The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-04-29
A Visr AT HEADQUARTERS While the


visit to the military offices on the first floor Of
the international building in this city. The
appearance daily. of late, Of septinels stationed
in front of one of the rooms on Seventh street
caused us to make an inquiry as to the un-
usual show of bayonets, by which we learned
that the guard is in attendance upon general
court martial, convened by order of the Gen.
eral commanding the District, for the trial OF
offenders against military law, for such offences
as regimental or garrison court martial is not
permitted to try.
This Court has been In session for some
weeks past, and has had host OF witnesses to
examine in numerous cases. and many novel
questions of law and jurisprudence to act upon.
Its proceedings ordinarilyand its findings always
are kept secret until confirmed by the General
commanding, and then the usual publication
by order is generally deemed sufficient. The
detail for the Court is as follows:
COL Crooks, 9Th Minnesota Infantry, Pres
ident. o..
Major Thompson, I'd Minnesota Cavalry
Capt lockwood, 9Th Minnesota Infantry.
Capt Slaughter, 9Th Minnesota Infantry.
Capt Jones, I'd Minnesota Cavalry.
Capt Howe, I'd Minnesota Cavalry.
Capt. Bingham, I'd Minnesota Cavalry.
Lieut.. 4. E Snow, 9th Minnesota Infantry.
Judge Adcocate.
On the jackson street front of the Interna-
tional, first floor are located the offices of the
General and his staff. In Headquarters are
Gen. H. H. Sibley, commander of the District;
Capt Douglas Pope, Inspector of the District;
Capt R. Z. Olin, Assistant Adjutant General;
Lieut.. G. w. Prescott, Aid-de-Camp and Lieut..
Bakely Ordnance Officer of the District.
Lieut.. Pratt, who was until recently acting as
Aid to Gen. Sibley, has been promoted to o
Captaincy in the line and gone to join his regi-
ment. At present but three clerks are employ
ed at the Generals Office.
The amount of routine labor to be done at
headquarters and, more particularly, the ne
cessity of daily attention to it, can only be ap-
preciated by one who understands what is res
quired of commanding and staff officers for
compliance with regulations and general Or
ders, and who remembers that all the orders
for the several detachments and garrisons Of
the troops in this State originate or pass
through this headquarters, each one having to
be copied and recorded; that the reports of
all kinds have to be here corrected, aggregated
and forwarded on to department or general
headquarters in duplicate Or triplcate; and
also that letters Of inquiry, asking information
Instructions and constructions of orders, regu-
ations and duties, have daily to be answered,
as personal applications of the same character
have also daily to be attended TO.
Adjoining the Generals Office is the office Of
Capt. Mills, a. G. NJ, MIR. e. z. Blinn chief
clerk. It is said that at this Office the sign mo
funds" has never yet been hung up. Captain
NIils-at present, however, absent on duty
always has funds on hand to settle properly
authenticated claims against his Office.
In the same room the Typographical parts OF
reports are worked up. Jos. McCloud, chief
clerk John Wagner and s. w. Middlebrook,
assistants. Here are prepared the itinerary
and Journals of marches, with necessary maps
and drawings for illustrations. Thus. the itin-
erary of Gen. Sibley's march to the Missouri
last season, locates with eXactness the position
of hills, woods, lakes and rivers upon the line
OF march, SO that the same can be added to the
maps of the country traversed. The journal is
descriptive of the country, soil and all features
likely to prove valuable or interesting informa-
ton, and also gives barometrical and ther-
mometrical daily observations and notes Incl
cents and events Of the march. The maps and
drawiHgs accompanying serve particularly to
Illustrate the operations of the army and the
manner in which its movements were directed
by the General. Of course all this is worked
up from the daily notes, records and sketches
taken for the purpose while upon the march.
A large map now being drawn by Mr.. Wagner,
with scrupulons accuracy, viii contain the adj
ditions to knowledge of the geography OF our
State and Idaho obtained by The observations
recorded by Mr. McCloud on the march to the
Missouri.
DIR. Potts, the Medical Purveyor of the Dis
trict, who receives, distributes and accounts
for all supplies furnished by the Surgeon Gen
eral for troops in Minnesota, has also his office
at headquarters, but divides his time between
that and his Office at Fort Smelling, where his
supplies are stored.
Such. briefly, are the results of our inspec-
ton of headquarters. No doubt plan might
be devised for the government of military af-
fairs with less of routine and division of labor,
and perhaps with a less number of men en-
ployed, but the inventor Of the new plan would
be surprised to learn how many things required
to be done under the present plan are abso-
lutely necessary to good government of the
armies and to proper understanding Of their
condition and wants being had at Washington
and he might also learn that the divisions of
staff service, which seem at first glance only
to multiply officers and clerks, have been
established, after long experience and study,
with view to economy in men and money as
also to have some particular officer directly
responsible for every thing done and every
thing neglected to be done.
| But. however the system may be, the Gen.
eral and his snbordinates are not responsible
for it. They perform their duties under it,
faithfully, and are always to be found in atten-
dance upon their duties, accessible, upon busi-
ness to civilians or soldiers, as well as those
who wear the Insignia of military rank.
In conclusion we can say that we have found
among the military officers most familiar with
General Sibley's management of military
affairs in this District, disposition to be
pleased that the commission of the General is
finally confirmed by the Senate.