The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-05-04
A Glimpc at Washington as it Now Is.

The Washington correspondent of the New
York Times gives the following sketch OF
Washington, rs it looks under the war aspect
This letter is dated on Saturday, the 20,h nit
1t needs password and countcrsign now to
cross its porch, and t" gain admttancc.
must have safe passage from an :. office of the
day. aud give pr"pcl token Of my loyalty Ia
a sentinel marching tn aud fro with brunz ID
face. that hrtokrns service and the resolution
| which grows ont of s"tvicc-hackt Il 10y u fixed
bayonct on .nnskct that locks as though. il
occasion qurcd, it could throw bullets with
penetrating force that might leave an uii-
slightly orlicc, through which the breath of
life would he diverted to the great dctriment
OF the human system. Thanking fortune that
| have successfully run the gauntlet of the
gentleman with the unsiyhtly combination of
steel. powd, and lead. let Inc jpt down some
of the strange scenes by which | found myse II
! surrounded.
| In the ii ause wing of the capitol | found
the quarters of the PENNSYLVANIA regiments
| the first Command to reach Washington in
response to the call of the government. The
! troops were billctted through the various
| retiring rooms and offices of the Ilnuse--the
Representative Hall being reserved for the
Seventh regiment. Armrd men and the rude
implements ofcarnagu mls,rd in these mar
bic corridors and gorgeous ROOMS, awaken me
| to a deep sense Of the power and tn Gb9m!on
! of military rule. realize the drsolati"n now
| which war brings ~ lis train. GA the luxur-
onS dlnask and brocatrl covered sofas lay
stretched men who probably never before
| rrp"Sed III such miSniiictHce. Over tn:
! taptStr;al carpet of the lopr are strrwn in
(; pr"iuSl"n and disorder, the suddenly accu.
mulattd stores of the c"mmissary's depart
| mrnt- here slab VI bacon. there quarter
of beef, .r "a saddle Of mutton, or Il Vrgini,
| han--a s.a bScGit lin drinking cups, papers
| OF pepper, bags OF salt and cans of vinegar
dlling up the nstcrtice< ant rounding up the
! pyramid. Upon the rrh and costly bronze
| ornaments upon the gus chandeliers, and
! upon the gilt brackets that h Ill back the silk
and lace curtains, were icsto"ned klap%ack
and belt car lidge-box and bayonet- scabbard
the smaller implements and surroundings
of soldier.
In the haus aud corridors the men were
| being drilled and taught the experiences Of
calnagr. In broad contrast to the dark and
| polished Tennessee marble wainScoatlnE, are
| the blu" uniforms and rough bearing OF the
men. Upon the rich encauStic things fall
with II dull heavy sound the iron sh"d butts
OF muskct and rihs The archcd and irrscoed
cling echoes and re-ech cs the ringing clat-
ter of the Iamrod, AS tn, recruits perfect
|
| pieces.
In The Senate Chamber are qnartered the
Massachusetts, regiments. Upon the cnsh-
Toned sofas of the galleries. If the Senate
| Chtlnhrr the men found excellent cnuchcs
| when | visited them this morning they h sd
concluded breakfast. and the guard for The
| day being detailed the remainder al the com
mand were at their ease. In the Vice Presi-
dent chair SAT Cot. Jones, the commandant
! Of the i"rcr-a frank. tire-hrartrd solids rlv
| booking man. The clerk S desk was occupied
by the adjutrnt and his assistants. engaged i'll
Ing up the mus,rr-rolI returns and ryqui-
| sitions incident To active service. The pri
Yates were engaged at the Senators desks
| writing letters
All the stuudry in the halls of the Capitol,
and in the "!l rotunll, has been boxed t.
preserve it from inj"ry through carelessncsS.
! The pictures in the panels have also been
faced over with heavy pllul,ing, which secures
them FROM harm.
The r"rticos of the Capitol building are
barricaded to the height Of about eight feet.
| The iron plates tor the new dome are used
| for the brrastworks between the marble
columns. Behind these are placed barrels oi
cement. piles of stone and timber forming au
| impenclrabir barrier. in the rear ot which tn.
troops could take shelter in case OF an attack.
1t seemed strange contradiction 10 Sc The
workInen engaged in the construction of the
pu!tico. going on with their labor Of LAYING
the foundations amid thousand, Of armed
men til click OF the chi>cl. the stroke OF
the hammer. and the ring Of The tr"wrl blend
ing with the word of command the chn.lenge
of the guard, an'l the tramp OF the bdttaluuS
drilling in the corridors 50 reluctant is
civilization to rccrde before the advancing
dcs"lati"n of war, that the artisan fingers tn
enrich with his skill the pardpct aud dnmr
that the morrow may see lrvelled TO thriI
foundations. Within mnskct range of the
"ntpoSts of the troops are even now score
inen chiselnS in marble the flowers and
clusters of grape and ivy wreaths, with
which the finished portions ofthc Capitol arc
So profusely decorated.