The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-30
Notes of the Rebellion.
GENERAL SHIELDS ON THE WAR.

Columbia, California, on the 4th of July.
In the course of his remarks he said:
We are in the midst of q civil war may God
preserve US from any more of its horrors! The
North does not wish to subjugate the South,
but only wishes to do what is clearly its right
and duty to dO-t0 regain, protect, take, and
hold and preserve the public institutions and
property of the United States, which belong to
our posterity. If any one refuses, or does not
feel willing to perform this duty, he is not
worthy OF this country, and ought not to be
allowed to reside in it. In conclusion, feel
presentiment in me-sO strong that do not
hesitate to express it-that the next Fourth of
July will find our beloved Union reunited
stronger than ever. When the South learns
the intentions of the North towards her, she
will throw of the harlequin yoke of JEFF. Davis,
Toombs, Wigfall and others, and grasp our
hands in Union forever.
PORTE cRAYoN.
The following paragraph, in the Louis
vile Democrat, is abundant contradiction
to statement which has had wide circula-
ton, that "Porte Crayon" was fighting for
the rebels con dmOre:
Mr.. Strother, the celebrated 'Porte Crayon"
of Harper's Magazine, is warm Union man,
and is charged with having indicated the line
OF march for the national army. The Southern
papers are very bitter on him, and very much
annoyed by it, as they say he knows every
road, path, by.path and lOw.path in the Old
Dominion. They are very willing to drive MN
from the State, because he is a Union man, but
have no desire for him to return backed Dy an
army.
GEN. SHERMAN.
Brig. Gen. Il. w. Sherman, of Sherman's
battery fame, was in Newport, r. l., on
Tuesday and left next morning. The Bos-
ton Traveller says that he is on an important
secret mission to the Governors of the
Northern States, connected with army
operations against the rebels, and will visit
Massachusetts,, Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire, &C., before his return.
A BRAVE BUGLER.
Eugene Messick, who has been for ten
years 10 the regular service, is now in Pitts
bargh on a visit to his friends. Messick
was bugler to Sherman's Battery, and was
in the battle at Bull Run, where he was
wounded in the arm by musket ball. In
the height of the action he was ordered to
sound the call for advance, and, in the act
of so doing, be felt sudden tingling and
numbness in his arm, which fell by his side
helpless. His bugle also dropped to the
ground, but dsmounting and >regaining it.,
be again got upon his horse, and allowing
the latter to go as be would, held his bugle
to his lips with the uniDjured arm and blew
the charge. He has in bis possession the
ball that struck him, which was afterwards
extracted.
GETTING UNEASY.
The Charleston Courier of the 9th, says {:
We are now entering the third week from
the great battle, and we have no official re-
port. We know the difficulties that have
delayed such report, in the constant move-
ments of many who were engaged in it, but
we hope there will be no needless delay. We
need no suppression {; our people desire the
truth, and can face the truth under any cir
cumstances. Can we not at least request
Immediately an official statement of the
amount and variety of ordnance and mill.
tary stores captured, as an Offset to North.
ern lies"
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICERS.
The Board recently appointed for the
examination of volunteer and army officers,
have resolved upon standard of qualifica,
tions, as follows
Field officers must understand all that is re.
quired of company officers, and also be able
to answer questions regarding evolutiOns of
line, proper conjuncture, the elements of mill.
tary engineering, the circumstances under
which the use of field artillery is proper, and
other such collateral interrogations as the
Board of Examiners think proper to propose.
Company officers must answer orally and
correctly all questions on the manner of in.
structing recruits; the use of the manual of
commissioned and non commissioned officers
in line and battalion movements.
ACTIVITY IN TEXAS.
The Austin State Gazette understands
that Comptroller Jones bad digested plan
for meeting the expenses incurred by Texas
in the present war, which will afford an am
pie revenue to discharge all her liabilities
at an early day. The Gazette adds:
Gov. Clark has now about 100 Texas
troops in garrison and on scouting duty in the
Indian Territories between Texas and Kansas.
He has succeeded through commissioners in
procuring the friendship of the civilized tribes
inhabting that country, and has effected trea.
ties with most of the nations on the reserve
north of Texas, by which they bind themselves
to fight for us in the present war.
"CONTRABAND" SINGING AT FORTRESS MONROE.
A correspondent of the New York DID,
vertiser says that it is one of the most strik-
ing incidents of the war to listen to the
singing Of the groups of colored people in
Fortress Monroe, who gather at their resorts
after nigbtfall. The writer having occasion
to "visit" an officer of the garrison sick in
his tent, passed around by the fortress chapel
and adjacent yard, where most Of the econ
traband tents are spread. There were hune
dreds of men of all ages scattered around.
In one tent they were singing in order, one