The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-31
GENERAL LANES STAFF.

House Military Committee today author.
lied the chairman to report bill to enlarge
the Illinois & Michigan Canal to a ship
canal for war purposes.
A. j. Meade of Kansas, has declined bis
appointment upon Gen. Lone's staff It is
understood that the staff announced will be
confirmed as whole by the Senate.
REBELS GET OUR COUNTERsIGNs.
A correspondent of the Times writing
from Camp near Buddis Ferry, Maryland
says the rebels on the opposite shore not
only come down to the beach of a morning
derisively crying out to our pickets our
countersign of the night previous, but &C.
quaint US with what is known by but one
officer of the entire division-what is to be
the cruntersign of the ensuing night. They
also boast of having, by means of our
countersign, travelled along our entire d.
vision lines and ascertained our exact locaI>
ity, numbers, &c. If this be so they must
be familiar with our secret signals which
are now issued in connection with our coun.
tersign.
POSTAL REFORM BILL,
The Times despatch says the Postal Re-
form Bill, introduced by Mr.. Colfax, now
pending in the House, proposes tax of
three cents each on all teIegraphic mes
sages, except those on business of the Gov.
eminent or of the company owning the line,
and except also news and Congressional
reports for the press.
MIR. Holt, the predecessor of the present
Postmaster General, estimated that by tel
egraphic dispatches, the Government lost
81 100000 of revenue annually.
REBEL REC
The HerGlds despatch says, early this
morning our advance pickets at Barrett's
Hill, saw eleven mounted rebels at dis
lance of about two miles on the Alexan
dri, and Leesburg turnpike. They came
within mile of our pickets' line, and then
turned up a road in the direction of Fair.
fax Court House. Subsequently, Lieut..
Seymour, of Gen. Morrill's staff, went out
with detachment of dragons in quest OF
the accommodating rebels, but without OBJ
tanning any glimpse of them. This is the
first time any rebel forces have shown them.
selves this side of Difficult Greek since the
removal of their picket lines about month
ago.
NEWS FROM SHIP ISLAND.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-The Navy Des
partment has received dispatches from flag
officer Mexican, dated Ship Island, Jan. s,
in which he reports the arrival at that place
of the United States steamer Mercedita,
and United States gunboats Winona and
Sycamore. By the first named he had
received communication of the Secretary
OF the Navy, and says in accordance there
with he shall dispatch the frigate Potomac
to Vera Cruz.
Having been informed on the 3lst De.
cember that Q rebel steamer was at anchor
near Bolixi, be dispatched Com. Smith,
with the steamers Water Witch, New Lon.
don, and Henry Lewis to capture her, but
upon reaching Bolixi it was found she had
been removed.
Com. Smith demanded the surrender of
the town which was complied with, and q
detachment of seamen and marines landed.
A small sand battery was destroyed, and
two guns, 9 and 8.poander, brought off
The place was found almost deserted by
the male population, but was crowded with
women and children.
A schooner loaded with lumber was cap.
tured and brought out by the Henry Lewis.
She is very useful prize-the lumber be.
ing much needed by the army quarter mas.
ter, for the construction of storehouses, and
the schooner making serviceable lighter.
REPORT OF THE GERMAN COMMITTEES
ADDnTNTEn w A
DENT-LINCOLN'S OPINION OF SIGEL.
The undersigned Committee, appointed
by the Sigel mass meetings held on the 10th
and 18th instant in New York and Brook.
Ign, in order to present the unanimously &C.
cepted resolutions to his excellency the
President, hereby respectfully report that
his excellency the President has honored us
this morning by an audience, and after the
reading and presentation of the resolutions,
we have received the following reply:
Neither the original resignation of Gen.
Sigel, nor any official dispatch in regard to
it, has yet been received by the President
from the Commander in Chief of the army
in Missouri, and all the Information the
President is 30 far in possession of has been
gathered from the daily journals. Howe
yer being DESTROYS to retain in the service
of the United States so eminent an officer
as General Sigel, whom none could esteem
more highly than his excellency did, be, the
President bad already, before being inform.
ed of the petitions and resolutions of the
adopted citizens of German birth, instituted
inquiries with view to redress any wrong
which may have been done to General Sigel
at some time.
His exsellency the President treasured Us
of bis determination that, while he should
decline the acceptance of General Sigel's re
signation, he intended to give him COM
mand in or out of Missouri, in accordance
with bis established abilities.
The interest of the service did not de-
mand at present an addition to the number
the Major Generals of the army, but as soon
as such necessity should exist the claims of
Generel Sigel should be considered as
among the first in order.
The President further remarked that
since Sige had been appointed Brigsdier
General nothing had transpired to demand
his exalted opinion of the eminent talents
and capabilities of Gen. Sigel; but, on the
contrary, all ascertained facts had combined
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