The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-24

|
rises and says, that although in body he is
present with them, yet in spirit he is with
his own Sabbath School in New York. He
has story to tell Ola little girl who loved
Jesus, who lived happy and died in peace
Asa duty to his country and his God he is
ready to bay down his life if need be, on the
battle field. The children would have won.
dered at the sight Of an officer in uniform in
the Sunday School, two months ago, but
pow they think nothing Of the dress, and see
only the man. a ss
The Sabbath Schools over, and the SER
vice in church begun. In every congrega-
ton in the city there are reverent soldiers
bowling IN prayer, joining in the songs Of
praise, and listening attentively to the in
structions Of the pulpit. Protestant and
Catholic soldiers alike, Of the army of the
Union, according to their own belief. and
in their own way, bow down and worship.
NOON.
The day is hot and sultry. Not breath
of air stirs the leaves Of the trees. The sun
pours its rays upon the pavemen.s till they
are up to blister heat. The rumble of the
baggage wagons still goes on, mingled now
with the whistle of the locomotive. Two
more regiments have come-tbe New Hamp-
shire Second and the New York Westchestcr
boys. The sons of the Granite State have
had hard journey in the heat, notwithstan-
ding you treated them so handsomely and
cordially at the Music Hail. They came by
Lebanon, Pa, in freight cars part of the
way. They have had little sleep and are
dusty and weary. But there is no fiinch,ng
halting or lagging-no whiting beneath the
terrific heat, as they march up F street and
the avenue to the National Hotel They are
stout, brawny fellows, and the crowd give
them an enthusiastic cheer. They halt be-
meath the shade Of the buildings, and brings
their guns down Upon the pave with precis-
ion, which speaks well of their discipline.
Friends shake them by the hands, boys
bring along water in tin pals, and after a
few moments rest, they march into quarters
whicc have just been vacated by the New
York Goth. They marched IN file without
display, as unwilling to disturb the sacred
mes of the day. And yet no no regiment has
entered Washington more complete than this
Their kind-hearted chaplain is with them,
Rev. Mr. Parker, who will have tender
care for their welfare. temporal as well as
spiritual.
The Commissary has had forethought, and
substantial rations of bread and meat are pre-
pared for the hungry men,. Some Of the Com
missaries of Massachusetts, can copy the cx-
ample.
The sun has gone down, and gentle
breeze in blowing up the Potomac, grateful
to the heated inhabitants of this crowded
| city. Under my window there is squad
drill Lewis {the Ebony) is commander of
the force, composed Of one Caucasian, and
two Africans, armed with broomstics and
green sun flower stalks The commander
goes through the manual with moro precision
| than some soldiers nov in camp "ArmS nj
WILL" shoulder" ''order,n. charge =
"double quick" are given and executed
with promptness. One of the junior Afri
cans, woolly headed fellow, six years old
who can stand the hot sun Ill day barehcad
ed, has not learned all the movements, but
he sees how the others do it and is making
good progress.
There is a roll of drums, the regular beat
and /, band joins in. A dark mass of mer
arc moving up the avenue-the New Yorh
Second, followed by q tremendous baggag'
train of nearly hundred wagons. They
halt moment at Wizards then turn to
ward the long bridge, to take their plac,
among the hosts at Arlington. Mingled
with the roll of the drums are the churcl
bells, calling to evening worship.
| The full moon is up, filling the broad av
enus of the city with light. From the quar-
ters of the regular cavaly, toward George
town, comes a bugle call, and at nine O'Clock
the drum roll, which brings all hands int
camp. Again, as in the morning, from
every point of the compass, near and ia,
away, from Maryland and Virginia, is tn,
wavy drum beat.
Passing again by the New York Twelfth
see soldiers spreading their mattresses up
on the ground, to take their nights rest il
the open air, with the heavens for thei,
tent. The sentinels are pacing slowly alon,
the beaten paths. One soldier sits alone
beneath tree, looking up into heav en-
watching the moon and stars, and the ligh
feecy clouds, anil thinking, perhaps, a
home. From the othersside of the camp
come the shrill whistle of yankee Doodle
while from the center, near the flagstaff
where the stars and stripes are quietly wa
wing in the breeze. a choir is singing, i
sweet and solemn strains, religious hymn
Jerusalem, my happy home.
Name ever dear to me. ~" = fa
The time has come for putting on. tn
lights, and silence reigns save throughout tn
city is the laundering Of the baggage train
and of horsemen riding to and fro.
Throughout the day have heard but on
profane word and that was spoken by a q
william. have not seen drunken soldier
A friend, long resident here, says that no
withstanding the great multitude Of soldier