Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-07-26
FROM WAsHIN GToN.
Correspondence Of the Muscatine Journal
WASHINGTON. july Is. 1851

Correspondence OF the Muscat1no Journal |
WASHINGTON, July Is, 1861.
Mr.. Wilkins Micawber was a gentleman
whose early career was not quite SO ~satisfac-
tory to his friends as his later achievements.
In fact if you except "the twins" he had
hardly amounted to the value of a hill of beans
till he fortunately " turned up" a justice of
the peace and custos rotulorum, in Australia.
l trust l am not putting 100 fine a point upon
it when | remark, with that profound defer
cnce to experience which is becoming in one
of my tender age, that, thus far, Gen. Scott
has been admirably acting the Micawber, of
London, and that something good is at Lass
about to turn up in-Vrgininia. At all
events, seven or eight regiments of as fine
looking troops as ever pulled trigger passed
from this to the other side of the Potomac
yesterday, Sunday as it was, and there are
now under command of Gen. Mcdowell pre-
cisely fifty regiments of volunteers, besides
two full batteries of light artillery and sew
eral detachments, amounting to W regiments
of United States infantry and cavalry. The
number there is not less than $4,000, being
an increase within q week of nearly 10000
men. On this side of the river, in and about
Washington, there are quite 10000 troops,
rank and file. "Now, then," if there be not
a forward movement before long, it will abe
owing to difficulties with, which no one but
! Co~ Coo<& c~l III, onrGJantoc ooU,Ioipfad
You have of course heard of the brilliant
successes Of Gen. Mcclellan. may say that
they were received here with the heartiest sat
isfaction. The intelligence of the surrender
of Pegram, in especial, elected the liveliest
pleasure, except among the secesslonists who
still infest the town and fill so many of the
offices. But enough of war news.
Congress, especially, the House of Repre-
sentatives, is working much and talking very
little. Burnett talks treason whenever he can
get a chance, and Vallandigham smiles and
smiles, and acts the villain as usual, but the
others having determined to work are living
up to their resolve with the right kind of
pluck. When the army bill was before the
House the other day, Mr.. Crittenden went to
examining it with that leisurely attention
which he supposed the magnitude of the sub
ject deserved, and, as he proceeded with his
~perusal, marked out certain amendments which
he purposed to himself to offer, but before he
got through the bill had passed! He must
hurry up, or the adjournment sine die will
take place before he has looked over half the
war measures as printed. Gen. Scott could
take Richmond, were he so disposed, before
Mr.. Crittenden could discover precisely in
what latitude and longitude the capitol of the
Ancient Dominion is situated. Slow coaches
are relics of barbarism.
Gov. Kirkwood was in the city on Friday
and Saturday. Without a particle of trouble
except what was necessary to mention the
matter to Gen. Meigs, he provided for the uni
forming, arming and equipping of the low;
troops not yet cared for. He left yesterday
for New York, to attend, | suppose, to the SALE
of the Iowa bonds, which do not seem to g
off quite as rapidly as clans at a bake. may
say that his Excellency looked as well a:
could be expected, and that his linen was NJ
cleaner than usual. / give this interestin!
bit of intelligence lest the Governors friend
should feel uneasy about him. He wore
linen coat, and not his wd7mms, so that, with
-. out doubt, Gen. Meigs was duly impressed.
I do hope that by the time this reaches yo'
t you will have heard of a big fight, and tina
the rebels have been routed, horse, foot ant
? dragons. But recollect, I do not say for
2 certainty that you will. Iowa.