The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-18

muzzles outwards, and be passed on An
other purpose was to cross James, river
with his main force, and move down in
great secresy and take Richmond by sur
prise The trusty guide-an intelligent
contraband, it seems with which he was
provided, promised him good ford near
the Dover Mills, where he could cross with
ease. He did not succeed in finding the
ford or crossing the river, but in bis wrath
he hung the poor negro. Turning down
the James river on the north side with his
undivided columns, he was soundly chas-
tised by our city troops on Tuesday eve
ming, and driven back before our regulars
could get chance.
Fitzpatrick, for his part, had no better
success He did not destroy the bridges
over the North and South Anna. He, too,
was whipped and driven back. He had
travelled with more celebrity than Dahlgren
and was in place on Tuesday morning.
This only enabled him to reach his conclu-
sions day earlier than his coadjutor; for
on Tuesday night he fled on his iron gray
across the Chickahominy, where, on the
following day Dahlgren was happy to fol-
low them. Dahlgren, in his orders 10 his
troops, told them that possibly Gen. Custer
might follow him. Gen. Custer is yet I'M
accounted for, and this fact gives some
color to the report that body of the en-
envy is somewhere west of the Fredericks.
burg railroad. Of the purposes that were
to be accomplished if these officers had led
their columns to meeting in Richmond,
Dahlgren takes pains to inform his men,
and we have fallen heirs to the informa-
ton. The Yankee prisoners on Belle Is
land were to be liberated and turned loose
upon the hateful city, to sack, kill and de-
stroy.
The soldiers were to scatter frebrands
everywhere, our bridges were to be
burned, our President, the commander.in-
chief of our army, was to be killed. His
Cabinet were to share his fate. So far as
they were concerned, the black flag was
to be raised, and no quarter giuen. Man
proposes but God disposes Lincoln,
through his armed emissaries, has told US
what he would like to do, and he has
made the attempt to- do it. Morally,
therefore, he and his officers are guilty of
the crime. As for Dahlgren, he has paid
the penalty. He has found the death he
came to deal. Instead of writing his
name among the stars, as he foidly hoped,
he has been buried like a dog, without
priest or coffin, in the swamps of Vir-
ginia. His name will stink and his men,
ory will rot The odium due to him at
taches in greater force to his superiors,
both civil and military. Let Lincoln and
fitzpatrick remember that they have bid
den their subordinates give no quarter to
the Confederate chiefs. Perhaps even a
Scotch cap and military cloak will not
prevent just and stern vengeance from
Overtaking them for this revolving out
rage on civilization and rules Of war.
The orders of Dahlgren to kill and de-
stroy such stock and horses as they might
not be able te drive away with them. and
to burn all the rrails he could find, is sec
ond in execrable infamy only to what we
have above noted. 1t is a war against
women and children, anil against those We
ry Yankee prisoners concerning whose ra-
tons they affect so much hypocritical con-
Germ.
What right has Lincoln, after sending
his creatures on such an errand, to open
his lips if this destruction of food and of
the means of producing it be made to fall
alone on his subjects here? What course
should our government pursue under this
revelation of the enormous infamy Of our
enemies 1t is question not to be put
aside, nor is it question to be answered
under impulse. We commend it to the at
tention of our authorities, for it is of ma
ture that requires prompt decision.
The orders which Dahlgren proclaimed
to his mer and the purposes avowed are
unexampled in the history of the world.
Cities have indeed been sacked; but it
was only after an obstinate and useless re-
sistance had inflamed the passions of the
soldiers and made them uncomfortable by
their commanders. Dahlgren expected
to take Richmond by surprise. Yet be
proclaimed that it was bis purpose to sack,
burn and destrOy-to turn loose ten thou
sand reckless men, witseM officers, Nth
full license to riot at aoiN What imagin-
alton can paint the horrors of which this
city would have been the scene on Mon
day if Dahlgren's enterprise had succeed
ed? History furnishes no example of the
murder, robbery, arson, rape and contla-
grafton which would have prevailed. The
President and his Cabinet were doomed
by name and swOre to fall at the hands of
the troops. Does any one believe that
any official OF any grade would have escap-
ell the mob Ofprisoners?
Dahlgren has died; but Dahlgren was
not the only guilty man. His address was
to his officers and men. He told them his
purpose, and gave them leave to withdraw
if they disapproved of the undertaking.
They elected to follow him, and became
partners of his crime. His annunciation
became theirs. We have some of the men
in our hands. What shall be done with
them What do they desc We? Tried by
the rules OF war, of what are they gailty ?
They are murderers, incendiaries, outlaws,
detected and arrested in the execution OF
their crime They have forfeited the char
acter of soldiers, and they should not be
treated as such.
From New York.
New YORK, March 9-Gen. HancocE
addressed the Stock Board 10 public to