The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-27
THE NEWS.

by BEAUREGARD q lymS olSpatcneS ABOUT Tue
breaking of the Charleston blockade, and
that an official enquiry is to be made into
the affair.
There are various rumors about
another rebel raid into Kentucky, but the
details are conflicting, and the correctness
of the reports are denied at headquarters.
"A report has been received at Rich
mond of the capture Of the ram Queen
of the West, while attacking the fortifca-
tons on Red River.
The Richmond Dispatch says our ar
my will be only 800, 900 in June next, and
urges that the rebel army be kept up to
100000, when they will dictate peace at
Washington or Alexandria.
Gen. GRANT made an attack on Vicks-
burg on the 18th, with the mortar boats,
but the result has not transpired, unless we
credit the report of the rebel officer at Muir
freesboro on the Goth, that we had got
Vicksburg at last The fact that the at
tack was made two days previous, renders
the correctness of the report highly prob
able, especially as no reason can be assign
ed why the result should have been mis-
represented by the rebels.
"A dispatch states that the Democrats
have invited the recent convention in
Frankfort, dispersed by Col. GILBERT, to
convene in Tammany Hall, New York,
where they would be protected in nomi-
mating State ticket.
Col. RODNEY MASON, Of Ohio, who
was summarily dismissed for surrendering
GAINESVILLE, is in Washington demanding
court of inquiry, and it is stated that STAN
TON threatens to resign if it is granted
We have no sympathy with the disgraced
officer, but devoutly pray that STANTON
may have an opportunity of blessing the
country with his resignation.
From rebel sources we learn of trouble
on the Texan frontier. Mexican banditti
have organized for the purpose of plumber.
ing frontier settlements, and have already
committed serious depredations. News
also reaches US, by way of Richmond, of a
Federal advance into Middle Tennessee,
and of Gen. JEFF. @. DAVIS forces having
been whipped, &e.
1t appears that Gen. BUTLER was
offered command Of the Vicksburg expe-
dition, but declined it. BUTLER is bound
to return to New Orleans; and he will
probably succeed in bullying the President
into compliance with his wishes. But
what will become of BANKS
We have known for some time that
the War Department had large number
of professional detectives under pay in the
Army of the Potomac The business of
these detectives is to insinuate themselves
among the officers of the army-attend
social gatherings-and report whatever
disafection they may find. The N. Y.
Mercury's Washington dispatch shows that
they have not been idle. A long list is
said to be already prepared, comprising
those who have uttered offensive senti-
ments, and that all such will be punished
by dismissal from the service. STANTON
is better fitted for this spy business than
any man in the country; ToUCHE was
hardly his superior.
While we are rolling alongspn wheels
over bare ground, the cities of the Atlantic
coast are rejoicing in heavy falls of snow.
1t has been ascertained that the
charges made against Gen. Steele, that he
was in the habit of delivering over to
their disloyal masters fugitive slaves who
escaped into his lines, are absolutely false.
The charges against Gen. Steele originated
with the disloyal slave-owners themselves
who, by this means, hoped to have him
supplanted by some other General who
would be more subservient to them.
The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Inquirer, with General Sigel's command
has been arrested by order of Genera
Hooker, at Stafford Court House, and
taken to Falmouth He is charged with
having sent incorrect and exaggerated re,
ports of recent movements, and also with
furnishing contraband information for pub.
LEGATION in that paper.
Commander Preble, who was cashier.
ed for permitting the Confederate steamer
Florida to enter Mobile, has been reinstat
ed, and is under orders for active service
He was restored to his rank because some
half dozen other commanders permitted
the Florida to come out again.
Gold dropped a little in New York or
Friday, opening at the first board at 1922
and closing at the same figure. Chicago
bankers were paying 161al62.
On the 18th inst, Hyde's Hotel, al
Sudbury, Vermont, accidentally caught
fire. and was totally destroyed. Loss ovel
$4,000. Insured for over $1,000.