The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12

"A Washington letter, in speaking Of

"A Washington letter, in speaking Of
the strength of Hooker's army, says:
General Hookers army is not so much re-
duced by the departure of the regiments whose
term of service has expired, as people seem to
think. The number of regiments leaving
makes an impression upon the country, but it is
generally forgotten that these expiring regi-
ments really contain but two or three, hundred
men each. The loss of the Army of the Poto-
mac thus far by the retiring regiments is not
over twelve thousand.
Rev. Thomas Starr King, in a letter
to church friends in Boston, says:
rejoice that can report to you, brethren,
that the state is loyal. She is sound to the
core. We are opening copper veins all over our
surface, but there is none of that metal in our
heads. We hope to show you, in the next cleo
ton of governor, to hold office for four years,
that there are states in New England which
can catch the inspiration OF patriotism from
California. l hazard nothing in saying that
San Francisco is to-day the most loyal city of
the American republic. i
-Brigadier General Edmund Kirby, 1st
United States Artillery, died in Washing
ton on Thursday evening Of the wound re-
ceived at Charlottesville. He was
prominent actor in all the battles in which
the Army of the Potomac was engaged,
and his military requirements and heroic
conduct have repeatedly occasioned his re-
commentator for promotion. His re-
mains will be taken, with proper military
honors to Brownsville, New York, his ma
tive town.
"A Washington letter gives the follow
ing account of the murder of Capt. Nc
Manus of the New York Sixty-ninth regi-
ment:
A cold-blooded murder was committed on
Thursday night in the camp OF the Seventy
first Pennsylvania. 1t seems that Capt; Nc
Manus of Company E, SiXty-ninth New York,
was visiting Capt. Phillips of the former regi-
ment, and in the course of the conversation
made some remarks about Capt. Mcmahon, OF
the Seventy-first. The latter being in his tent
close by, it is supposed heard the conversation,
and at once appeared in the tent in his night
DRESS revolver in hand, and saying, Sir, you
have been talking about me tonight" imme-
diately raised the pistol and fired before any
one could interfere. The ball entered the breast
near the heart and death enSued in about an
hour afterward. Mcmahon attempted to fire
a second time, but was prevented by Lieu
tenant who was present When the news
reached the Sixty-ninth quite an excitement
was created, and it was with great difficulty
the mob of soldiers could be restrained from
taking summary vengeance.
Experiments in gunnery have been in
progress for several months at the Wash
ington Navy Yard. The most powerful
gun tested recently is that Of Mr.. Atwa-
ter, of Chicago. 1t is rifled eightyfour
FOUNDER, and threw Hotchkiss shell nine
teen hundred yards, the degree of eleva-
ton being three degrees twenty-five min
utes. At five degrees the shot made the
astonishing flight of twenty-eight hum
dred yards, which is nine hundred yards
further than the Armstrong gun can ac-
complish with the same degree of eleva-
ton. The additional velocity is acquired
by the application of a p. inciple which re-
lieves the ball of atmosphere pressure in
front.
The Columbus (Ohio) Statesman says
that letter from member Of Mr.. VAL
landighams family to a gentleman Of that
city, removes all ground for the story about
Mrs. Vallandigham being insane. She has
been in deep grief and intense anxiety, as
any other woman would be whose love for
her husband fills and forms her whole life.
But there is not now, and has not been,
the least tendency towards mental aberra-
ton. Mr.. and Mrs. V. have only one child
"a little boy, Charlie, about ten years
old, who sprang from his sleep, and with
frantic affection chung to his father till torn
away from him.
The Cincinnati assessors returns for
1868, of personal property, moneys and
credits, show an aggregate Of $24,427,-
597, an increase of nearly three millions
over last year. :, H.,
The New Bedford insurance compan-
les suffer heavily by the last reported de-
predations of the Alabama and Florida.
On the ship Oneida, which belonged there,
they had $4,000 on the ship and so, 1000
on the cargo, and on the three whalers de-
stroyed, something over $4,000.
-Four hundred and fifty bales and bags
of cotton, forming the cargo of the prize
steamer Cherokee, were sold in Boston
last week at auction. Sea Island sold at
1882 per pound, and upland strict mid
ding at tifty-two cents.
Col. Alexander Ming died in New York
on Friday, at the age of sixty-six. Those
who were on the stage in the days of Jack
sonism, will remember the abuse heaped
on Mr.. Ming as an original "loco foco, -
and one of the cant firm of "Slam, Bang,
Ming & Co, so called by the opponents
of the Democratic party. He was an up
right, conscientious, and able man and
highly popular.
The following characteristic note from
John Van Buren, is published in the New
York papers:
DEAR Mr.. JEROME: inclose you $50 to-
ward defraying the expenses OF the volunteers
to the Utica Convention. My first intention
was to contribute $25, but as see they were
-. r.. AoC1o1lo,, ra;oo -