The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-15
FROM TEsE WESTERN GgI.E.
--latest Intelligence from, the Fleet...
Los. o. a Rebel Ram

NEw ORLEANS, March 30, via Cairo.
April 6.-The following CRAFTY in and i'm
portant intelligence is from corresron-
cent with the Western Gulf blockading
squadron, under date OF March Goth:
On March 10th the kennebec steamed to
Dauphin Island to communicate with the yes-
sells i'll the Sound. Several rebel gunboats. the
tennessee among them, were seen lying near
Grants Pass. The day was sGuallv and at
about o'clock in the afternoon the lookout on
board the kennebec sang out. The Tennessee
is sinking" All then on deck immediately
looked toward the place where the Tennessee
was lying, and sure enough they saw her 90
down. Al the same time signals were seen on
board the Octorora, lying in the Sound. Said
signals. being Interpreted, read. The rebel ram
Tennessee is sunk"
ltappcars that a squall struck her, and she
being very low in the water, keeled over and
went down. Two feet of her smokc-staek can
40" he seen above the water, at the spot W here
the great ram orce lay at anchor The Ten.
nessce ran down from Mobile when we first
began ombarding Fort Powell, and rebel de-
serteis said she was expected 10 sink our whole
fleet. She was an extremely powerful vessel,
her on-piates being six inches in thickness
was very short in hull, but had u long project
ing spear or ram. which was entirely under
water Her extreme weight made her slow and
haid 10 handle, helng too much for her engine
and she would not therefore have proved a
very formidable opponent for our fleet cruisers.
Her armament is the greatest loss to the enc
my Il consists of six 100-pcunder rihed Par
rott giins-three in front and three astern
There "crc three or four smaller pieces also on
board.
a RELIGIOUS NEwspApER.-Every can
did person who has read the Mdependent.
for the month past will acknowledge the
justice OF the following structures from
the bound Table of last week:
In itsis-ue of March II, the Iadeoeadent
published a note from subscriber. inouir-
ing as to what constitutes a reli0tOus
paper. In the face of thirty-two faring
columns OF advertisements, sixteen columns
or articles and items on everything from
politics to sewing machines, with only
here and there an intimation of any re-
hsious professions, the conductors of that
journal were conscience hardened enough
to answer the inquiry by referring to
the Independent as an example. A re-
hgious paper, and whole columns of filthy
advertisements. A religious paper, and
Overlooking with puffs and politics, war
news and business Surely it is new
type of Christianity which admits such
calendar within the pale of religion A
religious paper? Anything remarkably
profitable in rearing eulogy of a sewing
machine by the wife of the editor, almost
side by side with the Cherokee Remedy
Does it suggest the highest happiness to
mankind to read of Constitution Water
and clergyman puff of Bronchial Troches
with the same glance? Is an element of
religion to aid in curing vile diseases?
Is it pulpit power to be able to write
handsome notices of sewing machines and
medicines? Is it absolutely necessary to
mans highest development that he
should interlard his Sabbath reading with
everything secular? Is it right, is it math-
ematieal, to call paper made up so large
ly OF irreligion, q religious journal? These
questions are asked with propriety BY all
who are interested in the Christian welfare
OF their fellow-men, and they are answered
by every mans good sense.