The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-20

Letter from the First Regiment.
PROSPECT or MOVxNG-EUN0RE OF TIE CAMP
--DLsSATISEACTIONA At APP0LNTxENTS-RAA.
SEY,S D0UBtEDKxLZNG, $c.

=
CANp STONE. November ~, 1861.
Gall quiet on the Potomac" at least SO
far as matters are visible to the eyes of the
uninitiated. No movement Of Importance
has occurred 10 this region for some time,
and taking into consideration the lateness
of the season we may reasonably conclude
that no general movement Of the Union
forces here is Intended for the present. 1t
may be the policy of Mcclellan to keep
sufficient number Of troops along the line of
the Potomac to make successful demon
stration of the rebels q matter of impossi-
bility, and use the large surplus of troops
for active operations against the most vul-
nerable part of Secessia-the sea coast. l
say this mag be the policy to be adopted,
for certainly it is apparently the most rea-
sonable.
Matters in and around Camp Stone are
in statu quo. What is to be done with our
regiment during the winter, is now the
question of the most Importance and being
discussed with great interest Something
less than three hundred and forty-two sep
arate and distinct reports are now circulate
ing through the camp, each coming direct
from General German. ave will start for
Annapolis tomorrow, to join naval expe-
dition "-"General Sherman has received
orders to prepare to start for South Caro-.
lima in twenty. four hours"-"We start for
Frederick in day or two to take up our
quarters for winter" Col. Dana has ordered
the officers to have winter quarters prepared
Immediately" "Colonel Dana has just re-
ceived message to have two days provi-
sions cooked, and be prepared to start for
the Occaquan immediately" &C., ad imfni.
tum. We will probably remain where we
are and do picket duty on the Potomac I'm.
til spring. '
The appointments OF Governor Ramsey
to the Third and Fourth from the First
Regiment, give general dissatisfaction here;
not but Captain Lester and Lieutenant
Thomas are good oficers,-bu for
the reason that much better selection
might have been made. 1t is now appar-
ent that Governor Ramsey has been playing
Gerry dirty two.faced game with some of
the officers Of our regiment. When the
Governor visited the regiment, some time
since, and there was prospect of vacan>
cy occurring by the resignation of Major
Dyke, he, 1.-THE Governor) promised that if
the officers of the regiment would make an
expression of their choice, their wishes
should be respected, and he would commits
sion the man selected by them. Believing
that this promise was made by the Cover
nor in good faith, meeting of the officers
was called, and Captain Downie of Compa-
ny B, was the almost unanimous choice.
This expression Of the wish Of the officers
gave the most complete satisfaction in the
regiment, but when the appointment came
to be made, the Governor suddenly remem-
bered that Captain Morgan was the senior
of Captain Downie, and forthwith adopted
the seniority rule. Little was said about
this, for it was supposed that when the ap.
pointments to the Third and Fourth Regi-
ments came to be made, the Governor
would certainly recognize the claims of
Captain Downie, and prove to his friends
that bis services and abilities were appreci-
ated. What was the surprise and indigna-
ton of the Regiment, then, when the news
of the appointments came. The most prev
alent opinion is, that Governor Ramsey, in
making the appointments, acted altogether
from selfish motives, and used the straw of
promotion to tickle those persons who, he
supposed, could return the compliment
when the seat in the Senate becomes va
cant. Of one thing the Governor can rest
assured-he is making no more friends in
the First Regiment decidedly fast.
hope the day will come when Governor
Ramsey will not be allowed to run things
in the State of Minnesota.