The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-06

On Tuesday evening, Feb. 10th, the
Queen of the West, with her tender, the
De Soto, safely passed the Warrenton bat
teries. The next day she passed Natchez,
anchoring at the mouth of Old river five
milessbelow On Thursday, the 10Th, she
cruised in Achafalya river, destroyed a
train off forty wagons, seventy barrels of
beet, and an artillery wagon with ammu-
nition2and officers baggage, returning in
the evening, was fired upon by citizens,
who, in day light, had been observed quiet
ly smoking in their houses. First Master
Thompson was badly wounded.
On Friday morning she turned up at
Achafalya and retalated by burning all the
buildings on the plantations between the
mouth of the river and Simsport. At
Simsport she captured rebel mail, and
learning of the occupation of Berwick Bay
and Achafalya by Faragut, returned to Red
River, anchoring for the night at the mouth
Black River. On Saturday she captured
the steamer Era No with stores for reb-
els, at Little Rock, and fifteen privates and
three commissioned officers; paroled the
privates, ran up Red River to Gordon's
Landing where there is fort. When 800
yards from the fort while rounding point
she ran hard aground. The battery OPEN
ed fire with heavy guns, having no guns
bearing on the fort we could not reply
The steam chest perforated. The guns
were spiked and thrown overheard, and
the crew escaped down the river, some in
skitfs, some with Commodore Ellet on cotton
bales to the Desoto, and subsequently re-
moved to Era No. 5. blowing up the De-
soto.
We would have blown up the Queen
but for the sick on board, who could not be
removed. We lost one engineer, who was
badly scalded, and one white man and
three negroes, who were drowned. The
following are prisoners: First Master
Thompson, Second Master EddistOn, Third
Master Duncan, Engineer Edward Taylor
(scaldedD, the blacksmith, two carpenters,
Surgeon Booth, Adjutant Bailey, eleven
privates, thirty negroes, and the CORES
pondent of the New York He5olt1-all of
whom are now at Alexandria, Louisiana.
The rebel gunboat W. 81. Webb pursued
Us, but eight miles south of Natchez the
Indianola met us, when the Webb re-
treated. We remained with the Indianola
two days, and started for Vicksburg on
Wednesday evening. At Grand Gulf thirty
Intellectual shots from 60-pounder were
fired at us. At Carthage torty-six o.
FOUNDER shots were sent after us from a
battery of three guns. At Warrenton
twenty-five shots were fired. In spite of
all we arrived safe below Vicksburg at
midnight on Friday.
In SIGHT OF VICKsBURG. "a, vA,(
CAIRO, %.
Another ram is to pass the batteries to-
night to cooperate with the Indianola
under Commander Ellet.
Mr.. Knox, of the New York Herald, is
expelled from the Department, and forbid
den to return on pain of imprisonment.
Affairs at Lake Providence and Yazoo
Pass are progressing. General Grant Wis
tied Yazoo Pass to-day.
Colonel Van Amman and some officers of
the 127th Illinois have resigned. Resig-
nations accepted.
Major Montgomery, Of the 9th Missis-
sippi cavalry, is reported killed in fight
near Greenville between the Rebels and
portion of Burbridge's brigade. AS yet
we have received no particulars.
Capt. Silverspare, of Silverspare's bat
terry, has resigned.
The 18th and 127th Illinois regiments
are very indignant at the action of the ar
mistice and peace men in Illinois, and the
assumption that the soldiers concur in the
proposed peace measures. They utterly
repudiate as disgrace to their State the
idea of an armistice with rebels in arms.
Com. Ellet reports 5000 rebels and
large supply of cattle fifteen miles below,
on the west side.
The rebels have the following gunboats
up Red river: Doubloon, Grand Duke,
Webb. Grand Fra, Quitman and the cap
tured ram.
National salutes were fred yesterday by
the army and navy.
Gen. Grant has arrested Capt. Smith,
Gen. Frank Blair's commissary OF subslst-
ence.
FROM NEW YORK.
Special Dispatch to The SAINT IduI Pioneer.
New YORK, March 2.
The Cargo of the ship Jacob Bell, de-