminds us of a passage I
in the President’s message to Congress, to
the effect that every private in the army
was loyal, and hundreds of them u 3 well '
fitted to be President and Cabinet Minis
ters as the present occupants of those ex
alted places. This was at the lime by some j
rather eneeriDgly conceded as probably true.
By most persons, however, it was thought
to oe highly extravagant. Many of the
earlier incidents—disasters—of the cam- j
paign against the rebels did not serve to j
raise our soldiers in the popular sentiment. !
It must be granted that the most, and i
most fatal, of these disasters were caused
by iuefflciency or cowardice in the officers.
When the officers run away, the men lose
their courage, and will not fight. But it is
certain, notwithstanding, that when a part
of an army proves recreant and cowardly,
the other part will nine times out of ten be
driven to commit some folly, and all to
gether full under the gravest stigma in
volved. If the men in epauletts and tinsel
fall short of their duty, ail fall short,
lirdually the officers have been improved ;
and in the latest engagements our soldier
have shown the courage and steadiness of
veterans. President Lincolns seemingly
hyperbolical allusion to our soldiers in his
message may not have been hyperbole after
all. Our rauks are composed of thousands
of the very best men in the land.
October 27, 1861.
We have not attempted to explain away
into nothingness the discouraging and aDger
moving reverse to our arms the other day
at Edward’s Ferry, There has nothing hap
pened in the course of this war one half so
discouraging, or in which one half of the
guilt of some officer or officers is in
volved, as the bloody disaster at this
point. We promptly stigmatized the
rash proceeding in partially adequate
terras—though we were, and are at all times
willing to apologize for any blunder or
error that may be committed by our officers
—and since then we have read nothing, aud
heard nothing, that could change the judg
ment of the most willing mind upon the
facts. The percentage of loss wa3 greater
than in any engagement yet, greater than
at Bull Run by lar, and greater than at
Springfield, and there was no occasion for
the move, and no excuse for it. Who is
responsible Tor it, we do not pretend to say.
if it were not for the gallaut conduct of
our soldiers at Edward’s Ferry, there would
be absolutely no bright streak in the cloud
of the national despondency. But the men
heroically standing under the most galling
fire, and enduring the most unwonted hard
ships, redeems the lustre of our arms. Ev
ery advantage of the contest was ev
idently from the outset in favor of the
rebels —and this ought to have been seen
by the officers who gave the fatal order—
but had they behaved with the same cool
bravery of the men, the case would have
been much better. All that can be
said of the oflicers, is, that they betrayed
a criminal weakness in being tempted
into the trap of the enemy, and that, after
they were entrapped, their presence of mind
failed them. All that can be said of our
men is, that though mostly what are called
raw volunteers, they obeyed the original
order with alacrity and intelligence—fought
like veterans —and when overpowered, ap
peared not in the least panic-stricken or
alarmed ; and this is praise that the vete
rans of the English and French armies
would be proud to have giveu to them. So
the American people may have still —do
have still—hope thut it will all come out
right in the end, and that hope is in the
noble bravery of our men.
SpeakiDg oi the telegraph line to San
Francisco, the New York Inbune “ comes
down” handsomely and owns up the corn,as
follows:
This telegraph is mainly a Western enter
prise. New York gave it the cold shoulder,
tor previous to the breaking out of tbe
rebellion, the owners of lines in the East
and Southeast, wanted the communication
to be made via New Orleans, that they
might to a greater extent, participate in the
profits over their own lines. The western
men wishiog to secure the advantage to
their lines, went to work with a will, and in
an incredible brief space of time have
accomplished their undertaking, and added
another wonder to the world.
—lt ha 9 been computed that the number
of Bibles in existence, before the present
century, did not exceed four millions.
There is one society,the British and Foreign
Bible Society, which issued in 1860, 1,917,*
897 copies of the Bible, and the aggregate
issue from Great Britain every year is now
nearly four millions, or as many as existed
in the whole world before the present cen
tury.
—A member of the Massachusetts First
regimeQt has found a bride in ore of the
daughters of Biadensburg, Maryland, and
intimates that the bright eyes of the pretty
girls at that region may effect other con
quests for the South over the soldiers of the
North.
Nan Francisco Telegraph.