The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-08
News from Washington.
Correspondence of the st. Louis Republican.
WASHINGTON, April 21st, 1SG

Correspondence of the st. Louis Republican.
WASHINGTON, April 21st, 1868.
The President and General Halleck
have Just returned from General HOOker's
headquarters, on the Rappahannock, where
they spent the best part Of two days in
close conference with the Commander of
the Army of the Potomac, with the object
of becoming thoroughly posted in his plans,
and pronouncing their opinions on the
same. 1t appears that General Hooker
has been somewhat cautious in unfolding
his strategy even to his superiors-hence
the visit; but, the visit itself need not be
construed as an indication of any inten-
ton to interfere with him, for it is well
known the President has determined that
Fighting Joe," shall have things all his
own way and be held responsible for the
result. 1t is to be regretted that this plan
of allowing the Commander of the Army
of the Potomac to act as he chooses. was
not adopted earlier in the war.
The military situation on the Kappa
hammock has not materially changed since
my last. The heavy cavalry operations
on the right extended no further than Rap
pahannOck Station, and developed moth
ing excepting that the enemy were not in
force North Of the river. The gradually
massing OF the infantry and artillery along
the upper fords is yet progressing.
These movements give some indications
OF Gen. Hookers plan of operations He
will try to turn Fredericksburg, by cross
ing the river by the upper fords, and as
the enemy are in strong force on the OPP
posite bank, battle may be expected at
any moment. There are also indications
leading to the belief that GordOnsville is
the objective point of Gen. Hooker's strate-
gy. Its an out of the way route to Rich
mond, but, once in our possession, we
hold the Virginia Central Railroad, and at
the same time outfank the enemy on all
the lower Rappahannock, and force him to
fall back towards Richmond. 1t will be
remembered that Gen. Mcclellan was
pushing straight for Gordonsville, when
he was removed, and that in two days he
would have forced the enemy to fight for
the possession of that point. Burnside
took command started for Fredericks-
burg, found the enemy there before him,
gave him battle, and was defeated. A Pc
riOd OF four months inactivity followed. In
the meantime Gen. Burnside is removed,
and bis successor, adopting Gen. McClel-
lan's plan, is now gradually moving the
army at the point where his operations
were abandoned. Gen. McClellans stra-
tegy will be more fully vincicated by ope-
rations in Virginia before the war is over
Correspondence N. Y Times
WASHINGTON, April 26.
SECRETARY CHAsEs METHOD OF PAYING
THE TROOPS.
Prior to the last payment to the army
just completed, no settled system of pay
ing our armies existed. The amounts due
the several organizations on the 1st of
March, the last pay day, covered period
of four months. For the want of a sys-
tenn, some regiments had been paid to
date-some had not been paid dollar for
six monthS-and complaints against the
Treasury Department were loud and con-
slant in every one of the eighteen armies.
To remedy this, Secretary Chase request
ed that every requisitiOn for pay drawn
upon this Department, should indicate on
its face the period of time covered by it,
so as to enable him to advance money
equally to all the troops. This request
was complied with.
Mr.. Chase, also, in notifying the War
Department that he was ready to pay,
asked that the order of payment of the
several armies should be indicated by the
Secretary of War. This was done, and
hereafter careful and just system of pay
ment will discharge the dues to every
regiment in every army at one and the
same time. On the 10Th of March, there
remained due to the troops the sum of
$59,76O,OOO. Every cent of this immense
debt has been paid off as follows:
Gen. Grants Army. ...... so, 900, 900
Gen. ROsecrans' Army. ............ $3.50, 900
Troops at Fortress Monroe . 1850, 900
Troops at Missouri, Arkansas and
Iowa. Observation-Disclosures. 7,5OO,O 900
Office payments ut Washington. $50, 900
Current payments to invalids and
discharged soldiers in Ohio Ind-
ana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Mich
gan Observation-Disclosures. 1000, 600
Troops at Baltimore and current
payments in Maryland and Penn
sylvania.. ;:..,......:... 800. 900
PAYMENTS in New York and New