The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-25

Stuyvesant Fire Insurance Company New
York, has been detected in overissuing the
stock of the company to the amount OF
twenty-five thousand dollars. Wall street
underwriters have been much excited over
the discovery.
There are regiments and companies in
the rebel armies, regularly organized, that
are known and recognized by the various
names of
Avengers. Yankee. Killers,
Battle. Axers, Bushwhackers,
Pjkers, Guerrlas,
Scalpers, Jayhawkers,
and as they expect soon to have brigade
of Payroe Breakers, the command of which
will probably be given to General Bushrod
johnson.
Capt. I'll. g. Keene, sailing master of
the gunboat Ottawa, who lost leg in Du-
points great naval fight, has in return there.
for got $4,000 Office from the government
(keeper OF the store ship at Calais,) and
more than that, a wile-both of them for
his bravery.
The New York Herald thus speaks of
how Congress troubles the Departments:
The. practice of passing resolutions of inqui.
ry, or calling for information, without any
idea of tue labor involved, has occasoned
great Inconvenience in the various depart
ments. One instance is cted where twenty
81 hpan oppnniaI ai oh ont he
preparing information thus carelessly but in
peratvely demanded, while the member who
called for 1t has been more than year out of
Congress and the whole subject forgotten. 1t
is proposed as remedy to authorize the Sec
retaries or assistants to occupy seats in the
Senate and House OF Representatives during
such times as such resolutions be offered, in
order that, without voting or participating in
legislation, they may afford information upon
these topics and point out the utility or diff
Guilty OF complying with unnecessary demands
The Louisville Journal says there
seems to be no doubt that George w,
Johnston, the "Provisiooal Governor OF
Kentucky" was killed at the battle OF
Pittsburgh Landing. An officer OF the
Union army who knew him WELL says he re.
cognized his dead body. We are informed
that during the Sunday fight he served as
an aid to General Breckenridge, but on
Monday he joined the ranks as private,
and while thus engaged was shot.
"A Ship Island correspondent of The
Gloucester Telegraph sketches Gen. Phelps
peculiaritss after the following fashion:
Gen. Phelps is character. He is perfectly
| democratic in his habits. Many Colonel,
| and even Captain, would do well to follow his
simplicity Of style. He lives in common tent,
which is pitched close by the sidewalk, with
nothing to distinguish it but sentinel who
PAGES before it during only the day. Close by
is what supposed for some time to be trav-
| cling daguerreOtype saloon, but at last found
| out was his office. He does not have a bed.
but takes his blanket and sleeps on the floor.
His food is common soldier s fare. One of our
Lieutenants heard him the other day tell what
| nice dish of rice and mOlasses he had for
| supper the night before. He dresses with
| great plainness, has but one servant, and does
not even keep a horse. He takes only his
| monthly pay from the Government, and all his
| allowances he turns into the treasury. He
says that extravaganza is running the govern
ment, and he will not be party to it. Every
1 officer he holds to strict account, especially
/
that he does not have an oversight of. He has
made the Zouaves dOf their snowy, trappings
and don the regulation uniform. He puts the
officers through in great shape. ard does not
hesitate to blow them up on parade when they
| deserve it. To the men he is very kind and
lenient, and is much beloved by them all. He
| has rich Yankee drawl in his voice, which it
makes one laugh to hear. This model General
| honored me with brief speech the other day,
| to wit: sergeant, turn about and stand per-
| fectly still. Don't bulge an inch."
- Huntsville, Alabama, now held by
Union troops is the home Of Leroy Pope
Walker, late rebel Secretary of War, who
predicted on the fall OF Fort Sumter, that
the rebel flag would wave OYER Faneuil
Hall. Instead, the Stars and Stripes float
in triumph over his own town. Thus is
poetic justice rendered the traitor.
"A letter found at Island No Ten, aG-
dressed to the Hon. A. M. Gentry, of Tex
as, is thus prefaced -" For obvious rea-
sons, do not sign my name to this letter !;
but you will know at once whom it is from"
The reasons are rendered +" obvious by the
following paragraph:
tell you. Colonel, that there is no use in
further resistance. We have neither the
means nor the men to carry On the war. Our
troops are utterly demoralzed, heart-sick and
home-sick. My regiment has not been paid a
cent in five months, and /, who, as you know,
am worth in ordinary times hundred thou.
sand dollars. am obliged to borrow the price
of the postage upon this letter. How caa men
be expected to fight under such circum
stances?
- DR.. j. H. Thompson, a surgeon at.
tached to General Barnside's command,
having been guilty of creating a false alarm
relative to the approach of the enemy in a
large body upon our army at Newbern,
has been dismissed by the Commanding
General.
MIR. John P. Cushing,an old merchant
of Boston, died at his residence near Water
town, Massachusetts, on Saturday night,
the 18th instant, aged seventy four years.
Mr.. Gushing went to China at the age Of
nineteen; engaged in mercantile business in
the house of J. & 7. II. Perkins, and, after
on ahsenca Df twenty wears returned tn