The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-10
A Peep into the War Office at
Washington. ~

A correspondent of the World give
the following graphic description 0
movements in the yarions bureaus of th,
War Department at Washington. .Afte
speaking of the quiet and gloom whicl
usually pervade the War Office in time Q
peace, while all is hustle and activity il
the civil departments of the Government
he says: s.s.:....,- -.
When battle IS upon us, however, the
War Office eclipses its rivals, and be
comes the center, of affairs, and, never Sc
much as now, since never before has i
ruled a acampaign so wide. yet so close a
hand, demanding such resources ,and
growth Of the army, and SO transforming
Us from q common place to a military
people. The change which in an instant
came over the lethargic, old Office, when
the first shrill blast OF. rebellion rang
through the land, was. as, great a tha,
which awoke "The Sleeping Palece,''
when the "fated fairy prince wound the
mystic bugIe and broke the charm Of
Merlin's hundred years. n .,os.rf 81,
- b ~ e9s55 ssiFs AeSkiSS5a. 11DG(3 G95
se"The. charm was spapt. .8eb 4st
There rose, noise of, striking clocks,
And feet that ran, and doors that crapt,
And barking dogs, and Growing cocks; =
- A fuller light illumined alISsG ST II
4 breeze through all the garden swept,g7'I
-; A sudden hubbnb shook, the hall, cs,5,
And sixty feet the fountain leapt !"
siiss5653Fon al 10 eoifulos4s t1e'1D4
Nor is the change confined to the build
ing known, par e,nfaeice, sasithe War Of
flee. Opposite toits western end, across
the street, are three houses, formerly pr-
sate@ mansions, now devoted to depart
ment business, and at the present time
-bnstiing with activity f Ne ldrgest, called
-"Windser'sa Building" sis geechpied BY
Colonel Ripley, Chief Of the Bnresu Of
Ordnance; Colonel b. F9iLarEed,o Pay
master General; Major Finley Surgeon
GeneraI General Totteh, Chief sef the
Engineering Bureau; Colonel albert,
Chief Of the Typographical Depart ment,
with their multitadinens assistants ard
clerks. The edifiee is comb of militia
ry honey. From it exude all sorts of orr
ders for shot, shell, guns, Paixhans, Dahl
grens aod Petards, pay. plans, roads and
hospital supplies. Next door are the
head quarters of General Mansfield, Chief
of the Department. of Washington. Bus.
mess commences here long before the RED
tapists get to work Of mornings in the
War Office itself; in fact, it t'never ceases
by day or night. eiai g i'saEeaGo9 e.
The sun is not long up. before Mans
field, who stands so high in the conf,
dence of the army, is at his desk, court
eously bowing white hairs to those who
come for passes and protection, and re
ceiving reports from. aud giving orders
to, hundreds of spruce young officers wht
| ride Gathering up to the door. A dozen
of their herses are. always Standing il
front of these quarters, gay with trapping
and fresh from the outposss of those pur
pie Virginia hills across the Potorndc
Not SO many crowd to the building still
further along, its entry is sacred, not t.
be troddeu by every epapletted youth
since it leads to tho Head Quarters 0
the Army of the United States" and tn
rooms. of Lieutenant General Scott him
self. People have already heard Of tn
late and early labors of the veteran
I Cabinet officers defer to his knowledg
and fame. The President, himself ca
receive no more respect. Sometimes th
old lionarises to his feet. and walks slow
! ly from his lair to consult with the Secre
Itary Of War in the latier's own apart
ments; but more often the minister com
plnenis the years and greatness of. th
soldier by paying the visit hinself an
matters, of grave and thoughtful impor
follow the greetings of each day. a-Al
But it.,is nine O'Clock in the morning
aHd we will leave the Commander. in-chie
Icross the street, and enter by well wor
steps, the, west corridor of the War Office
lon the right and left are the rooms {
the Quartermaster General, Cols Meig'
and his suhordipates. The eastern ha
lof the same floor is occupied by the bu
resus of, Colonel George Gibson: an
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph p. Taylo
/ |(brother ofw"Rough and Ready,o) th
Commissary General of Subsistence, an
his assistants. 1t is from this floor, cor
sequently, that all orders relating to equiv
ments, transportation and, food emanat
: for the entire army. But two other kiuG
of business are transacted on this storl
The first is brisk sale of cookies an
apples by the old black woman who hf
for so many years kept her table at II
foot of the central staircase. The secon
is of more novel nature. Within
closed apartment, near the center Of tt
, building, three men pass many hours da
ly.in silently unfolding and perusing lonI
marrow. mysterious rolls of paper, The
are the Commissioners appointSd for tt
/ secret examin Ation of the years. TELEGRAPH
) ic records lately seized by Goyernmen
These individuals grayely and impertarl