The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-10
LETTER FROM ONE OF UNCLE SANS SOL.
DIERS ON DUTY IN WASHINGTON, D. C. +
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.

WASHINGTON, d. C., March 9, 1861.
A few weeks ago, while reading article in your
valuable paper tho anomalous position Of Mr., Lincoln
before the country, noticed sentence TO this eoct
That his inauguration to take pisce through the
agency of armed force, and that while he took his
oath of Office the artiilsrymen would stand by the
side Of their guns with slow match and por,nre ready
for action At the time inclined to consider this
sentence instance of that hyperboc verbiage which
ia common In political warfare and wondered why any
person should exsggerate much Recent evcnts how
ever, have demonstrated that the writer Of the above
paragraph, whoever he may be, is of a prophet
than partisan. The guns have been loaded the atile
rymen have stood by their side, and the slow match
was not lighted II only because It's place has Of late
been supplied by more effective contrvance for the
purposes Of war Sunday morning, March g. the follow.
ing orders were issued to our commander -
HHADauARrERs ARTILLERY BArrAMos,l
x az ns S al M h
Win Ss
70 .c at moments warning Patrols from the drs
.f; ". s9 sna ds Ss
SS s%s e o y
s ss Se SsSss ss% N x ss
alarm from that quarter win BE- aI. balls c,mmsnd OF
Second Lieutenant First Artillery Ad juf.nt
WARRINGTON p. g., March . l8W}
.on oop. battalion and Of G':a pons
detachment Of sappcn and miners viii be made lh
Ss Of miners
and The latter immediately proceed the flag which carried
Baays battery VIM at ten O'Clock take post in the i'm.
mediate vicinity Of The quarters Of HaAkins company,
in front Of the City Hall at eleven o'clock or as soon a The
post street. resting Ing e"s on sesen,.sns
and s.yp sgppsad snd @ e Sssss
their Immediate vicinity
ssSS :: ssss S s g.
TO b. aessnassd by ssjor s"s
s1s Srasr roTSs Hs. ss
Second Lieutenant First Artillery Adj
All this locked warlke, but 70 tell the honest truth
OF soldiers could comprehend the drift OF it
for more peaceablc well disposed community than ex
s;s In the District Of Columbia would be difficult find
Towards evening, on the night OF the Sd, however a
report was circulated that large body OF the Baltimore
"roughs numbering perhaps five hGndrei had arrived
in Washington by railway. This fact afforded probable
cue TO the above orders, and perhaps justified General
Scott in mak the necessary preparations 10 que riot
OF the City Hail. harnessed up our horses after which
tboee men who were detailed for that purpose mounted
guard or stretched themselves some loose straw that
scattered In an adjoining ouhouse. The remainder
Of us then returned TO our quarters.
AT nipo O'Clock tattoo" call was sounded, when we
answered TO our names and retired for the night IKE
most Of his comrades your humble servant took or his
coat rolled 1ge blanket round him and then Law down
on the 6oft ede OF plank which tho only bed have
enjoyed since arrival here Custom however males
second nature and in few minutes most OF us sere
several miles In the land OF dreams Ateeyen O'Clock AN
officer came and awoke us, saying that he wanted n
70 load our pistols and proceed al once 10 tho
stables good deal OF confusion now ensued but az e
got our arms In working order we were sent over In
squads Of six or eight 70 Join comrades an ouard
Here we lay down the straw but sleep was out OF tho
question: for every two three minutes one of those
"ntelgent corporaB who abound in the service came
round and would awake us up with aAve ye loadcdy
"Are ye loadedY" and whenever he met an unlucky
wight that for some cause other was behind hand Ia
hA military preparations, good "blast yer sowl was
given, and the was forthwith despatched 10 the
qqters for powder and ball To mako every thing right
tntfheer OF the day finally got Of the howitzers
mbeTed 50 as 70 be ready for immediate action La
OF attack.
All this appeared very dsproporonate TO any real dan
ger IN existence IL was IN fact, breaking the butterfly
upon wheel 90 after waiting for an hour two In
tciJaton OF an onslaught, and seeing nothing coming
fomo OF our more comca members began 70 rdcule the
nonsensical arrangements for which we were got up
Nhesever The "iDtelllgent corporal came round with
bis "Arc ye oaded9' some would shut his eve ami
ask him If the moon was upY' "ff the battery was
taken yet' But as all these questions we're deemed
highly insulting they never drew forth replv some
mes the lieutenant IN charge would sing out oSlence
here when The noise among the soli,ers vouId cea.a
Tor awhile but would eventually be renewed bv the cor
pofa again starting hs old inquiry, "Are ye loaded
thertf and then the hum would recon meuce Ana thus
passed ihe eye0ifm night. Nex. morning. however