The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-11-15
Correspondence of the Press.
Letter from the Federal Capital.
WASHINGTON. Nov O

sence has recalled freshly the events preceding
my departure and induced some comparisons
between then and now. The last week in Au-
gust was to those in the CAPITAL, as well as to
the country at large, an anxious one During
the first days of it the army of Gen. McClel-
lan-flve times decimated, by the miasms and
malaria of the peninsula, by the slaughter of
Fair Oaks, and that memorable week of car
nage-arrived and landed at Alexandria. OF
Gen. Pope's army we could learn but little,
save that it was being pressed backward, in
spite of that bloody and glorions day at Cedar
Mountain, by the whole force of the rebels.
Anxiously and vainly we looked for some re-
liable news that the two armies had united.
What was Gen. Pope's strength compared with
Jackson's-how many enemies were in his
rear-could he fight, could he make good his
retreat? these and many more questions were
anxiously asked on all hands, but there were
none to answer them. Towards the last of
the week, heavy cannonading was to be heard
in the direction of Manassas by those across
the river, and the smell of powder was percep-
tible when the breeze freshcned from the
Southwark, and rumors of battle flew thickly
Still the War Department was silent or highly
oracular in its responses circumstance we
had learned to construe as one of i'll omen.
Nor was our anxious suspense relieved by
the report-perhaps false, perhaps true-that
our reserves had stood In line of battle from
Chain Bridge tn Alexandria for several nights
and that the bridge itself had been taken up.
At last, on Saturday, about noon, zen. Pope's
dispatch announcing that he had fought a
great battle, and driven the enemy at all points.
was made public. A load was lifted from ev-
cry mind. The orders issued to those employ
ed in the Department, and the invitation ex-
tended to others to repair to the battlefield to
assist in bringing off the wounded, met with a
most ready response. AT every corner might
be seen groups of men with haversacks, bas-
kets and pillow cases filed with food, restora-
tives and cordials. The 18th Connecticut
marched unarmed toward the river on the
same errand of mercy, BY the time the gas
lights shone along the streets, not hack rat
tied over the payements, and the sidewalks
were almost clear. Dispatches subsequent to
the first - spurious, of course few from
mouth to mouth. Seen. Pope was following
up the enemy, pouring in grape shot and can
lister upon them-he was pressing them tow
ards the Notifications along Arlington Nights,
where they would be finished up before morn
ing-he was driving their shattered columns
up the river, where they would certainly be
captured"-in short, he had dragged" the reb-
els. And so despite the boding sound of the
cannonade, heard from the Capital just before
nightfall, incessant as the rolling of the drum,
We went to bed, not doubling of success, and
mingling with our accustomed devotions,
thanksgiving for victory, and prayers for the
wounded and the dying.
Ominous was the dearth of news which fol-
lowed the flood of wild rumors, and the ex-
pectant calm which succeeded next morning
the evenings excitement There was no
sound in the still streets but the FLASHING of
the rain, that came down in torrents. During
the afternoon many who had gone to the re-
lief of the wounded, came struggling back
with the disheartening news that our left wing
under Mcdowell had been turned, and that
the enemy held the field. Nor was it any re-
lief to our bitter disappointment TO be told
that the greater part of McClellan's force lay
inactive within sound of the cannon, within
smell of the powder, almost within sight of
the conflict, where the army of Virginia was
struggling desperately for the honor of our
flag, and the integrity of our country, and
perishing by battallons for want of help
And so came the first of September, bringing
to us all anxious forebodngs, and shame, and
anguish; and to myself the long anticipated,
and much needed relief from the stenches, the
din, and the excitements OF the Capital.
Since then there have been stirring events,
even upon the Potomac. The sharp conflict
at South Mountain, and the obstinate carnage
Of AntieIam, have made their red marks upon
our annals. The stately Capitol-turned to
use little contemplated by the Father of his
Country, who laid its corner stone-has re-
ceived and sheltered within its marble walls
thousands of mangled heroes, and witnessed
an amount Of suffering never to be told or re-
corded, but written down in the awful books
Of Gods remembrance. Through those state
ly portals has gone in many manly frame,
writing with anguish, and gone out stark and
CHASTITY, the brave heart within 1t still forever,
since my feet passed them last beforA
And now, as stand once more where af-
fairs seem to center, and look about for some
thing to write down as the result of all this
bloodshed and suffering, am perplexed. Per-
haps tolerably fair description of affairs
hereabout may be found in the newspapers of
year ago-"Washington is safe" "All quiet
on the Potomac" There has been some skir-
mishing, and considerable activity, however,
up the river, within the last few days, and
there are rumors Of greater things; but mere
conjectures and surmises seem hardly worth
repetition. 1t seems only fair to presume that
most people have lost all appetite for the
babble of the quidnunc's "teuing strokes
about to fall, for stunning blops" about to be
dealt, for .forDard movements" about be
made, for Rigorous measures" about to be
taken, for metaphorical bags waiting like ee
pots to catch and hold fast the unwary Lee, or
unsuspecting Jackson, for "Anacondas" about
to twist up all rebedom in one crushing coil,
for unsearchable, inscrutable, tremendous
Strategy &C., &c. If, however, your read
ers have any lingering relish for such rhetori-
cal viands, they may find enough almost any
where.
1t seems scarcely probable, however, that
our immense army can remain long inactive.