The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-28
News and Other Items.

-Dr. Luther V. BELL, surgeon OF HOOK
er's brigade, died at Washington on the
18th inst. He was for many years Super
irtendent of the Mclean Hospital for the
Insane, at Somersville, Massachusetts, and
has been candidate for Governor in that
State.
The purport of the communication
from the Confederate Government, lately
received at Washington, by flag of truce, is
stated to have been proposition for for
eign arbitration between the North and
South.
Lieut.. Col. Hannibal Day, of the Second
regular Infantry, formerly in command at
Fort Abercrombie, is now in the recruiting
service at Camp Cameron, North Cam
bridge, Massachusetts.
The real object of the invasion of
Mexico by the allied powers begins to leak
out. The London Times Mexican cores
pendent writes:
A dictator for eight or ten years, supported
by foreign force, might, perhaps, meet the
case. Still this would be but a temporary ex.
pedient. A monarchy established, the pre-
tensions of all these petty chiefs are at once
country is insured, and a check put TO the dem.
0cratic ambition Of the North.
For the completion of the mortar
boats at Cairo, the President of the Illinois
Central railroad, has detailed for temporary
employment by the Government, fifty of
the Company's best mechanics at their
shops in Chicago, and stripped the car
works of oak timber and put it at the dis
posal OF the Government--an act for which
he deserves the praise Of all patriotic men.
The famous battalion of the chivalric
Richmond " Upper Tens" was annihilated
at Roanoke Island, it is said, by regi
ment of Massachusetts, Zouaves. The
Blues it is reported, were detailed to de.
fend a narrow pass Or causeway, which
they did with great bravery, but had TO
succumb after loss of all their men save
fifteen, to the brave and hardy Bay State
boys. Major Wise fell early in the fight,
mortally wounded, and was carried from
the field on litter.
At nonelson, Colonies Oglesly, Marsh,
and Lngan dashed along the ranks of their
regime ITS, waving their hats and cheering
their men Oh to the conflict. Suffer death,
men," cried Logan, but digrace never
stand 6rm--yield never" And we'll they
needed him
There is another despicsble fling at
Mcclellan from the Chicago Tribune of
Tuesday:
The first paper taken by the officers out of
the pocket book of g the special Representa-
tive of the New York Herald" now in Fort
McHenry, was a pass admitting DR.. Ives at
all hours to the War Department, signed
''Geo. w. Mcclellan.
In Chicago on the evening the Donal-
son victory was received the whole city was
given up to revelry. The Tribune says:
At early candle light the Saturnalla COM
menced. The proclamation issued in the fore.
noon, that " any person found sober after nine
O'Clock in the evening would be arrested as
secessiOnist." did its work, and Chicago reel.
ed mad with Joy by that time. Rockets pier
ced the darkness and showered their golden
rain down into the crowded streets; guns and
pistols resOunded necessarily all over the city;
windows were illuminated huge bOnfires
blaZed in the various divisions, and glared up.
on the shouting crowds dancing around them
in wild delight.
Col. Packenham, grandson of Gen.
Packenham, who opposed General jackson
at New Orleans, and commander OF the Both
Regiment of H. B. M. army, stationed in
Canada, is in New York, stopping at the
Albemarle Hotel Col. Packenham Is soon
to be welded to young lady in Ne York.
Frederick Douglass lately lectured in
New York on the war. 10 closing, be read
an eloquent reply t. the assertion that the
negro was like the Indian, and would die
out before the progress of civilization. He
had no apprehension ou that point, and
added
The | dian wraps himself in gloom, and
proudly glOries in isolation he retreats before
the onward march OF civilization. The hum
ming of the honey bee warns him away from
his hunting grounds. He sees the ploughshare
of cvlizat on tossing up the bones of his VEN
Grated fathers, and he dies of broken heart
Not so with the negro. There is vitality
about him that seems alike invincble to hard
ship and cruelty. Work him, whip him, sell
him, torment HIM, and he still lives and cngs
to American civilization-an Uncle Tom in The
church and all Uncle Ben on the southern coast
to guide our Burnside expeditions.
The official report OF General Thomas
to Gen. Buell., of the battle near Somerset,
is published. 1t is plain and concise
statement which gives no facts not hereto.
fore published. The enemys loss is stated
at 1872 officers and men killed, 80 prisoners
not wounded, and sc prisoners wounded
a total of killed. wounded and prisoners
of $40. Our loss Gen. Thomas sets down
as follows:
Killed. Wounded.
Ninth Ohio. .............,6 %
Second Minnesota. .........l2 80
Fourth Kentucky. ......... 50
Tenth Indiana. .............l0 rs
First Kentucky Cavalry. IS
TCto