The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29

killing time In oil eOr- OF ways and in every
variety Of humor. From one or two large and /
dirty coverings Of canvas In the center an nm
eayory smell announces the process of cooking
by hands to which cookery must ever be o lost
art. A despairing expression prevails IN coun..
tenances frUmswhiel hunger has been chased
bw the steam of salt pork. that shall soon, how 4
ever, be as milk and honey 10 the taste OF that
portion of the prisoners mess absolved from
duty at the frying.pan Poker Is in full blast
over in the opposite corner; mumbletepeg
has the attention of lot of { Johnny's' in the
center; here and there ore quieter groups,
talking; off in some place where noise has
ceased for a time is lonely man, thinking
Over many here hangs disgrace or death. To,
some, who have fed from starvation and SER
vice among the haunts Of-rebellion, will be
given the means of journeying hence to q re-
men walk slowly to one side of the st0ckade,
and peer through it at a hospital tent in the
woodland below, where they are court-mar.
failing prisoner. alih e 81
'5- THE couRr-MARrIAL TINT.
1t is quiet tent enough. white and new and
clean, all alone by itself in a place like In an
open field. A few horses are hitch.d to bar
rier outside; a sentinel PAGES slowly to and
fro before the entrance. Inside are clean pine
benches; at the further extremity pine struc-
ture like pulpit. For this Is chapel on the
now occupies the space In from. OF the stand at
which the judgeadvocate of the court Is sit
ting. Three or four officers in full uniform
lounge on the seats around, listening to the
evidence. Not with the same dread intentness
as the prisoner who as we ride past the en-
trance. slowly turns toward the sunlight face
from which hope has fed away.
TO CULpEppER.
Ont from beneath the trees and among the
tents; past the e, campment of ZOuave regi-
ment, taking it easy with pipes and poker;
past the artillery reserve. practicing at the
guns, over the hills and along delusiOn and q
snare. called corduroy road, by Brandy Sta
ton, and we are on the way to Culpepper
Desolation still desolation everywhere save
yonder on the right, Where clean white dwell
ing and outhouses ian unusual sight) have
been partially saved, with the grounds, from
the despoiing touch of armies. This is the
residence of John Minor Bolts, the owner, or
at least the holder of an immense number of
acres hereab<,uts damages to which, by both
federal and rebel forces, are paid to the distin-
4ushed benefit of that fine old gen,lemans
Golfers. He Occur les the hOuse with his fam
iy in which are daughters who have graced
more than one dancing entertainment given by
the Army of the Potomac during the past WIN
ter.
We are riding toward another house, not
quite so we'll preserved just to the left of the
Orange and Alexandri. Railroad track, and
also held in charge by Mr. Bolts. Through one
end of this structure q shell from one OF our
guns crushed last summer cutting up the Iur-
niture of a room in which woman sat sew
ing. scared but unhurt.
Locomotives and trains bearing supplies are
snorting up ind down the railroad. DrOves
of cattle army wagons, with stubborn mules
attached. and swearing, hrruping drivers or
derlieS gallOping through the mud and over
the bitches; an occasional squad of cavalry
returned from or going on picket duty; and
here and there a soldier. srrived from furlOugh
and hunting for his regiment line and fill the
road. There at last are the spires of Gull
pepper. i9&L f e ae. 8t
4rl THR VILLAGE OF CULPEPPEE. -
You cross muddy stream just before you
enter the village, the outskirts of which ARE
scraggy sheds and barns, blacksmith shop or
two. and piles of refuse. Into Davis street
the main avenue of the forsaken place-your
horse struggles through mud knee-deep and
of the uniform consistency of pudding. More
mules, more army wagons, more gal Oping or
derlies, that shove you perfOrce to one side of
the narrow street and splash you from head to
foot. H>yop are hungry by the way yon can
get hideous meal in di,ty tent down there
near the railroad. and Pay your dollar fof it
enough for such sacrifice, you can struggle
on past a church with the panes of the steeple
knocked out, that the window-sash may be
used for clothes-lines by the Brooklyn Zouave
regiment, whose red trOwsers are tapping
from them In the breeze like streamers.
ASH GENERAL GRANTS HEADQUARTERS.
A little way on, at the end of the street.-the
yond which is again seen the open country-a
liberty pole stands, without flag. A house
comparatively new, and in good repair, sits q
few yards back. on the right side, the yard in
front being FL ed with the tents of staff officers
Lieutenant General Grant is inside that house,
eating his dinner 1t would seem that the
Lieutenant General has as little time t. spare
for that important business as he has for suf
fering the pings Of lioniz ,tion at the great
Metropolitan Fair, for, In very few minutes
indeed, be rises from a board pOpulous with
good victuals not half eaten forsakes conclave
of still hungry officers and rends the heart of
black waiter bearing dessert, by emerging
from the dining room, crossing the hall into
his office, lighting cigar and going to work.
He has very quiet way with him, this com
mander-in-chief of the armies of the United
States. He wears his old clothes and does not
sit straight In the saddle. The straps of MI
jor General still linger on his shoulders.
& Probably he has forgotten to buy new ones, :"
said an officer of whom 1t was asked why Gen.
Grant did not don the three stars" approurk
ate to his rank. ~
GENERAL wARRENs HEADQUARTERS.
Around the corner and down side street
paved with its full complement of mud, is an
ancient. dilapidated, brown three story build
ing with piazza or balcony In front, whence,
from pole on either side of the steps the fiag
of the Second corps is hanging That is Cen
eral Warren, standing in the door way unat
tended. Isl He is very youna to be major
general )" but little more than thirty years of
age. he Is man of marked but not pleasing
appearance His look Is calculated To repel
rather than invite acquaintance. His hair and
moustache are dark, perhaps black, the latter.
waxed and sticking ont straight on either side
1.-The military style. His uniform IL perfectly
adjusted and bultoned close. h His cavalry
boots are freshly BACKED and Of o proper &c.
he descends the steps and walks rather stifiiy
up the street toward Gen. Grants headquar-
tcrs, with his right hand In the breast Of his
coat his head bent forwards half conscious
half thoughtful air about him. This young
man commands one of the three grand divis-
ions Of the Army of the Potomac. His fight
with part Of EEwell's corps at Bristow Station
ID generally remembered His services at the
battle Of Gettysburg, where be shared largely
IN the duties Of chief Of staff to Gen. Meade,
were important and judicious. His military
opinion, am told, has long been highly valued
by the chief commanders Of the army. Is
GENERAL sEDowIcK,s HEADQUARTERS. zgl
IN thecenter Of . pleasant grove Of oaks and
eyespreens. near Hazel river, two or three
miles west of Brandy Station, stands an old
Virginia homestead, now sadly out of repair, i
but The expense Of sustaining which in the 1
style Of HOSPITALITY which prevailed In this part