The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-25

ga. l learned very positively at KNOX,
vile that at the time Longstreet (hayinp
been detailed from Bragg, who was be.
sieging Chattanooga was endeavoring to
force passage of the Tennessee at Lon
don and Kingston, against Gen. Burnside,
Gen. Grant sent orders to Gen Burnside
to cease all opposition to Longstreets
crossing, fall back on Knoxville, stand a
siege as long as he could, and by all means
to draw Longstreet as far away from
Bragg as possible. He thought it probable
that Burnside might be sacrificed, but at
the same time he would destroy Bragg
we all know the result o. that strategy
the defeat Of Bragg and retreat Of Long
street.
1he Raid on General Meade.
From the Cincinnati Commercial tRepubcan)
1here IS every symptom of raid ON
General Meade. The Congressional Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War is med
ding and muddling again. General Dan.
Sickles has given important testimony
And people are shocked at story that
Meade at one time contemplated retreating
from Gettysburg. 1t would become the
Congressional Committee on the Conduct
of the War to be modest The record does
not show that Congressional committees
have been chargeable with remarkable
sagacty during the war. 1t would be-
come General Daniel Sickles to be as
quiet as possible about the battle of
Gettysburg. He was the man who, by
direct disobedience of orders, or a
reckless disregard of them, exposed his
corps to the assault OF superior numbers
and was defeated, and came near causing
the overthrow of the whole army. Sickles,
being on our left centre, was ordered
to refuse his right wing and push forward
his left wing to feel the enemy Instead
of that he refused his left, threw forward
his right, advanced nearly halt mile fur
ther than he was directed to 90, and made
violent attack. As he threw forward bis
right, he opened gap between his corps
and the centre The enemy of course
took advantage of this blunder, struck
him in the flank, crumped up his corps,
and hurled it back in disorder and with
dreadful loss. Two brigades of regulars,
of Sykes corps, held in reserve, were
thrown in to cover Sickles' retreat, and did
so with great difficulty. As Sickles lost
his leg in this performance, there has not
been much said about it. But when he is
put forward as the assailant of his COM
handing general, it is time his claims as q
military should be looked into. Concern
ing the awful charge that Meade thought
of retreating from Gettysburg, We believe
it is true that he did contemplate falling
back after the disaster of the first days
fight. The only question was, whether he
could concentrate his army in time to meet
the shock of the whole force of tie enemy.
There was great doubt on this point, and
the 9th Corps, General Sedgwick, came up
just in time to save the necessity of re-
treat. 1t is infamous that the General
management at the battle of Gettysburg,
should be dragged before committee of
civilians, who are good deal more distin-
guished for political prejudices than any
sort Conformation, and badgered by them.
There are some corps commanders in the
Army of the Potomac who would gladly
sacrifice thousands of men end see the
army defeated, if they could rid them
selves of the Genera commanding and
get into his shoes. 1t was the protesta-
tons of these men that prevented the at
tack on Lees broken army on the Poto-
mac after Gettysburg 1t was their APP
parently fully-considered laundering that
caused the advance across the Rapidan,
made with the intention OF cutting Lees
army in two, to turn out failure. And
now the politicians have taken a hand
with these incapable and mutinous subord-
mates, and follow in the hunt of a gallant,
capable, and victorious General. That is
the way to make the Army of the PotO-
mac worthless, and the coming campaign
indecisive We hope it will not be per-
severed in.
Reply to a Legislative Memorial.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT., J
CONTRACT OFFICE,
WASHINGTON. March 8, 1861
SIR-The memorial of the Legislature of the
State of Minnesota for a daily mail from St.
Peter to Fort Ridgley, referred by YOU to the
Department, has been received at this office
At the time said memorial was approved,
Feb. 10, 1868, there was a train-a week SER
vice being performed between those points,
the mails laying over night at New Uln,
each way on the route; but July 30, 1868,
an order was made by the Postmaster
General for tri-weekly service on the
route between st. Peter and Fort Ridg
ley, direct trips to be made through each way
in one day, which service the Postmaster at
Fort Ridgley stated would be satisfactory
| the semi-weekly service between St. Peter and
New Ulm being retained as before, and also
| once week service between New Ulm and
Mankato. 1t does not appear that any increase
of the service is necessary at the present time.
Very respectfully, your Obt seryt,
GEO. w. MCCLELLAN,
Second Assistant Post Master General.
Hon. ALEX RAMSEY, U. s. Senate.
Important Order of gen. Grant--Hts
HEADQUARTERS with the Army OF
the Potomac.
NAsuvuIR. March 17.-General Grant