The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-05
From the Upper Country.
LETTER FROM SAINT CLOUD.
THE GREAT TRAIN FOR FORT ABER-
CROMBIE CROPS-S1AfE Or 1HH
RIVERS NEW COURT 1OUSE, &c.

RYYERS-NCW COURT ROUSE, &c.
10 tie Editor Of the Pioneer:
ST.. CLIQUE, June 1. 1863
The "Great Train" which has been
gathering at Sank Centre during the past
week, left that post on Saturday morning
last for Fort Abercrombie. This train
consists of one hundred and sixty-three
wagons, drawn by two and four horses,
andnearly seventy wagons drawn by oxen.
During the past ten or twelve days all the
force which the enterprising resident part
ner of the house j. g. g. H. @. Burbank
&Co. in this city could put upon the bu-
siness Of loading and starting teams from
the several warehouses Of that firm on
both sides of the river here, has been
actively engaged in starting and equipping
these train teams. The average amount
of freight put upon each wagon is 1850
pounds. This immense amount of prop
erty consists of army stores, end merchan-
disc, the latter belonging to the Hudson
Bay Company and to traders in the Hud-
son Bay settlement.
From Sank Centre the train will have
as an escort a detachment consisting Of
forty two men from Capt. HendersOns
company First M. NJ. Rangers, under COM
mand of First Lieut.. Larned, and full
company of infantry, Capt. Petit, Eighth
NJ. V. At Alexandria the escort will be
increased by Capt S. H. Barrett's COM
pany Ninth n. v, who have been order
ed down from AbercrOmbie for that pur-
pose. The teamsters are ak armed, and
there is in their an abundant supply
of ammunition.
Capt. Barrett's company have also one
of the hOWitzers (not one of the four con-
demned articles) from the Fort, with men
well trained-in the handling Of these pet
army tools sufficient to man it, and a good
supply of ammunition, SO that, although
the vast amoInt of plumber which goes up
with this train may tempt the red skins to
an attack, yet the force is sufficient to de-
ter them, and no fears need be entertain
ed as to its safe arrival at Abercrombie.
The train is under command ofthat excel
lent and faithful officer Capt 7. d. Smith,
A. O. NJ, and the escort under command
of Capt. I. Fl. Barrett.
Large shipments of Indian goods are
now being made to the Chippewa Agency
from this point.
We had very refreshing rain on the
23d and Oath ult., but Of an amount insult
fcient to affect the river. Though Ilearn
that some of the upper tributaries, the
Platte and Nokasippi, were filled SO as to
enable lumbermen to get out their drives
on these streams.
Crops never looked better, and the
farmers are anticipating large yields of all
kinds of grain. The wheat crop will be
at least two weeks earlier this season than
last.
Grass is abundant, and cattle are in
much better condition than at this time
last season.
The corner stone OF our new court house
was laid with appropriate ceremonies on
Thursday last, and the building will be
pushed on rapidly to completion. The
contractors Aessrs. TenvOorde, Broker,
g. Tobey fare men ofenterprise and wealth,
and they express their determination to
give US as soon as possible, a building
which will be credit to the county, an Or
nament to the town. and will compare IA
.vorably with any inthe State.
Labor of all kinds is in great demand,
and the supply entirely inadequate. Ordi-
nary farm labor commands $3.50 per
day. o.