Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-07
From the Baltimore Exchange, July 81.
Washington Letter.

The days of terror are again upon us
Since the disorganization CT the army, thou
sands Of soldiers throng the streets every
hour Of the day and night, two. thirds of them
beastly intoxicated. Their appearance gen
orally is shocking, characterized by nothing
but rags and filth. 1t is rare now to see a
soldier with a clean face, though hydrants
are placed at most of the -corners of the
street. But few ladies are seen upon the
streets even during the day, and those inva-
riably accompanied by an escort TO protect
them from outrage.
There were more than fifty fights between
soldiers yesterday and last night. Seven
men were stabbed, and four others shot
One man who was shot at the corner of
18th and d. streets, last night about u
o'clock, is in a precarious condition, the ball,
it is supposed, having entered his lungs.
There IS as yet no actual insubordination
except among those who are to 60 home
The 8th, Goth and Goth Regiments return to
New York, also the LIST, I'd and Sd Connecti-
cut, in q few days the 1st, Cd and third
New Jersey and lst Rhode Island have al
ready gone. The 1st and I'd Ohio leave in a
few days, as well as the 26th Pennsylvania,
and perhaps many others of which | an not
informed.
There is evidently a very great change in
the Catholic Irish who have enlisted. Many
OF them declare that they were induced to
enlist by the representation that their church,
es had all been burned down in the South,
and that all the Sisters of Charity had been
turned out of the Converts, which had been
converted into barracks. They are amazed
to find the statement so utterly false, and to
learn how many of their countrymen are en-
listed on the side of the South.
Mr.. Thomas F.. Meagher, who was in the
tight on Sunday last, yesterday told one of
the priests here, that he would never again
take up arms against the South, that God
was on their side, and that if he fought
again it would be on their side.
The state of feeling at the North must
shortly undergo a great change. Northern
men will hardly allow themselves to be i'm
pressed into the army for the purpose of es-
tablishing by force Of arms, the Republican
party on a military basis. Nine-tenths Of
the soldiers now in the field are members of
the Democratic party, and they have learned
enough to cause them, on their return home,
to ignore the sectional cause which they
have thus far supported but few Of the three
months men will re-enlist.
General Scott affirms that he cannot finish
the campaign without the number of men he
has specified to the War Department, and he
advises Secretary Cameron to have the vari-
Gus Governors of the States call for volun-
teers. If this is not responded to, he advis.
es that recruiting sergeants for districts, bt
appointed, and men who have passed the age
of forty.fve, the maxium standard, be imme
diately drafted.
The southern prisoners so inhumanly
treated by the soldiers while passing through
his city a few days ago, are lying in the
Capitol hospital, unable to sit up, still bear
ing on their persons the marks of the cow
ardly treatment which they received from
the army Of the Union.