The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-13
War and Romance.
From the Chicago Post of Tuesday.

From the Chicago Post of Tuesday.
During the late movement against Vicks-
burg, the national transports were fired
upon by rebel battery at Skipwith Land
ing, not many miles from the mouth of the
Yazoo. No sooner was the outrage re-
ported at headquarters than the Admiral
sent an expedition to remove the battery
and destroy the place. The work of de-
struction was effectually done; not struc-
ture which could shelter rebel head was
left standing in the region for several miles
around.
Among other habitations destroyed was
that of Mrs. Harris, widow lady, young,
comely, and possessed of external attrac-
tons in the shape of a hundred and fifty
"niggers, which she had contrived to
save from the present operation of l." the
decree" by sending them up the Yazoo
river But Mrs. Harris was a rebel-in-
tense, red-hot in her advocacy of South
ern rights and her denunciation of North
ern wrongs. Although she had not taken
up arms against the government, she
was none the less subject to the indiscrim-
mating swoop of the proclamation her
niggers, according to that document, were
free, and if, "the cOnfederacy" failed she
could only get pay for them by establish
ing her loyalty in court of justice. Her
loyalty to the Yankee nation ?-not she
She was spunky, as a widow of thirty can
be. She would see Old Abe and every
other Yankee in the happy land of Canaan
before she would acknowledge allegiance
to the Washington government. Never
theless, being all she possessed of this
worlds valuables, she would like to save
those niggers.
"Nothing easier, suggested Captain Ed
ward W. Sutherland, of the United States
steam ram Queen Of the West, who, at
tracted by her swapping black eyes, en-
gagged in friendly conversation with the
lady, after burning her house down.
g Nothing easier in the world, madame. :"
elbow so, Captain? You don't imagine
/ will take that odious oath, do you? /
assure you l would not do it for every mig
ger in the South
"But you need not take the oath, ma
dame-at least not that OATH
g do not understand you, Captain, -
said the widow.
&c / said you need not take the oath of
allegiance; you can establish your loyalty
without tat least" with a respectful
bow, g / can establish it for YOU
"Indeed how would you do it, Cap
tain?'
"Simply enough. / am in the govern
ment service; | command one Of the boats
of the western navy-technically denomi-
mated ram, madame-down here in the
river. Of course my loyalty is unim-
peached, and, madame, | assure you it is
unimpeachable. Now, if we could only
say to the government those niggers are
mine
The Captain waited moment to see
what effect his speech was producing
" Well" said the widow, impatiently tap
ping with her we'll shaped foot one of the
smoking timbers of her late domicil.
=" In short, my dear madame, you can
save the niggers, save your conscientious
scruples, and save Inc from future life of
misery, by becoming my wife,"
The Captain looked about wildly as if
he expected sudden attack from gueril-
las. The widow tapped the smouldering
IiIiUcl luolC NlOieHtly III Il lSW LliuuCcS,
and then, turning her bright eyes full upon
the captain, said, "I'll do ito
The last arrival at Cairo from Vicksburg
brings the intelligence that Captain Sulli-
van, of the ram Qoeen of the West, was
married few days since, on board the
gunboat Tyler, to Mrs. Harris, of Skip
with Landing Several officers of the ar
my and navy were present to witness the
ceremony, which was performed by
Methodist clergyman, and Admiral Porter
gave away the blushing bride. She is re-
presented to be woman of indomitable
pluck, and for the present shares the wild
life of her husband on the ram Queen of
the West.
In relation to the niggers, Old Abe, or
Captain Stanton, or Horace Greeley, or
somebody, may possibly raise technical
objection that in order to save them the
marriage certificate ought to be dated
back to the first of January; but our opin-
ion is, it won't make much difference in the
end.