Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-06-07

FRIEND MAHIN:-When was in Washing
ton the fear that it would be in great danger
from an attack by the rebels, had subsidized
General confidence was felt in the power of
the Federal troops, there being in the city and
vicinity, $4,000 soldiers under arms. |
The alacrity with which the call for troops to
protect the capital was obeyed, was source
of wonder to the secessionists. tits said that
some of the members of the Cabinet shed
tears of joy at the manner in which the peo-
pie come up to the support of the government
with offers of men and money. There is no
doubt that a sudden and determined attack on
Washington, with 5000 men, previous to the
rather tardy arrival of the 18th New York and
Buffers division, would, with the assistance of
traitors in the District who called themselves
loyal, have resulted in its capture.
The hard service by day and night of the
small but vigilant force, Gin which was our
friend Ed Hatch under Cassius NJ. Clay and
other loyal officers, the rebels were intimida-
ted, and the danger averted. The Union men
everywhere in the city, by being under arms
and showing themselves during night at COM
paratively distant points throughout the city,
gave the impression of numbers. They sta
toned guards everywhere at the
hotels, in the streets, and at their quarters,
that they had five times the force that they
really had Large bodies of troops were re-
ported to have already arrived, or were within
few miles of the city.
The present declaration of the leading trait
ors that they never had any intention to at
tack Washington is the easiest way to cover
up the CALLING loss of a golden opportunity
The city is nowEstrongly fortified entire
country round closely watched and guarded
by scouting parties, who communicate with
each other by day and night through concert
ed signals, and batteries command the impor-
tant points, with plenty of troops to support
them. Many citizens who had gone off in
fear have returned to the city, and business in
all the places of trade is going on as quietly
as in Muscatine.
A secession flag was easily seen from the
top of the Capitol, at Alexandria, seven miles
off. The Pawnee, war steamer, was lying off
that town, ready for service. From the Capt.
tol the Arlington hills, (sincc occupied by
Federal troops,) were in view, about three
miles off, over the Potomac river. From there
a battery of heavy guns would reach the
White House and the Capitol buildings with
shot and she'll a regiment of troops occu-
pied the Capitol The halls of Senators and
Representatives were decorated with stacks of
guns, and the walls with knapsacks and ac-
letters at the desks, seated in the chairs Of the
legislators of government. The chair of Jeff.
Davis is unoccupied, no soldier being yet
found mean enough to sit in it. The rooms
are kept tolerably neat, and the desks and
seats are not defaced. The marble statues
are boxed to protect them. The pictures are
exposed, but not one of them is injured
a cushion cut, not a lounge damaged The
stories to the contrary are perfectly false. An
Orderly Sergeant accompanied me into the
basement of the Capitol, where no one is adj
mitted unless accompanied by guard. Here
were immense quantities of provision stores
for the army. The government has stored
there fifty thousand barrels of -four, barrels
of crackers, ship-bread, pork and hogsheads
of hams, in vast numbers. In front of the
building many of the soldiers were engaged in
washing their clothes, and hanging them up
on the trees to dry in the sun.
In the Treasury building regiment was
quartered, and engaged in drilling in its nu-
merous halls The great number of rooms in
this building were occupied as usual by gov
eminent officials, who were pursuing their du-
ties as quietly as if nothing had occurred to
disturb the peace of the country. About
half way distant from the post-offlce to Will
lard's Hotel is splendid church edifce which
has been used for military quarters several
weeks. Religious services are held there ev-
cry Sabbath.
The soldiers composing the Connecticut
contingent of two regiments, came here thor
oughly armed, equipped and drilled ready for
active service. There are no better looking
troops in the city The LIST Connecticut regi-
ment camps upon 18th street, and the I'd, which
arrived the day before | was there, are about
one mile north of the Capitol. Their motto
of confidence in the Divine care, upon their
State insignia-"qui transtutet sustinet,' =
which waved over the arms of that State when
the war clouds of the revolution closed around
them, will be borne by these regiments through
the present struggle.
There is nothing lazy, listless, Or stupid in
duty, anywhere, so far as ! have observed.
They have much hard work to do, and sub
NIT to great many privations, and bear all
with cheerfulness. The soldiers who have en-
listed to quell this great rebellion are not stu
pid men or fools, fact that the traitors will
learn when they meet them in the deadly
struggle. I believe there never was rebel
lion so extensive and formidable as this, that
lacked so sadly in good principles to fight for.
Inaugurated by enterprising demagogues in
wholesale usurpation and stupendous theft, it
must recoil in shame before the moral convic-
tons of the whole world, though its leaders
may fight well, as all men may who deserve
hanging. 1t is a mere matter of preference
with them-allegiance, the bullet or the rope.
They can be accommodated with either.
Number A.
FRIEND MAHIN - There was a rumor in
Washington that the members of the cabinet
who were in secret session were contemplating
an immediate attack on Harper's Ferry. Such
an event would stOp the trains upOn the road