The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28
Our Army Correspondence
LETTER FROM THE FIRST REGI'
NlENT.
EDITORIAL SANCTUM OF THE " FIRST J
MINNEso," BERRYvILLE, VA.

EDITORIAL SANcTUM OF THE " FIRsT)
MINNEso, !" BERRYvILLE, VA,
March 18th. 1862.
MEssRs. EpIroRs After the tolls incl
dent to getting out the first and second edi.
tions Of No. l, vol. l, of the FIRST Msnne
sofa, in which / have shared in common
with the ether members Of the Topographic
cal fraternity belonging to the regiment, 1
find myself seated in the editorial sanctum
recently occupied by the rebel 81. K. Gregg,
the proprietor and editor of the defunct
little "secesh" sheet, the Berryville Conser-
GATOR, and from the very same desk from
which he promulgated his weekly treason
to deluded public, I am now addressing
the readers of the PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
I propose in this communication to give
you brief account Of my observations
since my last letter from Harper's Ferry.
On Sunday, the End instant, our regi-
ment, with tie balance of General Cor
mans brigade, left Harper's Ferry, march
ing through Bolivar, and about mile far"
ther encamping on Bolivar Heights-the
scene of one of General Geary's brilliant
Union victories. Here we remained until
the 18th, when about eight, A. NJ, we were
again under march and proceeded about five
miles on the Winchester and Harper's Fer
ry turnpike, encamping about half a mile
from Charlestown. General Sedgwick's
whole command, with the exception of the
2nd New York, which remains protection
to Harper's Ferry, marched with us and are
encamped about Charlestown.
Charlestown, made notorious by the exc.
cution of John Brown, is fine little town,
situated on the Winchester and Harper's
Ferry Road, about eight miles from the lat.
ter place, and possessing perhaps in pros
porous times a population of $500. 1t
contains three churches, Court House, the
County Jail of Jefferson county (of which
it is the county seat), and three printing Of
fees, respectively publishing the Spirit of
Jefferson, Free Press and Independent Demo-
crat-all discontinued for want of paper.
Many elegant dwellings ornament the town,
and the "secesh" spirit invariably prevails
among those who inhabit them. The scene
of John Browns execution is situated south
of and about half mile from the town.
While on guard in town Iprocured come
type from the Independent Democrat Office,
used no doubt long enough in disseminating
treason. I enclose specimens of rebel type,
and desire you, Messrs. Editors, to order
your "devils" to throw them into shell" in
order that in the regular course of worn out
material. they may be sent to foundry and
trausmogri6ed into good Union type.
From spirited little lad, apparently
twelve years old, who said he liked the
"Stars and Bars better than the Stars
and Stripes" 1 learned that geographically
the town of Charleston was divided into
Upper and Lower Town, respectively de-
nominated Rip.'em>burg and Frogtown.
He said that in Rip-'em-burg the boys who
were too young to go into the rebel army
had organized company and styled them
selves the Rip-'em-burg Guards; and the
juveniles OF Frogtown, emulating the pats
riotic example of their Rip. burg neigh.
bors, had effected similar organization un'
der the name Of Froghollow Cadets. Not
satisfied with drilling in heavy Infantry, in
the manual of which my informant exhib-
tied considerable degree of proficiency, he
said they had amused themselves by getting
up fights between the Rip~ 'em.burgers and
Froghollow Cadets, and in the last engage
ment the latter had won signal victory.
Another important service they had rem
dered, in acting as sort Of police, in clear
ing the streets of negroes, who had grown
so insulting during the stay Of the federal
troops last summer, and he related with
great deal of satisfaction how two negroes
were made examples Ozone being pierced
by two musket balls, while another was
stabbed to death and afterward literally cut
to pieces. The young cadet expressed re.
gret that the advent of Union troops had
relieved this juvenile corps of their guard
duty in town.
Yesterday morning about o'clock we
were aroused from
stirred natures sweet restorer-balmy sleeps"
and ordered to pack up and prepare for
march at 6 A. n. The usual preparations
were made, and we were again under march,
Battery A, LIST Regiment Rhode Island
Artillery, with detachments of Van Aliens
New York and First Michigan Cavalry,
preceded General Germans Brigade, OF
which the First Minnesota, With companies
E, B, and K thrown out as skirmishers,
formed the advance.
The column marched through Charles.
town and proceeded on the turnpike to-