The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-17
staunton Secretary OF War.
EFT G.. EFT G., ETC.
News from Washington.

News from WashingtOn.
RUMOR CONFIRMED OF THE WITHDRAW
AL OF CAMERON FROM THE CABI-
NET. - ''.''
WASHINGTON, Jan. Al Times dispatch.
There is much doubt expressed tonight
whether Mr.. Cameron will be confirmed at
Minister to Russia, but he will be, think
without doubt.
Ben Wade was the chief competitor urg.
ed upon the President as Secretary of War
in place of Mr.. Cameron.
Cassius M. Clay returns to take com.
mand in the army. He will be appointed
q Brigadier General. 40
The appointment OF Stanton as Secretary
of War gives great pleasure. They have
confidence in his energy, and pluck, and be-
live he will push on the war.
WHAT Is TO BE DONE WITH CONTRA.
.a,. b e BANDS.
Iaibwme's Special Sometime ago Gen.
Hooker asked Gen. Mcclellan what be
should do with fifty or sixty fugitive slaves
who we're within his lines at Budd's Ferry.
Gen. Mcclellan replied with an order di.
recting him to enquire in each case whether
the fugitives had or not been employed in
the military service of the enemy. If be
had been, Gen Hooker should employ him.
Ifnot, he should exclude him from bis lines.
Thus morally liberatiDg him; leaving the
final disposition OF the b0ndsmen to the civil
authorities 1t is understood that similar
rule will hereafter be applied in every case
occurring within the army of the Potomac.
GENERAL MCCLELLAN RECOVERING.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l3.-Rumors con.
tinue to be circulated representing the con-
ditioa of General Mcclellan as unfavorable,
but the truth is he continues daily to inn
prove and rides out in his carriage on BUSH
ness. .H.-t .Il4.H tu
THE PENSACOLA DOWN THE POTOMAC.
WASHINGTON, Jan. H. 1Tabune,s dis
patch. The following was received at the
Navy Department this evening:
United States SlOop of War Pensacola, att
anchor off Liverpool Point, Sunday morn
ing, o'clock, January 18th.
To the Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary of the
Navy: ~
We passed the batteries erected at Cockpit
and Shipping Point at 5:45 A. M. without being
hit, they fired about fifteen shells at us from
passed over the ship. Their firing was very
(signed) HENRY M. MORRIS.
The batteries below Liverpool can do no
harm to the Pensacola, their distance from
the channel being too great.
RETURNED PRISONERS MUSTERED OUT.
The three months men among the releas>
ed prisoners, were yesterday paid off and
mustered out of the service. The others
belonging to regiments enlisted for the war,
will be paid off tomorrow, and furloughed
for one month. -
Mr.. Boardman, United States Consul at
Teneriffe, committed suicide at that place
few weeks since. All his properly was in
vested in United States bonds.
CAPTURE OF A SCHOONER.
The Augusta, Commander Perrott, cap.
tured the schooner Island Belle of Nassau,
laden with sugar and molasses, about twelve
miles southeast of Bulls island light. She
had clearance from Baltimore, but when
first seen was standing in for Bulls Bay.
The Island Belle was built in Charleston in
1861, and called the General Ripley, and
her certificates of British registry bears
date Nov. 4th, 1861.
REBEL BATTERIES SHELLED.
Tuesday morning the Freedom, Satellite
and Island Belle got under way, and stood
over to the Virginia shore, opposite Mary.
land Point and began to shell the rebel
encampment near Boyd's Hole. The shells
flew thick and fast, and many Of them were
seen to burst over the land in the direction
OF the encampment.
NO response was given by the rebels |;
and at half past one o'clock the firing
ceased.
The three vessels then stood up tor Acqua
Greek, and comm, need TO lombard the bat
teries there at twenty minutes to five, con-
tinuing an incessant fire till fifteen minutes
past six when the firing ceased without
eliciting any response.
SECRETARY CHASE AND The BANKS
Secretary Chase expects to meet, on
Monday, delegations representing the banks
of Boston, New York and Philadelphia for
conference on financial matters. Since the
suspensions, this city has been flooded with
small notes, many Of them worthless.
Next week the House Committee on
Ways and Means will offer, and hope to
carry, their bills imposing taxation, and the
revisal Of the tariff by an increase OF
duties.