The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-13
much to the disagreeable appearance of the

AuOu W Iuo uIsdS EccaUAo oPPcot onCO VI tuC
motley crowd.
Most of them, however, are young, ath-
letic men, and look as if they might endure
hardships, but there is peculiar expires
sion about their countenarces, which does
not indicate courage.
Many of them claim that they were i'm
pressed into the Confederate service, and
state that they are good Union men, but to
save their lives they were Oblig d to take
up arms for the confederacy.
This is an old story, and, with the officers
of the ship it is not credited in majority
of instances.
Most of the common soldiers say that
they are glad that they have been taken
prisoners, and seem very anxious to know
where they will be sent now they are here.
From them we learned that their officers
have studiously endeavored to keep from
them any Northern papers, but were will
ling to let them have and read any secession
journals which contained the glowing &C,
counts of their victories.
Most of the officers were clad in spe-
cies of blue cloth or flannel, decorated with
stripes and buttons, not unlike those worn
in the United States navy. The officers
occupied the after portion of the ship and
were quartered in the vicinity of the rooms
of the officers of the ship.
go her anchor, the United States frigate
Potomac (50) lying at anchor off the Bat
terry, waiting orders, triced up her ports,
and commenced firing commodore's salute
of fifteen guns.
Gun after gun belched forth the white
smoke until the salute ended, when the
Minnesota dipped her ensign in acknowl-
edgement, and the French Imperial Yacht,
and the French war steamer Catinat, with
the United States coast survey steamer
Vixen, lowered their flags, to which the
Minnesota replied by dipping her flag.
The booming of the Potomac's guns soon
had the effect to bring down to the Battery
hundreds OF spectators, who looked with
very much eagerness at the ship within
whose bulwarks were confined six hundred
and ninety one prisoners of war. Scores of
small boats were Immediately chartered, and
hundreds of persons went to see the rebels.
The regulations in reference to visitors be-
ing allowed on board were very stringent,
and no one was allowed to 90 on board of
the ship.
AS the steamboat Thomas p. Way came
up the bay, she was steered so close to the
Minnesota as to give her passengers good
view of the ship
Shout after shout went up from the boat.
Ladies waved their handkerchiefs, the whis-
tie screamed forth its shrillest tunes, and
the sterner sex cheered until they had
passed the frigate more than half mile.
All the passengers were crowded on one
side, and the boats gunwale was down be-
low the water line.
Another boat came along, and the de-
mOnstratiOns on. board were still more en-
thusiastic, so much so that the sailors were
very anxious to enter it.
On the battery, the crowd rapidly Inv
creased until at least ten thousand persons
had assembled. At few minutes past ten
o'clock Commodore Stringham entered his
barge, which was manned by thirteen sea-
men, clad in white, the boat flying broad
blue pennant at the bow, and the stars and
stripes at the stern. As he neared the
shore the crowd left their place at pier No.
l, North River, and watched the course of
the boat bearing the gallant commander.
At the barge Office the crowd gave him
three hearty cheers He Immediately went
up town to confer with the military authori-
ties in relation to his prisoners.
After he bad LETT the French war steamer
Catinat saluted the American flag, which
was promptly returned. AS soon as the
Minnesota had anchored, boat containing
the first lieutenant of Imperial yacht board
ed the frigate, and after exchanging cour-
tesies congratulated the Commodore on the
success of the expedition.