New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-15
THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA!

WAsHISGToS, July II, 1861
I arrived in Washington the evening before the
meeting of Congress. On my way had been amused
by seeing grave men enter the with long wands and
odd buging projections at the end thereof covered
with bright paper, which l was informed were
"rockets'-in fact the citizens were preparing for
their great iubee "the 4th of July" and fathers OF
families were providing for the wants of their families
in Catherine wheels Roman candles andbue lights all
along the ine But for the density of the crowd before
Wizards and the other hotels along the great avenue
which runs from the State Department and the Amer
lean Whitehall to the unfinished pile of the Capitol one
familiar with Washington would not have perceived
any indications that the most important Session Of
the United states Congress that took place was on
the eve of being opened. He would. indeed, have
seen many soldiers in the streets, many flags noalng
from the houses, commissarat carts, ana TIE various
wagons Of volunteer regiments ratilog over the
etones and all the signs OF war or OF great military
deInousr ration but there were no plicards on the
walls-no parade Of pamphlets and speeches, such as
might have been in the earlier part Of the con-
test while there was yet for argument and mel
minds were vehicles Of debate The following morn
ing opened with all the unsccusomed pomp OF martial
display the blast Of trumpets the roll of drums, the
roar OF distant guns the tramp Of men reyerbera'ed
through the highways spd bsors sns the Ssw P,e
de1t and many of his Ministers in front OF
tie While House. What a change since the heir
of England stood there by the side OF one who may
prove TO be the last President of the United Staes-
united at least as voluntary entirety The feeble
courlnes Of Mr. Buchanan is replaced by the straight
forward purpose and energy Of Mr. Lincoln on whose
broad shoulders has fallen the grievous legacy OF his
predecessors vaeillation and errors; and the letters
dispatches and messages which nurtured civil war are
succeeded by speeches armed egons who are about
10 end il by conquest n defeat 1t Is probable the
English public are already familiar with the lines Of
the saow long, and strongly face OF the pres
ent President, which to me Is indicative OF sbIewd-
pess honesty and some love of buDor; the eyes are
deeply set, dark, not very bright, but penetrating
and kindly; the tall lank body, set on long, loose
legs with powerful arms swinging by his sides, Is
inclined with slight stoop forward, aud in bis
movements, if there be not much grace, there Is no
lack Of vigor Beside him, towering over the crowd
aud topping even the President, stands General Scott
the veteran bnt for whom IL is not too much TO say In
spite Of heaven-born warriors and citizen sdiers In
civil lfe lust as Cabinets exist IN the Militia and
Volunteer regiments. the President would probably
not be there at all The bold leonine front o the man,
the massive head and broad forehead, the full ue eye,
mouth broad an distinctly cut and The square reso-
lutte chm arrest aeIon ana recall We types oi some
beter-known commanders; but Americans arc justly
proud of one who in mil tary career extending be.
yond bali century has been uniformly successful and
who has been lees fortunate In any diplomatic or
DO tieal functions he has undertaken 70 charge The
Sirgibians who burnt the house in which he born
lest il should zee the birth of another trsitor ana who
changed the Of county In their State aed alter
him to that of Davis, will lot do him any harm with
posteTiy. His look aud manner indicate that his mind
Is still vigorous though the SHOWS OF 10 Winters have
wfethed their honors round his brow; but when the
towerlike frame and great t0rSO are sot III motion
there is feebeness in gait and want OF power IN the
limbs which show that age and wounds and hard labor
have taken their hostages and securities. When one
turns to the keen clear face OF Mr.. Seward, strongly
reminding Of br Douglas Jerrold, the contrast be-
the military character as developed In the prin-
cPal support of the Cabinet and the Union, and the
civilian element displayed In the statesman who IL
sic cred 10 be TIE best politician for American puTpos
in the Ministry is very striking.
The march past Of the troops would not be thought
much OF by the critic In such matters who his tho
yiyaciy OF ihe French allure the measured beat of
Austrian infantry the automatOn precision Of the Mug
Covte line the solid tread Of tie British bataOns
but when ii known that these regiments Lad been
called out al few weeks notice volunteers, and
were equipped and rent to q Government which last
April had neither men, money, nor credit aud was now
at the head Of army, it al The
of the Free States Of America at it's back, the moral
force OF the fact oyerwhelmedal the little exceptions
10 uniform, arms, and that which time alone can
giye--disc1pliue The American element is not yet
go large in these troops would have right TO
expect in American trUOps, and when the Italian
and other foreign companies threw bouquets and spngs
OF green on the csrdde and at the feet OF TIE Presde
and the General the uttered in various tongues
were the charters Of tie emgrants 10 Ffced0m aud the
Iebuke of those AneTI 1ns who would accept the la
b0fs and the blood Of those nen and refuse them all
right save tnat Of living in and dying for the UDion
Let US pass over the noise and creitdiOn OF the day
which were Ike protractloD of bonbardment at
CrcmoIue, o. Of baitlepece in fireworks In bygone
NauxhalL Tue Congress rat and elected their officers
and the rumor went forth that the Message wout he
delivered in the morning. In trout the lines were
quiet, but it was reported the enemy made demon
stration I'M the morning which not persevered In.
There las thus been msny Southern prophecy falsi
fed and the 18th Of July 1901 has seen The opening Ct
the XXXNIIIh Congress Of the United States. AT
night visited the camp OF the 18th Ntw-fork Regi-
ment commanded by Col. Buitered. which IS situated
in one Of the squares on the outskirts Of the city, The
huts and tents were anyy Illuminated with lamps aud
crowd OF wedressed people, never tired OF the nov
city Of actual military lfc strolled about among the
liues, and enioyed the music of the regimental
bands There was no Drunkenness, but great
deal Of gayety, aud finally dance before
yisi;oIs were compelled 10 Withdraw. As an in.
stance Of the good conduct Of the regiment. let
me say that the Colonel gave all the men leave,
en- mdsse, Tor the day up 10 o'clock. At that hour
every man had returned ont Of the 00exceptwo who
aiterward appeared much bemus with lager beer. And
very cheap, and dreadfully intoxicating The sick
hst shows thirty invahds, mostly suffering from diar-
rbea. On the surgeons table lay returns Furnished
by Professor Henry, OF the Smithsonian, to be hled
up with statistical facts 10 the birthplace ace hight
weight, and sze Of cheat, &C., of the men, The sheet
looked n referred TO section OF II men. Of these
only two were citizens Of the United States. born
therein four were natives Of England six were Irish
men, and OF these one half showed beef and bone
ard stature than their comrades. Col Buiterieh is
merchant, who hed Militia rank before he
this regiment, and his are, without
word of fattery, credit to him and his officers. The
following day Jnly went TO the Capitol 10 hear the
Presidents message read and through the eourery of
the Hon. Charles Sumner, Chairman Of the Com
mttee on Foreign Relations and Senator, and Of the
II a n--.- Il al. st.