The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29

variety of humOr. From one or two large and
dirty coverings of canvas in the center an un-
sayOry smell announces the process Of cooking
bv hands to which cookery must ever be lost
art. despairiDg expression prevails IN conn,
tenances from which hunger has been chased
bW the steam of sal, pork that shall soon, now
ever. be as milk and honey 10 the taste OF that
portion of the prisoner mess ab'olrcd from
duty at the irying.pan Poker IS in full blast
over in the opposite corner; mumb|etepeg
has the attention of a lot of = )ohnny's IN the
center; here and there are quieter groups,
talking; off 10 some place where noise has
ceased for q time is q lonely man, thinking
Over many here hangs disgrace or death. To
some, who have fed from starvation and SER
vice among the haunis Of rebellion, will be
given the means of journeying hence to a re-
iuge In the North. Occasionally two or three
men walk slowly to one side OF the stOckade,
and peer through it at e hospital tent IN the
woodland below. where they are court-mar.
failing prisoner.
TIE CouRT-MARrIAL TENT
1t is quiet tent enough, white and new and
clean, all alone by itself in q place like in an
open field. A few horses are hitch. d to bar
rier outside; q sentinel PAGES slowly to and
trO before the entrance. Inside are clean pine
benches; at the further extremity pine struc-
ture like pulpit. For this is chapel on the
Sabbath; on week day q court room. A table
nov occupies the space In from OF the stand at
which the jndge-advOcate of the court Ia cit.
ting. Three or four officers in full uniform
lounge on the seats around listening TO the
"a the prisoner who. as we ride past the en-
trance. slowly turns toward the sunlight face
from which hope has fed away.
TO CuLpEPrEE
Ont FROM beneath the trees and among III.
tents; past the e, campment of a ZOuave regi-
ment. taking it easy with pipes and poker;
past the artillery reserve. practcing at the
guns, over the hills and along delusOn and q
snare, called corduroy road, by Brandy Sta
ton, and we are on the way to Culpepper.
DesOaiOD still dCsOatlOn everywhere save
yonder on the right, Where a clean white dwell
in% and Outhou>es ian unusual sighD have
been partially saved, with the grounds. from
the dcsp0ling touch of armies. This is the
residence Of John Minor Bolts the owner, or
ut least tie holder Of an immense number of
acres hereakmts damages 10 wrich, by both
feieral and rebel forces, are paid to The diotin-
qu>hed benefit OF tia, fine old gen'leman's
Golfers. He Occur les the house with his fam
ilr in which are daughters who have graced
more than orc dancing entertainment given by
the Army OF the Potomac during the past Win
ter.
We are riding toward another house, not
GiIte so well preserved Just to the left Of the
Orange AMI AleXardriA Railroad track, and
also held in charge by Mr. Bolts. Through one
end of this structure a shell from one OF our
guns crushed last summer cutting up the Eur-
nture Of q room in which q woman eat sew
Ing. scared but unhurt.
Locomotives and trains bearing supplies are
snOrting up ,nd down the railroad. DrOves
of cattle army wagons, with stubborn mules
attached, and swearing, hrruping drivers; Or
derlies gallOping through the mud and over
the bitches; an occasional squad of cavalry
returned from Or going on picket duty and
here and there q soldier Grrived from furlOugh
and hunting for his reg ment, line AMI fill the
road. There at last are the spires of Gull
pepper.
THE VILLAGE OF CULPEPPEH.
You cross muddy stream just before you
enter the village, the outskirts of which are
scraggy sheds and barns, blacksmith shop or
two. and piles of refuse. Into Davis street.
the main avenue of the forsaken placo-your
horse struggles through mud knre-deep and
of the uniform consistency of pudding. More
mules, more army wagons, more gal Oping Or
derlies that shove you perfOrce to one side of
the narrow street and splash you from head to
foot. Jf>you ore hungry by the way You can
get hideous meal in di'ty tent down there
near the railroad, and pay your dollar for it
without grumbling. If you are not hungry
enough for such o sacrifice, you can struggle
on past q church with the panes of the steeple
used for clothes-lines by the Brooklyn Zouave
regiment. whose red trOwsers are tapping
from them In the breeze like steamers.
GENERAL GRANTS HEADQUARTERS.
A little way on, at the end of the street-be-
yond which is again seen the open country-a
liberty pole stands. without flag. A house
comparatively new, and in good repair, sits q
few yards back. on the right side, the yard in
front being I'll ed with the tents of staff officers
Lieutenant General Grant is inside that house
eating his dinner 1t would seem that the
Lieutenant General has as little time t. spare
for that important business as he has for suf-
fering the pings of liOniZ iion at the great
Metropolitan Fair, for, in very few minutes
indeed, he rises from board pOpulOus with
good victuals not half eaten. forsakes a conclave
of still hungry officers and rends the heart of
black waiter bearing dessert, by emerging
from the dining room, crossing the hull into
his office, lighting cigar, and going to work.
He has q very quiet way with him, this com
mander-in-chief of the armies of the United
States. He wears his old clothes and does not
sit straight In the saddle. The straps of NJ l.
jor General still linger on his shoulders
Probably he has forgotten to buy new ones, "
said an officer of whom it was asked why GEN
Grant did not don the three stars" approyi>
ate to his rank.
GENERAL N,ARREN's HEADQUARTERS.
around the corner and down side street
paved win It's 1un complement OF mud, lS an
ancient. dilapidated, brown three story build
ing with piazza or balcony in front, whence,
from pole Oh either side of the steps the fiag
OF the Second corps is hanging That is Gen
eral Warren, standing in the door way unat
tended. He is very young to be major
general :" but little more than thirty years of
age. Re is man of marked but not pleasing
appearance His look is calculated to rel eli
rather than invite acquaintance. His hair and
moustache are dark, perhaps black, the latter
waxed and sticking out straight on either side
the military style. His uniform is perfectly
adjusted and buItoned close. His cavalry
boots are freshly BACKED and of proper fit.
He descends the steps and walks rather stiffiy
up the street toward Gen. Grants headquar-
tiers, with bis right hand In the breast OF bis
coat his head bent forward-a half conscious,
half thoughtful air about him. This young
man commands one of the three grand divis-
ions of the Army of the Potomac. His fight
with part of EwellIs corps at Eristow Station
is generally remembered His services at the
battle OF Gettysburg, where he shared largely
In the duties of chief of staff to Gen. Meade,
were important and judcious. His military
opinion, am told, has long been highly valued
by the chief commanders of the army.
GENERAL sEDGwICK's HEADQUARTERS.
In the center of pleasant grove of oaks and
eyerpreens. near Hazel river, two or three
miles west of Brandy Station, stands an old
Virginia homestead, now sadly out of repair,
but The expense of sustaining which in the
o,,la f alitv which nrpvaiIp in this mart