The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-17
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT


Summary Of News.
Hon. John A. Dix has accepted the
Major Generalship Of New York forces
rendered him by Gov. Morgan.
Gen. Scott sent dispatches to Gen. But
Ter, saying be would give him three days to
take possession of the Relay House. But"
Ter accomplished it in one. He has two
regiments there has taken possession of
the telegraph, and cut off communication
with Harpers Ferry; has planted battery
of eight howitzers on the viaduct, and fully
invested the place. This gives the federal
troops full control of communication to and
from the West.
Gen. Scott has published card beg
ging correspondents to spare him from say
ing that be has no Office in his gift, and no
power to accept volunteer corps Or individ-
uals, and that he has no time to answer let
tiers.
--Gov. Letcher has issued a proclama.
ton saying that the sovereignty of Virginia
being denied, territorial rights assailed, and
the State threatened with invasion by the
authorities of Washington, and in every
artifce employed to infame the people of
Northern States against Virginia, it there
fore becomes the solemn duty of every citizen
of that State to prepare for the impending
conflict. 10 view of all this, he authorizes
the military heads of the State to order out
all their forces, ard to muster an addit ional
number of volunteers, Sufficient to meet the
emergencies of the time.
The schooner Dennis, from Whining.
ton, N. g., has arrived at New York, with
Lieut.. Delano and so men, late of the Fay
etteville Arsenal. They report that on
April 2lst, between one thousand and
twelve hundred North Carolina militia de-
manded the surrender of the arsenal. 1t
was deemed prudent by Maj. Anderson to
comply, as resistance was useless. Lieuten.
ant Delano and men were allowed to depart
unmolested. Major Anderson was left,
being too sick to be removed. The arsenal
contained 10000 stand of arms.
AT St. Louis, four full regiments of
volunteers have been mustered into the
United States service, and fifth is being
formed. The third and fourth regiments,
and part of the second are encamped in the
Arsenal Grounds. The first is quartered at
Jefferson Barracks, twelve miles below the
city, and part of the second at the Marine
Hospital, about a mile below the Arsenal.
Several buildings outside of the Arsenal
walls are occupied by United States troops,
and heavy turf breast work pierced for
four guns, has been erected, which commands
the vicinity. On the 9Th, Gen. Frost's
brigade of State troops went into encamp.
ment in the western part of the city.
From Fort Washita, on the western
border of Arkansas, we learn that on May
l., the United States troops, comprising six
companies of cavalry and one of infantry,
in all about 600 men, were preparing to
evacuate the fort. The post was to be
turned over to Gov. Harris, OF the Chicka-
saw nation, and the United States troops
march to Fort Leavenworth.
"A United States recruiting Office was
opened in Baltimore on the 9th, and the
Stars and Stripes displayed.
IN tho Of thu Eth osno cfoo ~,
boats were burned opposite New Orleans.
Loss, $l25,OO0.
Mayor Cheatham, of Nashville, Tenn,
has issued proclamation, setting forth that
self constituted committees have notified
Northern born citizens to leave the place;
and stating that, as it is the determination
of the authorities to preserve the peace, all
complaints or suspicious against persons of
Northern birth, can be lodged with him for
investigation, and that everything necessary
will -e done.
The Louisville Journal defends the &C.
ton of the authorities of Illinois in placing
troops and batteries at Cairo. 1t says:
We see no good reason why the disunion Or
gans should get into such rage about the en-
campment at Cairo. 1t is true that guns are
planted there. commanding the river upon
which our commerce goes to New Orleans, but
it is equally true that batteries commanding
our great thOroughfare of commerce have been
planted at Paducah and Columbus, Kentucky,
Memphis, Tennessee, Helena and Napoleon,
Arkansas, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Baton
Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Now if our commerce can stand the eight
last mentioned batteries, we don't see why it
can't contrive to stand the first. If the eight
are all right the one can hardly be as ''inter-
nally" wrong as our neighbor of the Courier
thinks it. Certainly battery has just as good
right to look from Cairo across the Ohio to.
ward Kentucky as another battery has right
to look from Paducah across the Ohio towards
Illinois.
The Cairo battery and the army in charge
of it are an Illinois battery and an Illinois ar
my, stationed upon the soil of Illinois, with
the consent of illinois, on the banks of two ri
vers that wash Illinois.
PRosTRATIoN OF BUsINEss.-The New
York Herald of the 4tb says such is the
general prOStratiOn of business that the