The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-24
LATEST NEWS
By TELEGRAPH TO ST. PAUi.
Fl, yah WIN s W'S LINE.
EXCLUSIVELY for the PIONEER h DEMOCRAT
WASHINGTON. Nav 20.

o"' s'I- d. Il WASHINGTON. May 20. /
Tribune Corr. 1t is understood that
Gen. Butler has orders to proceed at once
to active movements in Virginia, and will
directly put Instructions in N orfolk harbor.
Gov. Letcher has met with loss. He
had made for his study accurate military
maps of Virginia, these having been finish.
ed at Washington, and were on their way
to the Governor, when they were seized by
order of the War Department.
The adjourned meeting of Wheeling Con-
vention of 4th June, will be attended by
delegates from counties east of the noun
tains, and in convention it will be urged to
declare the conduct of the authorities of
Virginia usurpation of power, and the
actors rebels and traitors. ELL
Instead of dividing the State, policy
will be proposed affirming provisional
government for the whole State, and an cleo
tion will be proposed of Governor and
State officers.
-Four regiments will be accepted from
Michigan instead of three, on account of the
favorable impression made by the one now
here.
Especial to Times. l-HARPER's FERRY
VIA FREDERICK, MAY 19.-Two thousand
Mississippians arrived here to-day; and two
regiments arrived from Alabama yesterday.
They are all hard lot. The smallpox
has broken out among the troops there.
A company of cavalry left Harper's
Ferry for Martinsburg to prevent Union
men from voting on the 23d, as this is a
strong Union district. The Home Guards
of Frederick have arrested man who was
setting fire to a tan yard. The city is
guarded by Union men and all secessionists
are watched. The Union men of this dis
trict will nominate an unconditional Union
candidate for Congress next Saturday.
CHAMBeRsBURG, May 20.
Especial to Herald. IA reliable Union
man, living in Maryland, says be was at
Harper's Ferry on Friday night, and saw
sixteen Indians in one squad, but did not
see more. He says the small pox is known
to exist among the troops, but to what ex-
tent is unknown. He believes troops are
being scattered over Bowley, Jefferson, Lon
don, Frederick and Clark counties, to carry
them for secession.
Passengers this afternoon from Hager.
stown, say 1900 more secession troops are
expected at Williamsport to night. They
were sent over the river for boards to con-
struct tents, indicating the purpose of form
ing regular encampment.
Especial to the Herald There was a
fight at Sewall's Point between two United
States vessels and rebel battery. 1t being
the eighth and last work now in rebel hands
defending the approaches to Norfolk, it is
regarded as an important work against
blockading James river, where there are
now lying twenty prizes taken with to.
baccO.
The steamer Star commenced Saturday
noon Smelling the work, soon after aided by
the Freeborn, driving out the rebels.
She then proceeded to Washington with
dispatches from Commodore Stringham.
She captured two small vessels on Sunday
near Cedar Point, one of them having on
board fifty men bound for the rebel army:
The Postmaster General has issued orders
to cut off all steamship mails on the coast +;
also all mails on the rebel steamers plying
to seeded states.
Tines Cor, espondence. - The Post
Office Department has discontinued steam-
boat mails on the Mississippi river, all the
way between St. Louis and New Orleans.
HAaERsrowN. May 20.
Especial to Herald. Reports are to the
effect that very great dissatisfaction exists
among the troops at Harper's Ferry, on
account of the existence of several factions.
One favors the annexation of Virginia to
the Confederate States one I'm unconditional
separate independence of Virginia third,
unconditional union, surrenders both of the
last two. Two classes refuse to take the
oath of allegiance to the Confederate
States.
The people of Sharpsburg village, thirteen
miles southeast of the road to Harper's
Ferry, swear no more soldiers tor the Con-
federate army should pass through their
town.
.r NEW YORK, May 81.
The Tribune says, yesterday by bold
stroke government obtained possession Of
most important documentary evidence
against sympathlzers with treason in the
North. At given hour, officers of the
law visited every considerable telegraph
Office in the free States, and seized the
manuscripts of dispatches for year. The
government can now trace the secret opera
lions of the rebels and their aiders and
abettors, and henceforth hold Northern
enemies of the republic at its mercy.
WASHINGTON, May 81.
The time for receiving proposals for the
remainder of the United States stocks,
amounting to nearly $9,0O0,OOO, under the
act of February, has been extended to Sat.
urdaY. Offers remarked as the most adj
vantageous to the United States will be
accepted.
Ex-Governor Floyd having been commits
stoned General in the Confederate service,
commenced raising brigade in Virginia.
A despatch dated Portsmouth, from south.
ern source says that owing to the firing into a
battery at Sewall's Point, lively times are
expected, and perhaps troops will be sent to
the Point from Norfolk.
CHICAGO, May 81.
At a meeting of bankers and merchants
held last night, it was resolved to receive at
par the notes of thirty-one banks, having Q