Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-07-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Journal. ]

,f and baby, to come to Washington till afte
the first of next October One hundred ant
= two in the shaded There certainly is thir
It good book tells about, if its flames be actua
IL and not merely metaphorical. At all events
good friends, stay away from here for the
n present. Leave not the prairie winds of 10
IL wa for the hot air of this lower region which
t roasts you to death for dinner, and bos you
to death by bed time, after which till morning
i. come the torments of flames, mosquitoes and
: flies. This is no small matter. 1t was ITO
a degrees Fahrenheit in the shade at Alexandria,
day before yesterday. And there upon the
Heights lay and painted the gallant Fire Zou-
aves, the Michigan first, the Massachusetts
fifth, two or three Connecticut regiments, the
Pennsylvania Fourth, the New Jersey first,
second and third not ten men Of all whom
had ever felt natural heat above "a degrees in
the shade. 1t is astonishing how healthy the
troops continue under the circumstances,
though it must be admitted that the encamp-
ments of all the $4,000 soldiers now opposite
here are admirably situated, both as regards
healthfulness and beauty of scenery.
took a ride over to Alexandria yesterday
morning early. 1t is as miserable looking
place as one need ever expect to see in this
world. Half the houses are deserted, the
streets have not been repaired for twenty
years l should judge, and your carriage goes
numbering over them after the style of travel
on the corduroy roads in Posey county, Indi-
ana United States troops and negroes are
all that give animation to the city. But for
them it would be desolate as the grave yard of
hundred years ago just about the Mar
shall House there was indeed some life. 1t is
occupied by Federal troops and constantly
visited by strangers who come to see the spot
where Ellsworth fell and was avenged The
Illustrated papers have given correct views of
the house. The flag staff from which the Sc
cession flag was taken has been whitfield half
away for relics, and the steps of the stairway
on which Ellsworth fell are all gone-not
step left-and even the beams which sup
Up these you are compelled to climb if you
wish to see the staff, from which now floats
the American flag The blood of Ellsworth |
is gone, but visit to the very spot of his as
sassination is apt to arouse feelings Of the
harsher sort. 1t was but yesterday that l
heard rough and hardy Zouave lament anew
his late gallant leader, and as the poor fellow
warmed with his subject, he wept like girl,
but put an Ell to the scene with gritting
teeth and clenched hands OF men who feel
just as he feels there are many more than the
eleven hundred Zouaves. Wo be to the men
who come upon the war path of the avengers
of Ellsworth.
Back of Alexandria are encamped upon
high grounds which command a view to the
South and East of several miles, the Zouaves
and the other regiments mentioned above, ex
cept the New Jersey and Connecticut troops,
who, fine looking fellows as you ever saw, are
in camp on the East road to Washington,
about half way between the two cities. Back
of the Zouaves are extensive breast-work for
tiications, on which are dozen Columbiads,
each one of which would be enough, it should
seem, to batter down a Pompeys pillar with
single discharge. They are ugly looking GUS
toners, those Columbiads. The entrance to
the "fort" as this fortifcation is called, though
it has not been particularly christened, is pro-
tected by stockade. The ditch about it is
twenty feet wide and about ten feet deep. The
dirt from the ditch forms the breatwork. Be-
sides the troops l have mentioned as being
near Alexandra, ,Sthere are also detachment
of United States troops at the fort, and bat
terry of flying artillery, U. S. A., just on the
eastern side of the city. Sherman's battery
is again in Washington.
There are now within two hours march Of
Alexandria no less than 10000 troops, most
of whom have seen. They are well posted
both for attack and defense. The batteries on
Arlington Heights, Immediately opposite this
city, are similar to the " fort'' above described,
and are three in number. Two new guns
were sent over the river to-day. Thenumber
of Federal troops between here and Manassas
should be doubled, for, though a Michigan boy
who helped take the cavalry company at AL
exandria, and the Fairfax Rifles, told me that
" these seseshers are the dist set of cow
ards you ever. saw" and was not perhaps,
very far wrong in his Judgment, it is better to
be perfectly safe while you can.
| saw Gen. Scott to-day, at church. He
was dressed very plainly, without thing
about him to indicate the military man-no
fuss and feathers there. He went up the
steps leg at time, only advancing with his
left but on a level he walked as WELL appa-
rently, as ever He looks little white, the
result of much indoor mental labor lie will
soon have the grand army Of the United States
or the forward march.
The telegraph will have told you, ere you
receive this, that Senator johnson, of Ten
nessee, made speech here last night. lie is |
as plucky man as we have. 1t is pity we
have not more of his spirit in the administra- |
ton, in which there seems to lurk, even yet,
a tenporizing spirit Mr.. johnson said that
secession was hell-born and hell-bound.' l
heard distinguished gentleman say there
was no doubt on the paternity question, but
the destination matter depended too much on
vigorous Administration to be settled at
once. IOWA.
/ An INCIDENT OF ELLswoRTH's DEATH
There was one thing his backwoods detractors
could never forgive; he always dressed well
and sometimes wore the military insignia pre-
sented to him by different organizations: One
of these, gold circle, inscribed with the le-