The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24

Gen. Wharton is in command to day.
Tho Latest from Lees Army.
GRANT REPORTED FALLING BACK IN THE d.
RECTION OF WHITE HOUSE.
From the Richmond Examiner, June7.
Yesterday was a remarkably quiet day with
the armies around Richmond. Not o bit of
news was to be had, except few stray rumors
on the streets. One of these was that Grant,
with his whole army. was falling back in the
direction Of the White House. Although we
could get no confirmation of it. 1t is also re-
ported that the Yankee forces at Bottoms
Bridge are moving off,
The War Department was, last night. with
out any later intelligence from General Lee,
and reported that the situation remained un
changed, and nothing of interest had transpired
between the two armies during the day
From the Richmond Examiner, June7.
BATTLE GROUND, NEAR GAINS MLL,l
June 6-7 Pm.
Last evening Grant sent flag of truce pro.
posing that in the intervals of the fight unarm-
ed parties should be permitted to bury the dead
and care for the wounded. This General Lee
is understood to have declined, but intimated
his willingness to entertain q regular flag of
truce for those purposes.
This morning Grant sent another flag, say
ing he would avail himself of the understand
ing to send out unarmed parties to bury the
promptly replied, showing that Grant had
misunderstood his letter. Here the matter
rests
The heavy firing last night amounted to
nothing. Last night the enemy abandoned
our left and part of our centre, apparently in
great haste. Early has followed them ten
miles to-day, capturing sixty prisoners, who
say that Grant has gone to the White House
because his men will not fight. The impress
sion here, however, is that Grant is making for
the James river, to cross to the south side.
There was a little sharpshooting on our
fight to-day.
From the Richmond Examiner, Junee.
WAR NEWS.
The news is dull this morning. We have
nothing new to report from the armies impe-
diately around Richmond. The situation re-
mains UNCHANGED 1t is reported by persons
from the army that Grant is believed to be
moving from the front down in the direction
OF James river, and it is presumed that this is
done with the ultimate design of crossing to
the south size. But this is mere conjecture,
and 1t will probably be some days before the
enemy's plans are developed. In the mean
time the two armies are confronting each 9TH
er, with their lines only some four hundred
yards apart.
SIEGE OF RICHMOND.
After abiding to the comments upon this
subject in the Northern press the leading ar
ticle in the Examiner concludes as follows:
The citizens if we may judge by their quiet
Indifference, did not believe enc word of it,
They begin to doubt ecen the existence of Grants
army. Let Grant prove it. Here is Richmond
waiting to be taken; predestined to be taken,
robbed and burned, according to very high au-
thorities. And it is clear also, that the whole
heart of great and mighty nation, of all the
mighty nations the mightiest, and the best,
has been set upon this achievement, as it's
highest business and hottest mission upon
earth. And there are not wanting eager, elo-
quent, voluble writer's, for the public press, of
that same people, most enlightened press of all
creation, protesting, affirming and almost
swearing that large and numerous bodies of
persons in uniform, wearing buttons. carrying
weapons, in fact, what Yankees call armies,
were most certainly coming this way on the
errand aforesaid; and that Richmond was to
consider herself besieged, or, for that matter
as good as taken. There is a very general in
credulity about the whole matter. Perhaps it
is because we are now so used to Yankee ly-
ing as to set down anything false because they
say it, or perhaps it is that our citizens have
heretofore red it in books about besieged
cities, and had the impression that in such
cases people could not go in or out; meat
or vegetable could not come t, market from
the country, and, no matter how tempting
the summer weather, family parties
could not make picnics to the rural dis
tricts. And finding none of these conditions
in the present situation, they say that there is
no siege. They surmise that the whole story
of these vast hosts, and this investment of q
city. and bloody arbitrament of the great world
conflict of the age must have been got up, in
order to amuse or delude convention now
said to be assembled in Baltimore. And they
begin generously to doubt whether it be indeed
true, or was true a few days ago, that some of
the largest armies ever embattled upon earth
were advancing withta celebrity never before
known, to decide the destinies of a continent
in our streets, and seal the grand charter of her
man freedom in flame and blood. amidst the
confagration of our crashing dwellings and the
murderous shrieks of a hundred thousand souls.
They soy Sd oh." Say there has been no
such battle in hand at all. Let Grant proveI.
If he has any army, let him produce it; let
him prove his own existence to begin with.
Richmond is open to correction. and is tired
of waiting to be taken. 1t is rather drowsy
affair. this life in besieged city. Richmond
is in danger of falling asleep upon her seven
hills in this still and sultry atmosphere. We
can conceive OF certain lazy somnolence
which seems to be crushing out our people.