The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Communication Opened with the
NOrth...The National Humiliation
OccasiOncd by the Late Raid. ed

Comm untcattOn Opened with the
NOrth..-The National Humiliation
OccasiOncd by the Late Raid. "a
WASHINGTON, July IS, 1864.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
The renewal of communication by mail and
telegraph, which the daring raid of the Con-
federates so summarily interrupted, again al
lowing the transmission of mail matter.
slight sketch of recent events and resulting
impressions may not be unwelcome.
The National IntelFgencer, disposed to criti-
else, rather than gloss over mistakes, in an ar
ticle headed 1.-THE National Humiliation" Sc
verely condemns the previous course of the
government that left unguarded the Valley OF
the Shenan6 oah, and proceeds to show that
for four successive summers the enemy, pre-
suming on the Ignorance and shiftlessness
of the administration, have made use Of this
KEY to the success of our armies in Virginia
without let or hindrance. The first time, on
the occasion of the battle of Bull Run, when
the rebel Johnatpn by the junction of his for.
ces with those Of Beauregard, through this ral-
ley, changed victory into an ignominious rout.
Next, in McClellans campaign in 1862, when
Banks was compelled into his hasty retreat by
the inroad into this valley of jackson, and also
the prevention of junction of Gems. Mellow
ell and Mcclellan. Thirdly. when the enemy,
By means of this GALLEY, harrassed with such i'm
punity the army of Gen. Pope, in his short
lived campaign, ending in the memorable bat
tie of Antietam, 18th Sept, 1862. Lastly, in
the summer of 1868, on the occasion of the
invasion, about a month after the defeat of
Hooker at Charlottesville, when Winchester
was evacuated and Milroy exhibited his re-
treating powers SO marvellously.
The scathing rebukes and vehement opposi-
ton to the efficiency and energy of the war
administration that this article exhibits, though
at the time of publication regarded by many
as stating facts without proper authenticity,
seem to be gradually insinuating their truth
into the pnblic mind and leaving there the hui
initiating impression that we have been victims
to puerile alarm rather than men entertain
ing justly grounded fear for the safety of the
National c. pital. If it is true that the force
so confidently proclaimed to be at least $4,000
men, has dwindled down into 5000, and that
the obstinate fighting on the outskirts of the
city was carried on between thousand men on
the one side and twenty times that number on
the other; that force Of 500 cavalry secured
an extent of country embracing hundreds of
miles in extent, destroying railroads and rob-
bing passengers, driving off cattle and burning
dwellings, it is no wonder that all confidence
in the military executives should be shaken
where manifest
Such is the feeling that now, after the dan
ger is over, and sober second thought urges
examination. predominates in the place of the
alarm and dismay that 30 lately reigned SUI
preme, and the critic who has had the bold
ness to come forward and lift the veil that has
hitherto concealed the stupidity and ignorance
of malas ministration, meets with the warm
support of all deep thinkers, and conveys in
the dearest way the opinion and sentiment of
the public mind rs manifested in Washington.
At the first symptom of the rebel incursion
extending to this city, the military authorities,
in ia stice let it he said, took every means in
their power to avert danger, and in less than
twenty four hours thereafter, troops began to
pour into the city from all rides. Until the in
terruption of trave; in the line of railroad be-
tween this city and Philadelphia, returned reg
iments were forwarded at the earliest possible
moment, and detachments Of corps, divisions
and regiments, from points south and west of
the Potomac, were transported and marched to
the scene of conflict, so that on Tuesday last
upwards OF twenty thousand men were congre-
gated in the Notifications and intrenchments
around the city. The weather was favorable
in the highest degree for military evolutions,
and nothing prevented an attack by the rebels
save their own will, u fact which jus ly goes to
prove the disparity in force between Our troo-s
and theirs.
mornings ride at an early day in the week,
as near to the guns of the enemys skirmishers
as prudence would allow disclosed beautiful
chain of decentralization, stood the numerous
forts, bristling with guns and sparkling with
the sheen of thousand of bayonets So direct
ly in front, in scattered q oups behind fences
and trees, and hastily thrown up mounds, lay
the sharpshooter. ready to launch his messen-
ger of death, while in the distance could be de-
tected the rapidly moving bodies of the enemy
as they drove off their living plumber or set fire
to everything con.bustible that forbade trans
portation. On the whole, with the remen
brance OF the losses and casualties in former
raids, we must. in justice. ascribe to the rebels
Dick Turpin sort of respect for persons and
property. it being positively asserted that the
rebel Generals issued slrict orders to their
troops forbidding indiscriminate plundering
and it is true that Gen. LOngstreet caused a
man detected in stealing silver cup from the
house of Mr.. Riggs, the well known banker, 10
be shot to death and the cup to be returned to
the proper owner.
Many instances of forbearance to the proper
" and persons of inhabitants in the rural dis
uicts can be quoted, aud it can be butt matter
OF congratulation to us that we have escaped so
scathiessly. But if we may be allowed to
thank as 1t were the enemy fer their modera-
ZION IN destruction the conduct of some of our
own troops and particularly the cavalry, can.
not be too sharply stigmatized. as evincing an
INSTRUMENTATION to command and remorselese-