Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-06-21
LOOKINGs-ON AT THE WAR, f'l
BY N. P. WILLIS.
WASHINGTON. Nav 30.

tenant Wise, OF the Navy, who was or
dered to Norfolk to burn the ships the
other day. had introduced me to a group
Of officers at Willard's the evening before,
and in the conversation, the excursion
was spoken of-the commanding officer,
Major Palmer, kindly turning to me and
asking if / would like to accompany them,
Offering me at the same time dragon
horse and saddle. The chance, Of course,
was too precious not to improve, and |
Jumped at it at once, presenting myself at
the barracks the next morning punctually
at the hour, and accompanied by young
Walter Grinnell, for whom also l had Sc
cured the promise of saddle.
We were off at 10 A. NJ, the bright
sunny day being fortunately cool and
agreeable, and our party of seven, (Mr.
Hasbrouck, my neighbor, of Newburg,
making the third civilian,) all in the
highest spirits '''' '..
As we walked our horses over the long
bridge into Virginia, I felt very sensibly
the privilege Of being in good company,
our cavalry officers receiving the military
salute-a bow instead of bullet-from
the extended line of very vigilant sentries.
On reaching the other side, we turned to
the right toward Arlington Heights, (the
left leading toward Alexandria,) and be-
gan our long gallop over the crooked roads,
to look in upon the different cncampments
along this stretch of the military line
Ordered to keep very strict watch, the
single sentries at every remote turn and
corner stopped and questioned us, not
knowing, of course, what disguise might
be attempted by the enemy.
But it was SO strange to come suddenly
upon the camps in the wild woods AS
I said before, the day was the perfection
spring beauty, and it took but moment
Of the pu. suing of a fragrant and shady
wood-path to make us in love with Nature,
when, all Of a sudden, we were in the
midst of picturesque bivouac Of regi-
ment, the white tents scattered among the
trees, the vari-colored soldiers cooking in
the shade or sleeping on the grass, some
reading or conversing in groups, and all
forming just such toblequr gipants as a
painter would enjoy. The glittering of
stacked arms in the broken light, and the
knowledge, that, with the first tap of the
drum these fine fellows would be in their
ranks, weapons and hearts ready for the
onset, gave under-current earnest to the
scene.
We CHANGED to come upon the Irish
regiment Col. Corcoran's) just as they
we're raising the first flag at their new en-
campment. 1t was not intended to be a
formal display, but all at work as the
men were in the intrenchments, they
dropped pick-axe and shovel and jumped
upon the banks of fresh earth, getting
the highest point upon which they could
stand, to wave their white "hayelocks "
over their heads, and give three deafcning
cheers, as the bright banner ran up the
newly planted pole. 1t was spontanitey
Of enthusiasm as thrilling as it was un-
expected and, with the hardy faces and
burly frames Of the men, promised fear
full efficiency on the battlefield. Heaven
help the miss-Jef makers" whom they
particularly encounter
We galloped on to Arlington House
through pine woods that might have
looked like our own, but that they were
sprinkled with trees bearing snow-white
blossom that was new to me-every
branch looking as if laden with fringes
of the costliest lace AT little distance,
perhaps, it resembled more one Of the be-
quilting beauties of winter-as if a tree
had oversight itself after a light fall Of
fcathery snow-but, to nearer view, the
tassels were 50 long and pendant as to be
tremulous with the summer breeze. Ev-
cry dark-haired girl in Virginia has pro-
badly dressed her head with them for a
May-day ball, but it made one sigh to
look on the blossoms when the girls were
gonel Will not some one Of them (out
Of the thousands Of our seeded subscrib-