Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-11
Letter from washington.
IrRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, September 3, 1861.


subsides-rumor gives out, for few days
paet of hourly announcement. Camp fol-
lowers make this their particular vocation,
and they are experts at the trade. Three
engagements were quite well set up yester-
day, by night-fall only to vanish into very
thin smoke. Then we had JEFF. Davis killed
by three different routes-of course that
must be so. This also was premature. The
Dies Wp-the day Of wrath-has not come
for him yet. Kentucky hemp, If not all
needed at home, has some claims upon the
arch. traitor.
AS affairs stand on the other side of the
river il would seem impossible there should
not be some passages at arms quite soon.
Three miles above Georgetown is the Chain
Bridge, a fine structure Of great cost. A pre-
cipitous range OF hills press close to the
banks of the Potomac on either side--leav-
ing room only for the Alexandria Canal and
roadway on the Maryland side, while oppo-
site, the bluffs sweep the waters edge. An
almost uninterrupted line of breastwOrks
command on this side the road and canal.
Crossing the bridge the pike is engineered
through or rather over the ridge, so precipi-
tous you might well imagine you were seal
ing the Alleghanies.
Commanding this road is fort armed to
the teeth, fairly bristling with guns of the
heaviest caliber, TO defy which would require
o higher order of courage than TO run the
gauntlet at Balaklava. Tuesday night our
pickets occupying the fine reach of country
beyond the hills, were driven in by consid-
erable force The wires sweep from the fort
over the bridge to every camp around Wash
ington, and at the first tick of the instru-
ment, the whole force was under arms, ready
to move to any designated point. Each
brigade answered SO promptly 10 the sum-
mons no better proof could be adduced of
the admirable efficiency of the entire COM
mand. A number of regiments passed over
of those nearest the bridge, but no further
move has been rendered necessary. General
Mcclellan is not to be deceived by any such
feints. If the rebels wish to cross the Poto-
mac, the way is open to them at Harper's
Ferry; why don't they improve it2 To be
sure there might be some difficulty in getting
back, but that can not oe part of their pro
gramme. Forward to Richmond" and
Forward to Baltimore" may answer for
slang terms, but the road to either will be
slippery with blood. A more convenient
road to the former may be found than by
way of Manassas. General Mcclellan il en-
tire master of his position. Every day adds
largely to his resources, every day dimin-
ishes those of the rebels. Why should he
hurry up engagements to suit their wishes,
when time is accomplishing for us all that
can be asked
Rumors have doubtless reached the West
of the serious Cabinet changes so much dis
cussed, shall | say so much needed? The
Bank Committees of Boston and New York
have been here, not to dictate or even ad wise,
but to satisfy themselves if the rumors were
true or not true. They had interviews with
the President and, as they were private,
| what occurred, even if known, is not proper
| topic for newspaper remark. They have re-
turned-the Secretaries are all in place
and Cameron, and Welles, and Bates are not
supposed to entertain any idea of retiring.
| The latter may have been great man in
| Missouri; he is no doubt a respectable law
! yer; he certainly is respectable gentleman.
| Welles is kind-hesrted, amiable old fellow;
would make good Insurance President in
| Hartford, the limit of capacity in that neigh
borhood; but was not intended for the era OF
! rifed cannon. Cameron is a Pennsylvania,
or, perhaps, more correctly speaking, Har'
| risburg politician. You remember the prayer
of the Chaplain, in his Introductory before
the LoaUer House in that Dutch metropolis
"Oh Lord if it be possible, keep the haud'
ofthis Legislature from the usual bribes that
have so long touched their pockets, rather
than their conscience" The Lord did no
evidently choose to interfere. There has beer
no decided improvement, if Mr.. Cameron Il
not sadly slandered. Canals, and railroads
and banks were his toys, and used with
slight-ot-hand that SigDor Bliss could no
| nope 10 rlV3l. w u6u HIS HALLS was hts
mentioned for Treasurer, general Outbursi
of indignation ran through the whole coun
try. His friends assert they had assurances
from the President that he-Mr. Cameron
was ''the happy man." A transfer from the
cashiership of a village Bank to the Treasury
Department of the country was an awtu
stride. A compromise was at last msde-thC
War Department, not being considered {
very large field for the strategic operation
lu cd hu
The result is that hundreds Of million
pass through his hands in the shape of wa
contracts. There are few who believe tina
he has not administered these trusts for pri
vate ends. When pushed to the wall b.
the current rumors, he declares that it is tn
disappointed operators who belle him. Tha
may be so in some measure; these rogue
are rare experts, and have nice seen
where others have overreached them. What
ever may be the result, the preface has force
him to be more cautious in his operations
more civil in his intercourse, less of tn
bully and the braggart.
A report is current here that petition
in circulation West for Mr.. Cameron's re
moyal. The President is too amiable to
it. He wants peace in his Cabinet, as thong
there could be any peace where rival candi
dates were looking forward for highe
honors.
|
| would grace any Cabinet-men Of mark an
of means, who would administer the offic
l for the good of the country rather than {
t party. We are engaged in war that mus
! task our largest powers. Party question
are ignored, and these petty sSuabble
3 kicked out by common consent. Third {
fourth.rate men may do in party times; {
, | the present juncture the President must n
j gard the whole North, and seek the best az
: vice of the best men.
To return to the opening paragraph; Wi
9 the rebels attack us2 AS observed, it seen
n impossible the attempt should be made Q
o the opposite shore. No one conversant wit
e our defenses talks about it. Yet McClella
!, may Judge it necessary to drive back the
d advance, and thus bring on more gener
Il engagement. Such is not his intention
}. however, as well understood here; The fa'
J. is be is advised so minutely OF their torc'
] and movements, Beauregard might say
0 himself a great deal of trouble in maxim
: these silly feints, which serve only to anu
n the loungers on Pennsylvania-ayenus;
l. HAMILTON.
3. ONE very cold night, a jolly old fello'
,, who had partaken rather freely of Flip at