The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25
LATE NEWS ITEMS.

The widow of Senator Douglas is at pres
ent in Washington, engaged by Secretary Chase
as clerk in the Treasury Department. She is
seldom seen in public.
Senator Morgan, of New York, has pur-
chased the fine mansion in Washington, for
merly occupied by Secretary Cameron.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial says:
There is not so much antipathy to Meades reten-
ton where he is as there is to Haeck's The Oldest
and ablest of the Senators and Representatives
are camOrous for the removal of the latter; among
them Ben. Wade, who loses all prudence In discuss
ing the subject, and wakes profane at the mere men,
ton of Hal'ecks name. Mr.. Wade is the champion
Army of the Potomac ever had. He says of Hal
eck's statement that General Hooker was relieved
at his own request, that 1t is like Jack Sheppard
saying of man who had given up his pOcket-bOOk
ed of his money at his own request"
-Camer, of the Milwaukee Wisconsin,, says, if
"Halleck continues to follow our recommen-
dation, IN time he will make successful
General"
Captain Albert NJ Gammell of the 18th
Massachusetts,, and his wife were instantly
killed at the crossing near Chelsea, Mass, on
the 10th, by the Eastern railroad train coming
in collision with their carriage. Captain Gam
nell arrived home Monday on brief furlough.
He was gallant and meritorious officer. The
report first was that Col. Blaisdell was the
gentleman killed.
If there was one man in our army more
hated and feared than another by the rebels,
that man was the late Brigadier General John
Buford. On one occasion rebel prisoner was
brought in by one of the pickets and taken
before the General He appeared, despite his
rags, to be an intelligent man; but it was really
| amusing to notice the look of scorn he gave
the General. When being questioned by him
he remarked 80 know you well enough;
you are John Buford, of Kentucky; you had
better not let General Lee get hold Of you"
General Buford laughed at the threat. But
there is, unfortunately for us. now no chance
of General Lee ever getting him in his clutches
AS the law stands no minors under II years
can be enlisted, except in special cases. and with
special authority from the Adjutant General, as
| a musician, and with the written consent of the
persons having legal right to his time If
lad represents himself as over IS, and the re-
| CTultiuS oluCer sees cNlucutly tuaL Ho 10 uIlucI
that age, he should be absolutely rejected. But
if the officer has a reasonable doubt as to his
being over 10 years old, he should cause
him to swear to the declaration as to his age,
&C., which every recruit signs on the back of
his enlistment.
"A report of an official inspection OF the
Boston House Of Reformation on Deer Island,
Boston harbOr, printed in the Boston Herald,
shows that man Payson, the superintendent,
has been guilty of brutally beating young girl
with heavy stick on her bare back. If the
poor girl had been black instead of white, what
an awful thing it would have been.
The death of Mrs. Coles, once celebrated
as among the most beautiful, vivacious and
cOmpanionable ladies in New York society.
occurred some three weeks ago, but compare.
lively little reference was made by the papers
to the event. In her day Mrs. Coles, then Miss
Browne, occupied a large space in the bea,
monde and for years was standing toast and
an apple of discord at the same time to the
young gentlemen of the metropolis. 1t was
for her sake that August Belmont underwent
the infection of dose of cold lead in his midst
the which has sadly interfered with his grace
full locomotion ever since.