The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-05
Gen. Mcclellan is actively engaged in

--Gens McOlellan Is dctiScIy euSaScu III
preparations for grand movement in Wes-
tern Virginia. The following proclamation
he has addressed, "to the soldiers of the
army of the Vests"
| You are to support the government of your
| country, and to protect the lives and liberties
of your brethren threatened by rebelliOus and
traitorous foe. No higher and nobler duty
bring to its performance the highest and no.
blest qualities of soldiers, discipline, courage
| and mercy.
| call upon the officers of every grade to en-.
| force the strictest discipline, and know those
of all grades, privates and officers, will display
in battle, cool, heroic courage, and Will know
| how to show mercy to dlsarmed enemy.
| Bear in mind that you are in the country of
friends, not of enemies that you are here to
protect, not to.destrOy. Take.nothing, destroy
nothing, unless you are ordered to do so by
| your general officers. Remember that pledge
my word to the people of Western Virginia,
| that their rights in person and property shall
| be respected. ask every one of you to make
good this promise in its broadcast sense. We
| come here to save, not to upturn.
do not appeal to fear of punishment, but
for your appreciation OF the sacredness
to the cause in which we are engaged.
Garry with you into battle the convc.
ton that you are right, ana that God is on your
side. Your enemies have violated every NOR
al law neither God nor man can sustain them.
| They have, without cause, rebelled against a
mild and paternal government; they have seiz
| ed upon public and private property; they
have outraged the persons OF Northern men,
merely because they came from the North, and
| of Southern Union men, merely because they
loved the Union; they have placed themselves
| beneath contempt, unless they can retrieve
some honor on the field of battle. You will
pursue different course. You will be honest
brave and merciful. You will respect the right
of private opinion. You will punish no man
| for opinion sake. Show to the world that you
differ from our enemies in the points of honor,
honesty and respect for private opinion; that
| we inaugurate no reign OF terror where we 60.
Soldiers, have heard that there was dan.
ger here. l have come to place myself at
your head, and share it with you. fear not
but in one thing, that you will not find foemen
worthy of your steel, l know that l can rely
upon you.
A gentleman just returned from q
a secret service tour in the Southern States.
says emphatically that the strength of the
rebel forces is overrated, and that their con-
dition is wretched. He describes the lar
ger portion to be lousy, ragged, ill fed, indif-
ferently armed, and without any apparent
discipline. He laughs at the fears of alarm
lists here of an attack by Gen. Beauregard.
Gentlemen from Georgia represent that
a strong Union feeling prevails in several
portions of that State, but which is sup>
pressed from fear.
- Near Fortress Monroe, two compa>
MES of the Vermont regiment, on an expe-
dition from Newport News, were fired upon
by secessionists. They returned the fire
vigorously and routed them. Yesterday it
was learned that an officer named Pryor,
relative of the famous Roger A. Pryor,
has since died from a shot which passed
through his left arm, SCATTERING it and per-
forating his body. Another rebel from
Charles City, Va, was also killed, minnie
ball passing through bis abdomen. He died
almost Immediately, and several Others of
the rebel scouts were wounded.
While the gunboat Monticello was
making reconnoitre on the Rappahan-
mock, in Virginia, party was landed at
the house of Mr.. Gesun, an acquaintance of
the pilot. They were introduced to his
family, and while conversing three compa-
MES of rebels rushed down and attempted to
cut them off. Surgeon Heber Smith, of
New York, was shot through the face and
hand. August Peterson was MORALLY
wounded Six others were slightly wounded.
1t is said that General SCOTS irrita-
ton at the blunders of newly made officers
almost always finds humorous expression.
The other day, on receiving and reading
Gen. Schenck's official report of the affair
at Vienna, his aids distinguished sentences
like the following, from the heavy under.
tone of his gruG soliloquy :-"Humph
Schenck Brigadier General Schenck -
eh? Turns his gondola cars into wheel
barrows-eh? Wheels his men up and
dumps them into masked battery?"
The correspondent of the Richmond
Wing, writing from Camp Pickens, June
IL, remarks:
should not be surprised at any moment if
this point were attacked, and yet should not
wonder if it were month before battle
takes place in this region. 1t will be upon this
spot, think. and tell you it will be desper-
are one. We can defend ourselves against
| three times our number, with thousand or
two men added to our force. We have had
several captures and accidents here lately
one to-day, a member of the Powhatan Troop,
shot by sentry. Capt. Cabel, Dick K, and
Demon were near being killed by their own
picket guard, night or two since. They were
imprudent enough to 60 out late at night and
salute their guard after having told them that
no relief would come to them that night. They
were mistaken for the enemy's picket, and
were fred at q shot passed close to Cabell's
ear. They had to lie down on the ground all
night, for fear of being shot. Things are get
ting very nervous and warm all along our
outposts.s The pickets of the enemy are pick
ed off every night by parties of scouts. Ben
McCulloch's men are in the neighbOrhood, and
it is said, never take prisoner. They go
dressed in citizens clothes, we'll armed, sleep
anywhere, and won't tell anybody where they
arc going or who commands them, or where
TIER headquarters are. The enemy has been