The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25

zenith at the battle of Gettysburg, but Hal.
LECK, the merciless hero.killer has SLIGHTLY
dimmed its brightness by charging him with
misnterpretlng ORDERS and committing an CT
ror which nearly proved fatal to the battle
HALLEcK's charge is probably based on deli
cate reference by General MEADE in his official
report to a misrepresentation of Instructions
Oh the part of General SICKIEs. SAYS the re-
port:
About 3 p. NJ. l rode out to the extreme left
to await the arrival of the Fifth Corps, and post
it, when l found that Major General Sickles
commanding the Third Corps. not fully appre
hendlng the instructions in regard to the posi-
ton to be occupied, had advanced, or rather
was in the act OF advancing his corps half
mile or three quarters of a mile in front of the
line OF the Second Corps, on the prOlongatiOn
OF which it was designed his corps should rest.
Having found Major General Sickles, I was
explaining to him that he was too far in ad-
vance, and discussing with him the prOpriety
withdrawing, when the enemy opened upon
him with several batteries on his front and his
flank, and Immediately brought forward col
umns OF infantry, and made vigorous assault.
The proceedings of Congress are of little in.
terest Mr.. HALE, having been charged with
bribery, rose to question of privilege, and
defended himself, and concluded by offering
resolution asking the Judiciary Committee to
inquire into the matter.
The Democratic members of Congress
have held caucus to arrange the future policy
of the party. A number of Border State men
who acted with the Republicans in the organi-
cation of the House, were present. General
unanimity was expressed in favor of voting
men and means for the war, and for placing
the party in the Presidential campaign fairly
and squarely on a war platform.
-Telegrms from Atlanta in the Richmond
mond papers say that Grant has evacuated
Chattanooga, and was falling back Oh Nashville,
pursued by HARDER. and that LoNCsTEEEr
would attempt to hold northeastern Tennessee
The last statement agrees with our own reports
but the first is contradicted by the news that
our soldiers at Chattanooga are making pre-
parations for winter quarters.
SUNDAY, December %.
The steamer Chesapeake has been recap
tured from the pirates, in British waters near
Halifax, and consequently has been delivered
over to the colonial authorities. Friendly ex-
plantations have taken place between Secretary
SEWARD and Lord Lyons, regarding the cap
ture. We do not learn from the dispatches
what disposition is to be made of the rebel
pirates, but conclude that they were liberated.
A way las been discovered for the release
of our prisoners in Richmond without ignor-
ing the position taken by our Government
regarding colored soldiers. BUTLER is to send
nl,ol- Do;, ,yitl ff.,r
to exchange them man for man.
The famous Charleston floating battery
got loose in II gale, aud smashed through the
Instructions TO the entrance of the harbor
There was report at Beaufort hat the United
States gunboat Daylight had been blown up by
the rebels.
The stories Of int,unan treatment Of our
prisoners in Richmond were somewhat eXag-
gerated. Surgeons lately through Richmond
found our prisoners comfortable and well fed,
though they were partially furnished with pro-
visions sent them from the loyal States.
Washington has been startled by the late
raid of the rebel cavalry between Meade's army
and the city, and anxiety has been caused at the
War Department. 1t is thought the army
will be compelled to fall back if these raids
continue. The rumors of Meade's removal
have died out, and it is thought he will remain
in command until spring.
TUESDAY, December %.
General LoNasrREKr, it appears, is still in
the front of Cumberland Gap, and has attacked
our forces under Gen. FOSTER and compelled
them to fall back. There is rumOr that
LoNGsrREEr was killed and his forces sur
dation. 1t now looks as if LoNGsrEEEr in
tended to hold the Mouth of the Gap.
Mr.. SCHENcK, from the House military
committee. has reported bill repeating the Sd
and 10th sections of the enrolment act, so that
the two classes of persons to be drafted shall
be consolidated into one. The sections to be
repealed are as follows:
Sec. 3. The national forces of the United
States, not now in the military service, en-
rolled under the act shall be divided into two
classes the first of which shall comprise all per-
sons subject to do military duty, between the
ages of twenty and thirty-five years, and all
unmarried persons subject to do duty above the
age of thirty-five and under the age OF forty
five; the second class shall comprise all other
persons subject " w ullllldI uuIys ohu cAl"s
they shall not, in any district, be called into the
service of the United States until those Of the
first. class shall have been called.
Sec 10. The enrolment of each class shall
be made separately, and shall only embrace
those whose ages shall be- on the first day of
July thereafter, between twenty and forty.fve
years.
A dispatch from Washington says the con-
scription bill will not be amended until after
the holidays, and that the draft will be post
poned for twenty days from the 9Th of January.
The Governors of States have protested against
the repeal of the $500 clause, and its agitation
has stopped enlistments. 1t is thought the ex-
emption fee will be raised to $500. 1t would |
be vastly better to have no exemptions except |
for physical disqualification, than to place the |
sum so high. The objections against the $500 |
clause will be urged with ten-fold force against
the sum of $500, as discriminating still more |
unjustly in favor of men who have money.
1t is reported that the iron-clad Atlanta,
CAPTURED from the rebels by the Weehawken,
is to be sent to Charleston to take the place |
of her captor, now unfortunately under water.
There is q rumor from Arkansas that KIRBY |
SMITH is preparing to attack Little Rock. |
KIRBY SMITH will do no such thing.
A gentleman (not colored) who says he has