Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-10-25
Correspondence Of the Waterman.
FROM WASHINGTON.

Mr.. EDITOR The week opened plcasan
as to weather. after a slight Fl ost on the nigh
Of the 18th, and from the position occupied
by portion of the Confederate army, 10 was
currently whispered through the city that a
battle OF some magnitude would most likely
soon be fought but up to the present time
both armies have remained apparently a.
quiet as before. The general impression that
everything was ready for a blow, united with
the fine moonlight nights we are now having,
doubtless strengthened this conjecture, Tor
they are fully equal tn the Dist July for such
aids but we still remain in the same doubt
as to what either army oontempates doing,
or the time when they will be fully ready
This much, however, is apparent, that pres
ent appearance" have considerably increas-
ed the excitement in our midst and the day
is evidently drawing near when the important
question is to be solved whether our good old
CnioR shall remain unbroken, and our ma
uonal prosperity continued or be severed
IN twain, and modification and ruin follow
The northern mind has not been long in de-
Gliding what shall be done, as shown by the
powerful army so quickly sent to the field,
nor can there remain much doubt but that
the judgment will be a victorious and glorious
one. Not that single battle will be sulIici
ent, though decided Union victory would
90 far towards it, but one, or many. the great
" resolve" has been made, and will continue
to be enforced till harmony is restored.
War, as | look upon it, is not so great a
calamity as many suppose 1t is rather an
outward manifestation Of the thoughts and
struggles of the mind for lofty principles and
noble ends, and should be measured by the
good it accomplishes. True its voice is al
ways terrible; but when nothing else can
command hearing, this can. Nearly every
nation has at times been obliged to resort to
1t Tor redress of wrongs, and particularly is
1t Justitiable on the part of our own govern
ment. A nations well being and happiness is
IN jeopardy. II ever there was an instance
when it should be waged. this certainly is
one. Think what lives and treasure it has
cost to rear our government What wisdom
and patience to perfect What watching and
care to endear it And are these, with the
great fabric itself, 70 be surTendel ed without
struggle Our young mon, nor old men,
nor our women will never permit it And,
as you have often intimated through your CO.
lumns, there never has been time when the
Southern leaders meant to be just in the mat
ter. 1t has been from the beginning we
will rule ; slavery shall be extended or we
will break up the Union - and when they
failed in ruling they opened their bate
ries to destroy whatever could be reached -
On them, therefore, must rest the fearful re-
sponsibility.
Some writers, | observe, seem to think
that the force at the Capital is much larger
than is necessary for its safety, and this may
apparently be true, although it is here that
much is done in the way of fitting out the
army but the Capital is an important point,
aud should be preserved at all hazards. Itis
the reflection Of a nations existence and if
It be lost, the country is implicitly lost.
Nothing could please the Confederates more
than to possess it, for with it, besides its
great value in public buildings, would also
come the State of Maryland, and thus the
authority would be established over all the
Slave States, which, together, is evidently
their highest ambition. But that hope has
long since gone by ; anu instead of their hav-
ing Maryland, the Union must have Virginia
every bit of it; for the Potomac is of too
great Importance to the Capital to be lost, or
any way obstructed or annoyed by rebel bat
teries on it's banks at every narrow place
The Ohio railroad and canal are, also, of con-
sequence on the west, and must not be mo-
Tested by the foe so that all of Virginia
must be brought in, and, as we trust, the day
is not far distant.
We have one late item relating to the army
which the good people of our city we're priv
ileged to enjoy almost exclusively; that of
witnessing "grand review" by Gen. Nc
Clellan of the cavalry and flying artillery on
the level plat about mile east of the Capt.
tol. Nearly eight thousand were paraded,
extending from near the Congressional ceme-
terry north to the woods. They passed, thir-
ty-two horses deep, with singular trueness
aud order. To see eight thousand fine men
finely equipped and eight thousand fine
horses and fine batteries to correspond. and
then fine audience for them to look at, is
what we thought. after it was over, " fine
affair one at least rarely enjoyed by any
communicated we could but exclaim, as we
took general glance, "what beauty and
majesty in an army! -
Oct. 10Th.
Nothing new through to-day's papers, nor,
that hear of, pertaining to the army, except
that the rebels seem more bent on blockading
the Potomac by planting batteries at its mar
row places along down towards the Bay. /
Bat they will be pitched into " if this be |
So &.