The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-23
NEWS AND OTHER ITEMS.

The army. correspondent of tho Co.
lumbia CaroIinian gives ALLOWING picture
of life in Richmond. He says the city Is
full of people, and market well supplied.
He pays the following tribute to General
Grant:
Among all antagonists that have confronted
Gen. Lee during the war. none have given that
chief more trouble or 1ecasoh leu h ANXIETY
peatedly brought to the ground beaten and
discounted like q reckless prize-fighter, he
has dashed again into the fray, and again suf-
fered the modification of defeat, without once
acknowledging that he has heen whipped,
and he still clings with death-like tenacity.
Gen. Dodge assumed command on
Saturday of the Department Of the Mis-
souri,. Gen. Rosecrans is ordered to re.
pair to Cincinnati, and report by letter to
the Adiutant General of the Army.
The Times Washington special says:
Enlistments in Hancocks corps are pro-
crossing favorably. Large numbers of
letters from veterans in all parts of the
country are daily received. Indications
are that, in short time, the corps will re.
ceige its full complement Of men.
The Macon Confederate says: IAN
order has been issued to repair the rail-
road and telegraph line to Atlanta. Many
citizeRs are returning to their homes, and,
it is to be hoped, not soon to leave them.
1t is impossible TO ascertain the exact
amount Of damage done to that city by
the Federals when leaving it, but the pre-
vailine opinion is that nothing but public
property was destroyed, and that private
residences are stll standing"
A Washington correspondent extols
the industry aud enterprise Of the SER
geant-at-arms of the Senate, in forward
ing political documents to al parts of the
country, prior to the Presidential election.
The writer says:
The business OF sendisg documents to the
army was almost wholly intrusted to him, and
nearly every regiment in the service can bear
testimony how well he executed the trust. In
round numbers here are figures OF his work :
10 the Army of the Potomac, 2OO, 900 dOcu-
rlents; Army Of the Cumberland, 100000 !;
E
lev 10000; forces west of the Mississippi
leo 600: forces in the Department of the Gulf
$4,000: forces near the river, 80, 900. 10 this
aggregate of about 100000 may be added
: $50 600 for hanlbl5, newspapers, &C. In the
work he was much aided by Mr.. A. +. Cor.
man, Postmaster of the Senate. 1t is believed
that at least 700 900 of these documents were
actually distributed. One lot of 40, 900 Is yet
on the way somewhere between here and st.
Louis.
Jefferson Davis having recommend
ed that the rebel Congress should entirely
repeal the exemptions of ell classes, and
vest in him the discretion to detain such
as he may think fit to pursue their pro-
LESSONS, Governor Brown, of Georgia,
says:
| wish, in advance, to enter my solemn pro-
test against this monstrOus proposition, which,
if adopted by Congress, will not only endanger
the success of our cause, by breaking the spirit
of our people, which may precipitate counter
! revolution, bat may, and l fear will, engender
strong feeling for reconstruction with the
odious government of the North as the only
means OF escape from worse despotism. l
therefore earnestly recommend the passage of
/ Joint resolution by this General Assembly,
/ inStructing our Senators and requiring our
Representatives in Congress to vote against
and use all possible influence to prevent the
/ passage OF any such law.
"A speech of President Lincoln, at a
serenade last Tuesday evening, is reported
by the Washington papers as follows:
l believe Twill never live to be old enough
! to speak without embarrassment when have
nothing to talk about. Laughter and cheer
! ing. have no good news TO tell YOU, and
yet have no bad news TO tell. We have talk
cd OF elections until there is nothing more to
say about them The most interesting news
we have IS from Sherman. We all know where
he went in at but cannot tell where he will
come out at, cheers and cries, Hell come
out ali right, and | will now close by prOpOs-
Ing three cheers for General Sherman and the
army.
The head of turtle, for several days
after its separation from the body, retains
and exhibits animal life and sensation. An
I'ishman had decapi.ated one, and some
days afterwards was amusing himself by
putting sticks into its mouth, which it bit
violently. y lady who saw the proceed
ings, exclaimed:
why, Patrick, thought the turtle
was dead?"
$50 he is, ma'am, but the cruyther's
not sensible Of it,"
The November report of the United
States Mint in Philadelphia, states that
I five millions six hundred and ten thousand
cents, and three millions one hundred and
forty-tive thousand two cent pieces were
coined last month. Where do they go to:
In reference to Mr.. Lincoln's use of
the word billion in his message, the Jour-
nal of Commerce says:
| The English authorities. all, we believe de-
| hnea billion to be million millions ! while
the French use the word billion to express "a
thousand millions" Some American writers
of more recent date have inclined to the French
| system OF notation in preference to the Eng
! lish until the words billion and trillion have
come to have no precise meaning, unless ex-
planned by the connection in which they stand.
! Ii we adopt the French definition we shall