The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-07-11

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Indeed from the Maryland line 70 Balti'
more City. aud from Baltimore City to.
Washington the entire line Of tie road is
military camp. InpsssiDg through Ma
rylahd kept sharp lookout for a seceS-
sion flag. was anxious to see that ban
ner Ct treason, folly, shame and blood.
burm curiosity was not grsti6ed. The
6auntmg rags have all disappeared and
given place to our banner Of "elory and
light" I crossed the bridges burned by
the seeessionists about the 2Osh of April.
the burning of which cost B .ltimore SO
much humiliation aud Maryland he: sub
ljugatiOn. They ave but temporarily re-
built Hardly insuring safe crossing -
On either side of the read as the cars
whirlsd along ] noiiced large slsye plan
tatiops With their lordly palaces in the
centre. and slave huts in the distance
The negroes were busily engaged in har-
vesting poor wheat crop or plo"ing
short sickly looking corn. The appear
ancs Of the land, fences, brush. briers,
and crops indicated plainly enough that
the soil was titled by "involuntary servi-
tude." The slaves were comfortably
dressed and looked well fed and content
ed.
In Baltimore / stood on the Sery spot
where the Massachusetts, soldiers were
murdered by tho mob. on .he 18Th Of
April last. What q curse their patriot
blood has been 10 il-guided Baltimore;
prosperity has fed from the accursed spot
Where hustle and business Ihronged the
marts OF trade, stagnation and compare
tive desolation brood like pail. The
monumental city has paid dearly for ker
folly. Nay treason everywhere fare as
badly.
reached Washington at P. NJ. and
wnlkiug up TO the National" saw
the Capitol Of the Nation for the irst time
Ils magnificent proportions struck me
with prido and wonder at first sight, but
casting my eyes 10 the uDGu shed rotun,
da and comprshending its unfinished
state, turned away disappointed aud NOR
ti6ed. On my way 10 the National. met
two armies, one dressed in gaudy baby
clothes adorned with tape and tinsel, aud
one Of boot blacks. in rags and dirt. ]
confess l respected the boot blacks most
They were in their place, making no pre-.
tensions to that which they could not per
form, saying nothing only "black your
boots" "shine EN- up, "Union polish,
"only cent, while tie others were out oI
place and assuming to be that which they
were not neither could be.
met Benny Council soon after my ar.
rival and you may imagine my joy at
meeting friend in this strange city OF
strange sights aud strange men.
July sd was aroused from my
slumbers this morning by strange voices
in my room, ! awuke TO meet Captain
Stafford and Brevet Lieut. Butoifeld--
Depend upon it I forga'e Them the intru
sion and welcomed them heartily as they
did me. The boys had come in TO the
city tho evening before on business--the
first time since they bad crossed the Po.
iomac. Happening in at the Hotel and
glancing ovOr the register, saw my name
aud found me out. never vas more re-
Ijoiced TO meet men in my life. But the
Capt. aud Lieut.. m ust return to Camp
How Connell and myself should accom-
pany them was the question. The Com
mander in. Chief had issued his order for.
bidding the passage Of the line, except by
persons bearing passes, countersigncd by
himself or the officer iu command Of the
division. l neither knew Scott or Mans
field. What could l dop l went 10 SbCr
mau for q letter, He informed me that
Gen, Mansfield the day before, had re.
quesled him 10 "give no "--slating
that bis time was precious, and that the
frequent, almost constant applications for
passes drew upon it too heavily. Deter
mined to zee tho Ohio boys al all haz.
zaIds. dotted my broad brim and donnod
a military cap. and thus disguised, calling
myself Borland, in company with Stafford
and Buttcr6eld, I crossed the Potomac.
took .ho Government train at Alexandria
and reached the Ohio boys at Camp Up
tor safely. run great risk, played u
deep game, fortune WAS on my side and
won.
The members Of Company A were
well. 10 good health, 6ue spirts Ond ex-
cellcn, drill l met them gladly aud they
welcomed mo with joy. In passing thro'
Alexandria. | WAS aSionished at the desc.
lation that met me on every hand. Bats
and beasts aud viPcrs fl the former a.
bodos Of men. Business houses are all
deserted and the marlso trade are sealed
up, A thriving. prOsperiug city Of ten
thousand souls in FIVE weeks has been re-
duced 10 less than one thousand. Poor