Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-05-31
Notes of Travel,-NO. 3.
NEW YORK AND BALTIMORE.


camps at the places have visited, to be con-
WINGED that preparations for war are being
pushed with prodigious energy. Those who
are disposed to criticise the slow action Of the
Cabinet, do not calculate the variety and num-
Der of the embarnssments that must be over
come, to place large army, mostly of raw and
undisciplined troops upon war footing. l
have seen plenty of cold steel and plenty of
fine looking war-mdteridl that is full of tough
and vigorous snew, and brave enough for any
trial in the dark hours that may come. Large
bodies of troops are only servicable under sci
entific discipline The hasty policy of putting
raw volunteers into active service, is the worst
policy.
During the week spent in New York a
prompt movement of the rebels upon Wash
ington would not have astonished any one;
with many it was hourly expected. The war
excitement seemed to absorb every other topic.
In the several rendezvous war preparations
were going forward with great activity. In
the City Hall Park, at the Battery, Madison
and Union Squares, and other places in the city,
many hundreds of persons were seen from
morning till night, looking at the soldiers who
are constantly under discipline preparatory for
removal to other points, While standing in
front of the City Hall, saw a company Of
Zouaves from Massachusetts, who had arrived
the day before, march in a rapid run and in
perfect order, several times across the park.
With their red Turkish caps, hair closely
cropped, faces smoothly shaven, red shirts
open at the breast, loose blue breeches tucked
at the bottom into brown leather leggings
reaching half way to the knee, these Zouaves
did not look much like "cowardly blue-bellied
yankees" with voices thinned down to a pro-
vincial twang. Quite the reverse. With their
MIME rifle, sword bayonet, sheath knife and
Colts revolver, they seemed just the men to
fight the miserable traitors who have tired out
the patience of every loyal and patriotic man
in the nation. I have no doubt that some of
those young men have bibles in their KNAPP
sacks presented in tears by mothers, sisters,
or sweethearts. They will not forget that they
told them that their courage wouldbe strength
ened in the hour of danger, and their patriot
ism be chastened by prayer at the altar of their
God.
On serene and beautiful Sabbath saw the
bayonets and bright guns of two regiments
glitter in the sunshine heard the word of
command and the spirited martial music,
while the Stars and stripes were floating from
every spire, window and house-top, and thought
of the dark shadows of mourning that such
things portend that the bristling points of
those bayonets would perhaps strew the earth
with heaps of slain. Strange as it may seem,
felt for the time as though | would like to
fight, that would like to enjoy the excitement
Of battle. believe that there is glad pleas
ure in the battlef field and the breach, in the
dizzy excitement and fierce collision of charg
ing squadrons. If it is not so, why are the
heroes of the Crimea, the men who have fought
upon the plains of India, the German, Polish,
Irish and Scotch soldiers who have seen SER
vice in the old world, the men who have trod
den the bloody fields of Buena Vista and Re
SAGA de Ia Palma and charged up to the cannon's
mouth at Cherubusco and Cheputapec, so
ready to enlist again Leaving out of view all
the principles that underlie the war prepare
tons that are going ON, am persuaded that
men like to fight if it is necessary. Wherever
l go, men are leaving their business, their
homes and all they hold dear, to form in the
ranks of war old men and children shout their
huzZas mothers bless and pray for them, sis
ters with white lips kiss a good bye; noble
women organize in societies to minister love
and mercy, to make bandages to bind up their
wounds, OR shirts, and nice provisions to send
to them ministers of God stand in their places,
and urge them to fight in the strength of the
Lord.
There was no interruption to the passage of
trains to Baltimore when | left New York,
order and quiet having been restored by the
troops under command of Gen Butler. The
travel to Washington had been for several
days previous by way of Annapolis. Conf
dence was not yet fully restored, most of the
passengers still taking the Annapolis boat
The day was in Baltimore no flag of any kind
was seen in the city. On Federal Hill where
Gen Buffers division was encamped, the Fed
eral ensign was waving solitary and alone
I The city was quiet. No doubt there was much
feeling there upon the critical events that have
agitated the country, some of which have
made that city unenvably historical, but there
were no military to be seen in the Streets
There evidently seemed to be an element that
nobody wished to disturb by any active de-
monstrations either for or against the Union.
The disunion feeling is confined mostly to the
who lead them, who alike condemn every as
piration of freedom, every expression of loyal
ty, and all reverence for law. Baltimore treason
and plug-uglyism are synonymous terms.
saw where the rails (now relaid) had been
torn from the track, and where the mob at
tackled the Massachusetts, regiment. When
: the train arrived that was to takeme to Wash
ington, the engine decorated with the Stars
and Stripes stood few minutes putting its
smoky breath and screaming as if impatient
to be off; Istepped in car behind the mighty
automaton, then with freedoms loyal ensign
waving in the van, we moved toward the
capital. Yours truly, G.
Fee BILL.-The following is the substance
Of the Fee Bill which passed on Friday last:
l The bill revives and declares in full force
chapter 1852 of the laws of Iowa, authorizes
and requires the Clerk of the District Court
to receive certain fees in addition to those
he is already entitled to, and fixes the COM
pensation of the Justices of the Peace at one
dollar per day for each day of service, which