The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-03


The Navy Department has just discover
ed itself in a serious dilemma, owing to the
sturdiness of Old Ironsides Commodore
Charles Stewart Some time since, Con-
gress made him Flag-O Officer, on salary
of $4,000 a year. A recent session ''pro-
NOTED" him to the rank of Rear-Admiral,
on an income of $4,000 a year. As the
first law was never repealed, the old hero
fails to appreciate the advantage of paying
$4,000 for an empty title. Secretary
Welles sent him commission, which was
most courteously returned. A second was
declined with grace-and learn to-day
that third has been exquisitely refused.
A Captain in the Navy, on Thursday last,
asked the Flag Officer how the matter
would end. 81 never surrendered any
thing given me by the Government, re-
piled the Captain of the Constitution, "and
| am not going to contract bad habit
now"
PROMOTIONS FROM THE RANKS.
A board of officers has been permanent
ly organized in the Army of the Potomac
for the purpose of examining candidates
for promotion from the ranks, and also
those enlisted men who have already re-
ceived commissions. Several of the latter
have been found not to possess the requis-
lite qualifications for the position of COM
missioned officer, and their appointments
will therefore be revoked. The examina-
tons are conducted on the basis of Gen.
eral Order No. 16, 1854, which requires
candidates to be examined in English gram
mar, history, geography, plane and solid
geometry, popular astronomy, the Consti
tuition of the United States, and the Or
ganization of the Government under it,
and also the principles which regulate in
ternatiOnal intercourse.
THE DEATH OF GEN. SUMNER.
The following General Orders were is
sued yesterday:
HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CoRPs,(
Tuesday, March %, 1868.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 15.-The Major-Gen-
eral commanding the Corps announces to the
officers and men, with deep regret, the death
of their former commander, Maj .-Gen. Edwin
V. Sumner. 1t is not the intention to antici-
pate the official announcement of his death and
recognition of his services. His name and fame
are so intimately connected with that OF the
Second Corps that his death will be felt here as
personal affiicton. He had for this Corps the
strongest regard and affection, and parted from
it with an unfeigned sorrow. His name will
ever be associated with your past triumphs,
and his example be with us in the future
By command of Maj Gen. COUCH.
JAS. A. POTTER, Lieut. and A. A. A. G.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, SECoND(
CORPS, March %, 1868.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 44.-With feelings of
the deepest sorrow 1 announce the death of
our late beloved commander, Gen. Sumner
He died at Syracuse, N. Y, yesterday. He is
too well known to us in this Division to war;
rant any further comment than is furnished by
the sad intelligence itself. God grant us the
ability to profit by this additional affiction.
MAY we Initiate his sterling integrity and his
fearless and uncompromising devotion to his
country Spared on hundreds of battle-fields,
by strange Providence he las been permitted
to die at home. o. V. HOWARD. .
Major General commanding.
PROMPT PUNISHMENT.
Punishment has promptly followed the
culpable remissness in duty that led to
the surprise of our pickets on the Ok road,
Feb. 26. Capt. Hunton, First Vermont
cavalry, on Gen. Heintzleman's indorse-
ment that he was entirely unfit to be an
officer, has been dismissed from the SER
vice. Second Lieut.. John Nelson, 18th
Pennsylvania cavalry, would have eneoun-
tered the same fate had he not been
. supposed to be MORALLY wounded.