New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-09
The WAR FOR THE UNION.
rv0m WASHINGTON.
n Hons Day and stroll Through
fs-ia~de Encnnspment-As soldiers E's'!-

WASHINGTON,
canp-hfe is, apprehsnd, pretty much the same ,'
me world over-the routine OF driI, sleePhS 49,
.a,;oc 5rl. euard-momtng, drill, smoking and read
sas, dril, card-paying and frockng, dfil' UNI
s;u and then drill, without doubt obtains after p'e''y
,..aoi ,b son,a fashion in all mederA military camps
go the upintsted, who must Of necessIty get nus ,i
,assors secondhand ehs sort of life lie representa- -
a purea,ory OF a Paradise according to the 'ehpe"
tho buu,an medium through whom its phases are ''""'
r;l.ed 10 him. iuft as the same ciiole-iSh' So
xl,ovO or bIue or green according to the Color u WV
snmediaely surrounding glass; -. ,ro,o,v
To the roqn in whose the home affections are SiVe'
Asyeloped and who ehsnces to have p'e"'"I
If his own, c,np-life, save in times "hen TIC
sDeedy battle gives it certain exeI'iis on.' ~
esrreasiby dreary, monotonous anu oi'liri'ne' iH'
-. sooneoraee however, too often finds 1t a pleas
an eed in which to SOW wild oats, snd labors zest'
4pv in IL accordingly. Aud to most sem-Vagahonds,
rbo,a highest earthly ambition Is attained when they
hsye achieved their three square meals day, the
eann il bissfal asylum from cruel world, which 100
oea insists that this diurnsl ssstronomic comfort to
Che inner ind sdual shall only be accorded as the re-
vsard Of much hard, unweleome work.
And 50 camp seems either bissul haven or a bar
ssn shore according the craft that there hnds tenn
porsry anchorage had been stormossed and shattered
with fay bring gales Perhaps description Of days
ssren through portion Of our lines, now stretching
f.ou Fort Ellsworth at Alexandris along for miles
Arli,gt<n Heights and other commanding erGiences,
and slight sketch Of the Casually Observed may
vreye interesting in view Of the fact chat
family in the Northern land could not ud dear friend
IN some one OF these many camps which may he
eopnted by scores.
Everywhere are septries on gusfd-at the wharf, at
che Government stores, at the snard-housee, ut she
Provost Marshals Office at the limits Of the lines OF
each camp, at the Quartermas ers tent, before TIE
lolonels quarter's-everyWhere are shining musSels
and cleaning bay ones And tiisis no play parade
OF guard-moun;iDgto Dc de6edwiih impuniiy. Answer
promptly the sharp cbal enge of the sentry bait when
he mentions that movement to be las desire' ana
instantly produce your pass from the proper a'Ao-
ties. or woe be unto you. In the hospital yonder ho
several men, who, under the reckless inspiration OF
yum. or trusting 10 the ties Of compGnonshp, have
,stsmrted to run the guard" and have been on the
sstant shot remorselessy dow by their
20 no games with the guards, If you Please
Leaving the " af al Alexandra, as we 60 up kiog
street toward the camps, pass the now s'oilc''i
"Narshsl House" wherein Ellsworth was murdered,
and his murderer speedily sent TO bis long account
This house has been taken possession OF blythe soldiers
who nae il for common barracks The banpistcrs Of
de stairs where Ellsworth fell TIE stairs themselves,
e foors The doors the door-casiDgs, and large por-
tons Of the walls have beon eut away in little bits By
Che thousands who have visited the scene Of this
tragedy, and who have, one ard all desired some
slieht memento Of the place. TIE entire upper story
of the house is dsnantled and ruined and tie soldiers
have fon aud uuquestioned possession VI the lower
mart Of the building, which Is stn hsbitabe.
arm no; given to making rash prophecies, but do
- ,l;nG 4 ventura tnuch IN saving That when the
soldiers have no more for the Harshah House they
will rot leave of it one stono res,ug upon another.
Indeed if we may put faith in the words Of some Of
the more hot-bTaiued who wear uniform, there
shsl in this generation stnrd any human dwell
ms on tie accused spot for there DO those whose
promises to make special pilgrimage 70 destroy any
building that may be thereon erected, and to beQueah
sais feeling solemn legacy to their children, 10
sst soand like nero sentences Of empty w.alh, but
Ike the quiet expression Of fixed and nel[weighed
determination.
From a tall flagstaff the center Of the camp
waves the American Aag In their double tents the
officers attred in citizens dress in Dose military
undrsss are maxi " ont their regueItal returns or
other documents, smoking eigays and oonversing
about regmentll matters scont duty, how far is safe
20 throw out pickets, clnvassng the probabi-
ties of an attack Washington aud tho prospect of
speedy advance on the enemy, discussing the
rrestge and qualifications Of the new young command
or Mcclellan and giving free expression of their
thorough confidence in him, sre engaged on any Of
the hundred topics likely st sueh time 10 occupy
tie attention Of a careful officer.
Some one of ,ben perhaps Of Tadious turn Of
mind 10 grayey interested in o book military tao
tics or if it be mail-tme the noky engaged
over their letters deep in the ls,eS; newspapers that
have come to band. Some are sleepng, recovering
from the late scouting OF last night trying to Lay in,
IN advance, stock Of sleep ths; may be drawn Ia
suisre
We may, perhspe mect man in q broad straw hat,
md without lis taletelling sbonl1cr-strsps riding
owly through the camp looking irtenty a. the men,
and noting every item Of their accommodations, and
overbearmg without seeming TO listen, every word Of
their much little gruHbipg. Unless he happens 10
be personally known, few take notice of him. and the
utmost Of recognition he receives IL from the vide
awake sentry, who demands lie authority for passing
through the lines. Yet il this man were IL appear in
al the gaudy parnphernsls with which tho srteles of
enttle him to bedeck himself the muske Of every
ssstry would be at the "present," and the hand Of
every and officer would visit ks cap with rcspec
sn military salue-lor this unostentatous man il An
officer Of nigh rank, quiet tour Of Observance. lie
may be Brgsdisr- GeosTal or even a Maor-6enora,.
il Ia not impossible thst is the universally
ras,ed Mcclellan himself.
For this young Commander, never fond OF show,
bat ever, state occasons, wearing the blue
blouse Of the stuges Rifles hs body guard in prefer
once 10 the more snowy haLilimepts which the rega-