The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-24
A sunday i'm washington.

TOO mouesCIy summing the uAy.
A Sunday i'm Washington.
- MORNING.
Bang the fight has begun. Beauregard
has marched upon our lines, and the ten-inch
c9lumbiades on the fortifcations of the seth
ere giving him their welcome /! was out of
bed on my feet in an instant, and found that
itwas the morning gun from the howitzer of
the 18th New Yorkers, on the square north
of Wizards, and that had dreamed the
rest Then came the roll ofthe reyeille from
Che magnificent drum corps, answered from
the three regiments at Kalorama, toward
Georsetown-fro the, Rhode Islanders, on
Meridian Hill-from the Pennsylvanians, east
oftEe Capital, and from the hosts on the
heights Of Arlington, all greeting the sunrise
with Their drum beat till the air was filled
with the wavy roll. Then there is the morn
ing mastering the hasty turning out from
tents and filing up rank and file-not with
glow, sluggish, sleepy motion, as if the last
half of the morning nap was still hanging to
drawsy eyelids, but there is quickness fstep
and energy of action, showing that the men
have will as we'll as muscle.
The Sunday Morning Chronicle is out,
and the boysare crying it through the streets
invariably letting their voices fall minor
third on the last syllable, giving a melan-
choly tone as il they were selling sad news,
Lewis, the ebony little fellow with two rows
ofpearl shining from ear to ear who is very
polite aud attentive, and who says 'good
morning to your correspondent with a
grand military salute, and with the genuine
African scrape Of the left foot in addition,
stands beside the lamp-post on the corner
of the street and repeats the cry Of TIE fellow
Opposite with the pertinacity Of a tormcntins
mocking bird, chuckling to himself as he
sees by the rising wrath Of the Chronicle boy
that his shots are having their effect
5 8 For several days it has been whispered
that Beauregard is pushing his forces towards
Washington, and that Government is on the
alert. Something is going on, for here comes
the Highlanders with their band and drum
corps past the Treasury and down the ave-
nue.. It is magnificent sight. The star
spangled flag and the deep blue banner of the
State of New York wave side by side above
them in the morning breeze. Their step is
firm and heavy their marching precise. -
They are on their way to the Arsenal to ex-
change their arms, for they, as well as other
regiments, are under orders to march at a
moments warning. Troops swarm from
buildings along the avenue. Itisyet early
the sun has not yet beenlong up, and till the
soul stirring music of the band crushes upon
the morning air, sentinels only would have
been seen pacing in front of those buildings,
now swarming with soldiers, hastily risen to
see what is going on. Nna 81 81
FORENOON.
I, is Q O'Clock, and children in pink and
white, with testaments and song books are
moving through the streets. The church
bells are calling them, and not only them but
the soldiers. Following group of children
we find a party Of soldiers, waiting beneath
the shade Of the trees at the doorway Of the
Methodist Church for the commencement ol
service. Further on, at Rev. DR.. Gurley's
among the children arc men in uniform
Passing tho camp of the New York 18th, We
see in the shades Of the poplars a hundred
soldiers stretched at full length upon the
ground Some are sleeping, some reading
One has Harper's Weekly another the At
lantic Monthly another large bound book
with covers another Testament. A ser
gcant, with q file Of fifty men or more, cross
es the campus. They have left their arm.
behind, and with regular step, with no drum
beat to disturb the repose which has sue
.cecded the morning parade they pass dowr
the street, halt moment at the step Of
church till the sexton appears, then cnte
its sacred portals.
Amounted rifleman, with his rifle lashe,
upon his shoulder, gallops past at a furiou
rate, leaving cloud Of dust behind. He i
on some duty. Far up the street there is
long train of white tented wagons drawn b.
mules, laundering heavily over tho pave
ments. 7 t'sssss 81 g RRsssHa p
From the vestry Of a church hear a cho
rus ofjuycnile voices singing sweet invita-
ton, - ~ y rssa-s4s s'Fs 8. 80 ae
e sscome to the Sabbath school, SO ag ~
Come while you may,
Its 50 sweet and tender that cannot re
fuse to go in. After tho song there is
prayer, and then the hum of hundreds q