The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-20


Our informant was confined in the common
jail of the city among murderers, thieves
and vagabonds of low degree.
Butter, cheese, hams, lard and coffee, are
exceedingly scarce, there being none to be
had except at very high rates. Ground
coffee was selling at As cents per pound.
The cargo of the barque Rowena, lately
captured and taken in there, was sold at IS
and SO cents, cash. ea
For fourteen days the occupants of the
room in the Jail with our informant, twenty
seven, were allowed daily twelve loaves of
bread and what water they desired. Some
times they were permitted to trade off even
pounds OF bread Tor the same 10 beef, which
was so intolerably bad that the stomach is
sckened at the smell of it. In the Jail
there, at this time, is gentleman who re-
sides in the vicinity of Charleston, and who
is confined for his Union sentiments. There
are great number of the planters who are
firm on the Union question, but to express
their sentiments by word or deed is too
dangerous business for them to be engaged
in at present.
This statement was made to our inform
tionably correct. Fort Moultre has been
completely repaired, and the offences of the
harbor are in excellent condition. A new
privateer schooner, built in Charleston ex
pressly for fast sailing, was to have sailed
on cruise on the first or second of August.
Captain Libby, formerly in the merchant
service at Charleston, was to command her.
The guns of the privateer Dixie were to be
put on board OF her, as the Dixie would
not 60 out again.
At the entrance to North Edisto, a port
are two sand batteries well manned, and
having several large guns. There is al.
ways fifteen feet OF water on the bar at this
place, and after crossing it, the depth is suf>
icent for any vessel used for CONNER
cial purposes. There is also marsh bat
terry, commanding the entrance to North
Edisto, on the north bank of the river.
Last Friday, at two o'clock, our inform.
ant left Charleston on the train passing
through Weldon, North Carolina, at which
place the newsbOys were selling extras con-
tanning news of the capture of Hatteras.
The excitement was very great, and COM
pany of soldiers from Florida, who were
bound for Richmond, and who were on
board the train, were detained for service
in North Carolina, as they expected an in e,
vasion from the yankees" then at Hat
teras
Leaving Weldon, the train bearing our
informant, came on to Petersburgh, Va,
| where it met with the train at Richmond.
Here they were put in room under a
guard of soldiers for five hours, until the
next train left for Richmond The conduct
of the rebel soldiers towards the passengers
on board who were known to be Northern
residents was brutal in the extreme, which
accounts for guard being placed over
them. 1t was not for fear of an attempt to
escape, but to protect them from violence
at tie hands of troops and ragmuffins in
the streets.
Arriving at Richmond, our informant
was taken to the Central hotel and we'll
provided for, and remained over Sunday
and Monday. He was permitted to walk
about the streets at his pleasure, and made
good use of his eyes in order to ascertain
the condition of affairs about town. He
saw the three tobacco warehouses where
the most of the Bull Ron prisoners are con
fined, but was kept moving on by the point
of the bayonet, if he paused to closely in
spect the windows or doors.
In these three warehouses are confined,
according to the statement of q Baltimo.
rean who endeavOred to get North
with him, but was unsuccessful, 1900 or
l,600 Federal prisoners. Each building
was four stories high, and every floor was
occupied by them, as be saw them at the
windows looking out, in crowds. He firms
ly believes there cannot be many more than
the number stated, as he saw quite enough
to convince him of that fact. This same
Baltimorean who failed in getting through
with our informant, also stated to him that
| he was at the battle OF Bull Run, having
been in Richmond previous to it, and like
many other foolish young men, took sides
against his countrymen, not thinking that
the effect would be what it proved.
He stated that no less than 5000 on their
side were killed, to say nothing oil the wound
ed. They possessed only flint lock musk
cts, to great extent, and in the early part
of the battle were shot down like dogs.
While sitting on the balcony of the hotel
| III AsiSuihOuO, uC OVCIuCdIO SEVERAL IIlulNIu-
uals complaining about the official reports
of Generals Beauregard and Johnston,
which had not yet been given. Last Sun.
day about seven hundred rebel soldiers left
Richmond, destined for the North Carolina
coast protection.
Our informant was not permitted to 90
outside OF the city to examine the fortifica-
tions, which he understood were of for.
midable character. The person who gave
him information about the other rebel mat
tiers, informed him that there were only
about $500 troops there-mereIy enough
to take care of the Notifications, etc. The
number of ladies and gentlemen who were
seen in the streets of Richmond dressed in
mourning, was very noticeable. He heard
that they were building floating battery
at the Norfolk Navy Yard.
STRENGTH OF THE REBEL ARMY.
The New York Evening Post, In a pro.
per comment On relations like the above, all
OF which came from i" reliable gentlemen"
has the following:
we have to say, therefore, that instead of
oO,OoO, the insargent armies in Virginia,