The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-09

The telegraph at length conveys to us
the long expected news Of the fall of At
lanta and the country will rejoice that
the arduous campaign of that brave soldier
and patriot General SHERMAN, conducted
with so much wisdom, courage and skill,
has been brought to an suspicious termi-
nation in the capture of that stronghold Of
the rebellion. The General and his army
deserve the thanks and the applause of the
Republic. The advance of the army into
the heart of the enemy's country, in the
midst Of season of unusual heat, has been
attended by circumstances calculated to
try every nerve and muscle of its endur-
ance, and we cannot too highly congratu-
late ourselves on result which establishes
the efficiency of its organization, and the
skill, sagacity and prudence of its COM
mander. The people of this country have
especial reason to begrateful that the Army
of the Cumberland has been led to its last
glorious victory by a General who has
never entertained any fallacious sentiments
in regard to the status of the negro, or his
availability as soldier in the field, and we
take pleasure in referring our readers again
to General SHRRMAN's late letter to the
Massachusetts agent, upon this subject,
which we republish for their benefit. The
failure of the radical Generals has been so
universal in this war that the country is
fully convinced of the necessary fatality
which must attend any execution Of their
extreme and fanatical policy. In addition
to this, the isolation of SHRRMAN's depart
ment from the malign and fatal influences
of administration interference, may be
mentioned as one of the most powerful
agencies in securing his triumph. The tri-
umph of SHERMAN in Virginia would have
been as impossible as has been that of
MCCLELLAN, MCDOWELL, POPE, MEADE,
HOOKER, BURNSIDE and GRANT. But SHEER.
MAN in Tennessee, SHERMAN in Georgia,
SHERMAN away from the blasting infu-
ences of the War Department and the
strategic adventures of ABRAHAM LINCOLN
is very different thing from SHERMAN in
Virginia. He has been left to himself, and
he has secured the fruits of splendid
campaign. Let us take courage and thank
GoD for conservative General.
GEN. SHERMAN ON RECRUITING IN THE REBEL
STATES.
HEADo'Rs MILITARY DIV. OF THE MIss.,)
In THE FIELD, NEAR ATLANTA, Ga.,(
July 80, 1864.
John A. Spooner, Esq, agent for tile Common
aceaAk of Massachusetts,, Nashville, Ten
neSSee:,
SIR: Yours from Chattanooga, July 18th. is
received, notifying me of your appointment by
your State as Lieut. Colonel and Provost Mar
shall of Georgia. Alabama and Mississippi. un-
der the act OF Congress approved July 4, 1854,
to recruit volunteers to be credited to the
States respectively.
On applying to Gen. Webster, at Nashville,
he will grant you pass through our lines to
those States, and as / have had considerable
experience in those States, would suggest re-
cruiiing depots to be established at Macon and
Columbus, Miss, Selma, Montgomery and Mo-
bile, Ala. and Columbus, Milledgeville and Sa-
vannah, Ga. .... T."
do not see that the law restricts you to
black recruits, but You are at liberty to collect
white recruits also. 1t is weste of time and
money to open redezvous in Northwest Geor-
gia, for assure you that have not eeen an
able bodied man, white or black, there, fit for
soldier, who was not in this army or the
army opposed to it.
You speak of the impression going abroad
that am opposed to the organization of COL
ored regiments.
My opinions are usually very positive, and
there is no reason why you should not know
them. % 81,
Though entertaining a profound reverence
for our Congress doubt their wisdom
in the passage of this law:
l. Because civilian agents about an army are
q nuisance.
g. The duty of citizens to fight for their
country is too sacred one to be peddled off
by buying up the refuse of other States.
8. 1t is unjust to the brave soldiers and vol
unteers who are fighting as those who com.
pose this army do to place them on par
with the class of recruits you are after
4. The negro IS IN u rdsssitu sttste and is not
the equal of the rltite maa.
5. He is liberated from his bondage by act
of war; and the armies in the field are entitled
to all his assistance in labor and fighting in
addition to the proper quotas of the States.
6. The bidding AMI bartering for recruits
white and black, has delayed the reinforce
ment of our armies at the time when such re-
Inducements would have enabled us to make
our successes permanent.
Z. The law is an experiment which pending
war, is unwise and unsafe, and has delayed the
universal draft which firmly believe will be-
come necessary TO overcome the widespread
resistance offe ed us; and 1 also believe the
universal draft will be wise and beneficial; for
under the providence of God it will separate
the sheep from the goats, and demonstrate
what citizens will fight for their country, and
what will only talk.
No one will infer from this that / am not Il
friend Of the negro as well as the white race:
contend that the same treason and rebellion
of the master freed the slave, and the armies
have commanded have conducted to safe points
more negroes than those of any other general
officer in the army; but prefer negroes for pi-
Oneers, teamsters, cooks and servants, others
gradually to experiment in the art of the SOL
der, beginning with the duties of local garri.
soDs such as we had at Memphis Vicksburg.
Natchez, Nashville and Chattanooga; but I
would not draw on the poor race for too large
proportion of its active athletic young men,
for some must remain to seek new homes and
provide for the old and young-the feeble and
helpless.
these are some of my peculiar notions. but
/ assure you they are shared by large proper
ton of our fighting men. =.
You may show this to the agents of the 9TH
er States in the same business with Yourself.
am, &C.,
GIN