The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-01

THURSDAY, June %. =
Secretary STANTON has nothing to say,
but the news dispatches state that q series of
desperate assaults have been made on Peters
burg, and that they were repulsed by the rebels.
HANcocK's veterans, in one of the assaults
got within seventy-five yards Of the rebel lines;
but could not Withstand the deadly fire of
infantry, grape and canister, and fell back,
leaving their dead and wounded Several
brigades, in another attack were met with such
a murderous fire, and cut down so rapidly
that they were withdrawn. A demand for
the surrender of Petersburg was made and re-
fused. 1t is intimated that further assaults
will be suspended and an attempt made to shell
the rebels out of their entertainments. An
burg, which has not healed, has become SO
troublesome that he has asked to be relieved.
Gen. BIRNEY is now in command of the Sec
Ond corps. HANCOCK was not in command
when his corps was repulsed. The above
seems to be the substance of all that is impor-
tant concerning the operations at Petersburg
1t is to some extent discouraging, particularly
as regards our great losses, because the cam
paign may be blocked for long time, but
there seems nothing sufficiently disastrous to
have caused such a panic at the East.
If we could only be assured that the worst is
known, much relief would be experienced.
But the news reporters are not allowed to send
word that is not approved by the military
censors, and therefore they always put the best
| face possible on everything that occurs
| STANToN's bulletins, also, have ceased to be
| regarded as reliable among the business men
| of the country. All, save the Administrator
toadies, regard him with such utter aversion
and contempt, that even his statements which
| purport to have been derived from Generals in
| the field, are discredited.
| We have sometimes been chided by good
friends for speaking with some GOODNESS about
| our military and financial prospects We have
endeavored to exercise a cool judgment, and
the sombre hue of the news this morning
shows that we only anticipated little the
course of events, which are now seen in the
light of experience. AS we have never been
unduly elated, we shall not now be depressed
in corresponding degree
| FRIDAY, June "a.
| Gold took downward shoot yesterday
| opening at 225 and closing at 218-being de-
cline of II cents since Wednesday. With our
present information it is difficult to assign a
sufficient cause for either the great advance or
the sudden fall. 1t is certain that our armies
have not met with disastrous defeat
There was no fighting at Petersburg on
Wednesday. There are movements in progress
which are not deemed proper for publication.
1t is to be hoped the rebels are as much in the
dark concerning them as we are.
SHERMAN is still north of Marietta. but
only few miles distant. The enemy is stub
bornly resisting his advance, and quite severe
| fighting had occurred at all points. Seven dis
tinct assaults were made on one of our brig
AIDES in one night, and all repulsed, with a loss
to the enemy of 700 or 800 men.
| The new gunboat Levander out only few
days from Philadelphia for Charleston, was run
on Lookout Shoals and entirely wrecked, with
a loss of nine men.
| "A rebel attack on Gen. ABERCRoMBIE at
the White House was repulsed. The rebels
| fired on our gunboats, thinking they were
| transports, and were compelled to retire with
| some loss.
Gen. GRANT has ordered the whisky "a
ton for his soldiers-which signifies that ma
| laria or poor water, or both are found near
Petersburg, as we'll as hard digging and severe
| fighting.
SUNDAY, June &C.
GRANTS new movement was to the south
of Petersburg, between Petersburg and Nor
folk and the Petersburg and Weldon railroad,
and for all practical purposes he commands
the latter, as well as the city. There are ru-
mors of fighting. President LINCOLN has
been with General GRANT and witnessed
the bombardment of the city. 1t would
seem that the direct attack on Richmond
had been given up for the present, and
the policy of isolating it by getting command
of all its communications had been adopted. If
this is the object of Gen. GRANT, his present
position is Just as favorable as if he occupied
Petersburg, or any point between that city and
Richmond. Besides he may be able to draw
the enemy from his entertainments and COM
pei him to accept q fair stand-up fight in the
open field, which is all our brave boys desire.
WEDNESDAY, June 20.
Our excuse this morning for light dis
patches is the rain of yesterday. We shall be
pleased to offer the same for a week to come.
There has been no fighting in GRANTS
army for several days. Operations for the re-
duction of Fort Darling are in progress.
The only news from SHERsIAN's army is of
an attempt by the rebel General Pillow to cap
ture the town Of lafayette, the capital of Wal
ker county, Georgia, about thirty miles south
of Chattanooga. PILLOW was repulsed with
loss. This affair shows that quite large rebel
force is in the rear of SHERMAN.
There has been an accident on the Erie
Railroad by which several persons were killed
and wounded.
The famous Col. WooLFoRD, of Kentucky.
lately dismissed from the army, has been ar
rested by Gen. BuRERIDGE.
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