The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-06
TELEGRAPu1C DISPATCHES
News from Washington.

News from Washington.
Observation-Disclosures OFFICE ORDER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26--Henry Grier,
Marshal for Utah, has resigned on the
ground that the Office is non comparative
since the creation of the Territorial govern
ment of Nevada.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Nov. 20, 1861.
In view of the increased number of let
tiers held for postage and returned to the
Dead Letter Cfice, it is ordered that the
order of this Department, dated eighth of
October, 1860, be rescinded, and the prior
practice be restored.
Postmasters will, therefore, notify tue
persons addressed, that such letter is held
for postage, and that upon his writing
and preparing the postage on his letter,
and enclosing stamp to be placed on the
letter held for postage, the same will be
forwarded to his address.
By order of the Postmaster General.
JOHN A. KAssoN. First Assistant P. NJ. Gen.
... RELIEF FOR IRELAND.
Hon. r. j. Walker has addressed let
ter to the editor of the National RepubH.
can, which will appear in that paper to-.
morrow, in favor of Congress Immediately
making an appropriation for the relief OF
Ireland in view of the impending famine.
He concludes by saying :-"NOw when so
many thousands of Irishmen are perillng
their lives on the battle fields of liberty in
our defence-when so many have already
fallen and Others are immured in rebel dun.
geons, let US show that We are not migrate
full, and when the next contest comes, as
soon it must, the shamrock intertwined with
the stars and stripes will wave in triumph
over the field of victory, for liberty and
union"
GENERAL BLENKER NOT RESIGNED.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.--The reports
sent about BIerker's resignation are incor-
rect. Mcclellan has the greatest confidence
in Blenker, and his resignation would not
be accepted if offered. The affair grew out
of q letter sent by Blenker to Mcclellan,
which contained expressions that McClel.
Ian rebuked him for, but said he presumed
it was B!enker's imperfect know ledge of
English which caused the improper express
sions. The affair is considered SATISFACTORY
ly settled.
A SHARP SKIRMISH AND CONSIDERABLE
LOSS.
Two more scouting parties from the right
wing OF the army, went out to day. One
had skirmish with superior numbers.
Captain Rowland with companies G and H
Freedman's cavalry, went as far as Hun
ter's Hill and sent accommodating party
forward, who discovered large body of
rebel infantry in ambush. Captain Row.
land retired with bis force.
Captain Bell, with between two and
three companies of the 3rd Pennsylvania,
Colonel Averill's cavalry, accommodating
between Vienna and Hunters Hill, we're
attacked by the ambuscading enem7 in the
woods on both sides of the road. Five
volleys were fired before our troops, pressed
by the superior force of the enemy, fell
back.
A courier brought this news to General
Porter, to whose division the party belong
ed. He sent forward the 9th Massachu-
sets, 4th Michigan, Grifin's battery, and
two more companies from Colonel Averill g
cavalry. At dusk all the troops returned.
Before the reinfOrcements reached Capt
Bell he was again attacked by tine army,
who attempted to cut him of. Shots were
again exchanged. The rebel commander
was shot and fell from his horse who galop-
ed within our lines and was captured.
About dozen OF our men dropped and
were necessarily left on the field. Lieut..
Ford and about fOrty.ive men, all OF Col.
Averill's cavalry are missing. Orderly Sar-
geant Parker's horse Was killed, and the
rider injured. The enemy did not wait for
an encounter with our reiuforcements.
GEN. SUMMERS COMMAND.
Herold's Dispatch. ten. Sumner has
been assigned to the comm nd of a division
composed OF twelve regiments of infantry,
some of which are now here in the provis-.
onal army at the Potomac, and net yet
ormed into brigades, and others are yet to
arrive. A prOportiOnate amount of caval-
ry and artillery will be attached to the di-
vision which will for the present occupy a
position at Springfield on the line OF the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Col.
Graham of the Fifth Regiment, Excelsior
Brigade, who was arrested for destroying
sotnc UuiiutUSS al matthias ONT Oh DIS iato
Reconnaissance, mas been formally restored
to duty by Gen. Mcclellan and ordered to
join bis regiment without delay.
ANOTHER SKIRMISH.
WASH lNGToN, Nov. 27-Ihe following
despatch was received today from General
McCall, dated Camp Pierpont:
Colonel n. D. Bayard with 700 men OF
the first cavalry Pennsylvania reserve,
marched last night at nine O'Clock, with
orders to proceed to Drainesville and cap
ture party of the enemy's pickets, under
stood to be there. He returned at noon
today, having killed two and wounded one
OF the enemy, and taken eleven prisoners.
Two of the prisoners are cavalry, with their
horses arms and equipments. The remain.
der are fOOtmen
Colonel Bayard had his horse killed and
is slightly wounded. And Surgeon Alex
ander and one of our men are wounded.
The rebel blockade of the Potomac river
does not seem to have been vigorously en-
forced this week, as various vessels have
arrived here with cargOes OF coal, wood and
other domestic supplies.