The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-13
Interesting Letter from Our Chat.
t2nooga Correspondent.


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 26, 1864.
To de Editor Of the Pioneer: ID 49,, ..
For the last three weeks Chattanooga
has been in state of quasi siege. Hall
rations and no communication with the
North is the consequence. Every avail.
able man was hurriedly sent forward to
Gen. Thomas at Nashville. The fate Of
Chattanooga depended on the result at
Nashville, and the defeat CT Hood was the
only possible result in the mind of every
soldier in this army. A spirit of invinci-
bility animates every man. The colored
soldier, just released from slavery and daz-
zled by the new world opened to his gaze,
partakes of this spirit in as great degree
as the white soldier. One Of the best
drilled regiments in the Department of the
Cumberland is the Fourteenth United
States colored. They are semi-civilized
crowd, fierce and untamable in their new
state. Why the rebellion is not crushed
by this invincible army is a mystery.
Most certainly this part of the Confeder-
acy is shell.
1t can no more be compared to the
North in energy, intelligence and spirit of
progress than Russian America to France
Another army could he organized here,
and the North be yet safe from invasion,
that would march in triumph into the city
of Mobile. The opportune moment for
the crushing of the Confederacy has ar
rived. The removal of johnson from COM
mand of the Southern army before At
lanta, and the abandonment of the Fabian
policy, has placed the whole South at the
mercy of Sherman and Thomas. Hood is
the Joe Hooker of the South. Quick,
rash, and regardless of life, he can lead q
charge and obey . command, but be can
not devise. No better man in the South
ern Confederacy could have been selected
to promote our cause than the same Hood.
The 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery are
here, prepared for the rebels and ready to
strike blow in defense of the Union and
for the honor Of L'etoile du nord. The
three companies have charge Of six forts.
Capt Sterry, 90. A, has command of two.
Capt Leyde has command of Fort Lytle.
Lieutenant L. j. Allied, 90. B, is COM
mander Of Fort Orutchfeld, an important
and advanced post, while Capt. Porter,
Go. 0, has command of two more; all
important points, and the battalion would
have an important and responsible part
in the drama if the rebels attacked the
place. -, - ..~..... .-..4
By some happy chance we received our
first mail since the siege of Nashville just
exactly on Christmas day. It was relished
much better than chicken and turkey.
Our half rations of leather beef, bread
and coffee We're eaten with cheerful faces
and joyous happy hearts. The PIONEER
was eagerly sought tor; the news COM
municated from one to one and soldering
unanimously declared good thing.
There is q species of warfare waged
down here which is called guerilla war.
The people of Minnesota may imagine they
know what it is but they have not the re-
hottest idea of its cruelty and fendish bar
barity. The Indians are savage and bar
barous,-the guerillas more 90. In the
recent outbreak the former rose against
different race whom they have hated for
centuries. The guerillas are actuated by
other motives than murder and the op.
portunity it affords for violating defence
less women and committing theft and rob.
berry. ..f.--: ...... -....-.
Gen. Thomas Francis Ieagher is COM
handing the District of the Etowah, head
quarters at Chattanooga. Mr.. L E.
CLARK, St. Psulite, is Sutler to the Bat
tallion. Neither %. D nor Major Baxter
have yet arrived here. E.