Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-16
MIR. RUssELL'S LETTERS.



PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND ZEN. SCOTT.
The feeble courtliness of Mr.. buchanan is
replaced by the straightforward purpose and
energy OF Mr.. Lincoln, on whose broad shout
ders has fallen the grievous legacy OF his pre-.
decessor's vacillaton and errors; and the let
tiers, dispatches, and messages, which nurtured
civil war, are succeeded by speeches to armed
legions, who are about to end it by conquest
or in defeat 1t is probable the English pub
lie are already familiar with the lines OF the
sallow, long, and srongIy-marked face OF the
present president, which to me is Indicative of
shrewdness, honesty, and some love Of humOr.
The eyes are deeply set, dark, not very
bright, but penetrating and kindly; the tall,
lauk body, set on long, loose legs, with power
full arms swinging by bis sides, is inclined with
a slight stoop forward, and in his movements,
if there be not much grace, there is no lack OF
vigor. Beside him, towering over the crowd
and topping even the president, stands Gen.
Scott the veteran, but for whom it is not too
much to say, in spite OF heaven born warriors
and citizen soldiers in civil life, just as cabinets
exist in the militia and volunteer regiments,
the president would probably not be there at
all. The bold, leOnine front of the man, the
massive head and broad forehead, the full, fine
eve, the mouth broad and distinctly cut, and
the square, resolhte chin, arrest the attention
aud recall the types OF some better known
commanders; but Americans are justly proud
of one who in military career extending be-
yond half a century has been uniformly sue
cessful and who has not been less fortunate in
any diplomatic or political functions he has
undertaken to discharge. The Virginians,
| who burned the house i'll which he was born.
lest it should see the birth OF another traitor,
! and who changed the name Of a county in
| their state called after him, to that of Davis,
vsH ititougn tue suuws Of seventy sly
winters have wreathed their honors round his
| brow but when the tower like frame and
| great torso are set in notion there is a feeble
| ness IN giant and WANT OF power in the limbs
winch show that aye and wounds and hard la.
Dor have taken their hostages and securities.
VISIT TO NEW YORK CAMP.
On the night Of the 4th | visited the camn
of the twelfth New York regiment, commanded
by Col. ButterhGld, which is situated in one
OF the squares on the outskirts OF the civ
The hnts and tents were gaily Illuminated
with lamps, and crowd OF welldressed people.
never tired of the novelty of actual military
life, strolled about among the lines and epiove1
the music OF the regimental bands. There
was no drunkenness, but great deal Of gaietv
and finally a dance before visitors were com
PEELED to withdraw. AS an instance of +ba
good conduct of the regiment, let me saw that
the colonel gave all the men leave en- 1qasse
for the day, up to o'clock. At that bour
every man bad returned out of the 900. except
two,who afterward appeared much bemus with
lager beer. And this is large citv. with
many grog shops, AMI spirits very cheap and
dreadtully Intoxicating The sick list shows
thirty invalids, mostly suffering from diarrbea.
On the surgeons table lay returns furnished
by Professor Henry Of the Smithsonian. to he
filled up with statistical facts as to the birth
place, age, height weight, and size Of chest
&c., OF the men. The sheet | looked at re-
terred TO section OF twelve men. OF these
only two were citizens of the United States
born therein, four were natives of England
Six were lrishmen, and these one-half showed
more beef and bone and stature than their
comrades. Col. Butterfield is a New York
merchant, who held militia rank before he
commanded this regiment, and his men are
without word OF tlattery, credit TO him and
his officers
WHAT HE HEARS OF THE CIVILIANS
The civilian generals, or "political" chiefs
are obnoxious to the regulars and Gen. Scott |
has battle to fight very much like that in |
which Lord Clyde contended so vigorously
and successfully against his "politicals" and
civilians" in India. There are men high in
influence and actual cap city for good or evil
who declare that the United States army is a
and that it would be much better to
the wants OF the "people." to conduct the Uni.
ted States armies, than men who have studied.
At least theoretically, the art of making war
all their lives 1t may be readily imagined
now Gen. Scott deals wiki such opinions and
heir organs. All these gentlemen are for
cushing on ahead, and making general at.
ack on the enemy. They think an army is
ike round of canister which can be fired off
whenever the match is applied. 1t strikes me-
rom what have seen, that the federal troops
will have TO be managed with skill and caution
n face of the contederates. The latter will
light with luminosity and desperation, temper
"a by military knowledge of a certain kind
nat may neutraliZe the advantages possessed
n numbers by the north as well as other
POINTS. The politicians are eager to grasp
he prize and to bring their machinery into
day, to round off its rough edges, for
letting that they must first clear the ground
y armed force for the lever. Every man,
II course, here believes he can write lead
ng article, row boat, drive gig, or fight a
attle, and have heard of men, with high
Military titles, who for their lives could not
orm regiment in square occupy a farm
ouse, talk about operations in the field as ii
ney We're elementary portions of the arithme-
ic table.
VISIT TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.
In the evening was invited by Mr.. Blair
ither OF the postmaster general to accompany
I'm on visit to Arlington Heights, across the
otomac, which are the headquarters of the
rigadier general, Mcdowell, commanding the
nops which cover Washington on the south.
ir. Blair is well known as one of the Oldest
nd most prominent, able, and active members
! the republican party, and he is also one
no was persuaded, long ago, that the present
'ntilct was inevitable, and that it would come !
Ioner or later in consequence of the hold {
iich the treason" of secession had taken on {
re minds of the southern people He has :
Ved to see his Judgment verified. How short t
nerican history seems when we see Wash I
gton menaced with hostile armies drawn !