The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25
Our Army Correspondence.
FRI M NILSSON RI.
Interesting News of Minnesota Sol.
oilers.
ST.. LOUIS, NO., December 16, 1868.

Sr. LOUIS, Mo-, December 16, 1868.
To the Editor of the Pioneer:
Snow fell last night to the depth of eight
inches. To-day, cutters and sleigh-bells
are all the rage, Notwithstanding the driz-
zling rain, which is coming down much to
the disgust of all pedestrians, and bids fair
to give us slushy, miserable weather. For
the last week the weather has been very
changeable. For instance, Sunday it
rained all day; that night it showed; and
Monday morning it was as cold as any Min
nesota weather. A person here must carry
his wardrobe with him to be comfortable
at all times.
Major Bradley is at presentin command
of our regiment. Lieut.. Col. Marshall is
at home on leave of absence; Capt. Ar
mold, of Company A, is aide-de-camp to
Gen. Scho6eld; Capt. Stevens, of Com
pany B, is quite sick in hospital; and, with
the exception of officers away with escorts,
all others are with the regiment. Lieut..
Hughes, of Company I, returned from
Minnesota one day last week, having been
detailed for recruiting service when the
regiment left. He found that business
"played out" and rejoined the regiment.
Col. Alexander Wilkin, of the Ninth
Regiment, is in town, a member of a gen.
eral court-martial.
I had the satisfaction of seeing a regi-
ment of negroes on Monday, passing
through town on their way to Helena, Ar
kansas They were called "The First
Iowa Infantry Volunteers, A. D." Gor
African descent.)
They marched through the town with their
banners so gay,
And the darkeys, one and all, cast their eyes
every way,
paying no attention whatever to command
Or " the step," but struggling along, hold
ing their guns in every conceivable man.
ner, and hallooing and singing, causing one
to think that drove of mules was pass
ing, rather than regiment of Uncle Sam s
"braves." They were "green,' not hav-
ing been in the service long enough to be
disciplined; but they will in time become
trained, and learn that soldering is no
"child's play" Our boys occasionally
mutter something about placing arms in
their hands, and laugh at their awkward
ness, but wind up by saying that they
had as soon they would be killed as white
man."
Rumors are afoat that Gen. Schofeld
has been removed, and that some strong
Radical is to be appointed to the command
in bis stead. Nothing official is known,
only that Gen. S., with portion of his
staff, left for Washington last Saturday.
Gen. Thomas, Adjutant General US A,
and staff are in town, on their return to
Washington from the Mississippi Valley,
where he has been for some time engaged
in organizing colored troops.
Col. Baker, of the Tenth, IS still in
command of the post, and Lieut.. Col.
Jennison Of the regiment. Major Cook is
in command of the stragglers' and desert
ers' camp at Schofeld Barracks No. 1.
Lieut.. Frank Babcock, of Company A,
Tenth Regiment, has been mustered as
Captain of Company D, oice Phelps, re-
rigned; Lieut.. Strong, as First Lieutenant
of Company "A, uice Babcock, promoted /;
and First Sergeant of Company A to be
Second Lieutenant, vice Strong, promoted.
Amusements are to be had in the city to
suit the taste of every one. Miss Lau-ii
Keene holds forth at the ST. Louis Kate
Fisher and her educated horse "Don
Juan," IN Mazeppa, at the Varieties; spir-
itual manifestations at Library Hall; and
Thursday night Gottschalk, Brignoli and
others give grand concert, to be contin-
ued on Friday and Saturday evenings. B.