Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-06-18
Scenes il Washington.

Ger Describing what he saw III Washington, is
copied fiD? Tie Indiana State Sentinel
WASHINGTON, d, c., ,)nne II: 1862
DEAR jos: I lett your goodly city at ) /:
VI on Friday last, ana by the ud OF SIP OF
luper, which | paid SlI.5O Tor, | 1ound my
self at this place on Sunday morning; Aou,
Of course know that | am an officer OF the ar
nv, and wear shouldel-st1aps,, and as such
Should have had due respect shown ne; nor
can con plain, for when LETT the cars, 1t the
Washington Depot, | met great string OF the
politeSt gentlemen OF the CITY, each ANXIOUS
rode down rc my hotel. This was q distinction
that I did not look for, hut attributed it all
to the shoulder straps and my good looks. |
finally selected ere OF the finest carriages: and
the gentleman who drove asked NC What Aotel
desired to 90 TO- This was stunper ior 1
did NOT know myself The gentleman. rapeat-,
ed the names OF a large number or hotels, ana
among The number was the 'Aveaue HOUSE,
70 which place he soon drove ne; dlsmounteu;
and ye1y politely opened the door OF the car
rage, and assisted ne in getting out: and just
as / was going 10 thank him for his Kindness,
he saws. "A dollar. sir. w ha,I" says l.
a dollar sir. So Just pulIed out very nearly
lie last ''nicorn' that / had about me and
gave it 10 him. Tie thanked nc with gracious
smile which rather pleased me- and away he
Went. So
then went up into the left If the Avenue
House, where found a very dirty little office;
with uce young man behind the counter: and
Niger sitting BY | registered my name, and
inquired Of the niger where | could, get a
drink. The niger said that 1t was sunday and
none could be had nearer than Wizards Hotel:
to which place be d!rec; ed me: and away wen.
Mrny Of tie soldiers were very polite, saliutlng
me in true military stye,. all an account q my
straps. ! soon found Willard got my drink.
and started back. had aot got far bctore [
met a SQUAD Of the incest looking soldiers ever
saw. under the coulnand Of an cqual;y Ii ice
looking Sergeant who, upon approaching: hal
ted his men, gave me the military salute, and
Thought, he was going to have his men pre-
sent arms while | passed, The streets were
full, and felt proud otthe distinction about to
be conferred So just as | was going to make
my most polite salute to the nice little sergeant
says, A pass sir, The devil. says /, i am
an officer of the anny-lon,t You see my shout
der-straps?' The nice little. officer informed
that be was officer of the Provost Guard, and
charged with the duty Of arresting all officers
and soldiers found in the city without pass.
By this time quite crowd Of niggers and white
men had come up many Of whom noticed
we're very much amused, and | suspected that
it might be at my expense So you see that [
did not feel quite so comfortable as had q few
minutes before. However, BY dint Of hard per-
suasion,.I got the officer to let me off, under
the promise that [ would join my regiment
forthwith This, however, did not i:1end to
90, for my leave Of absence had three days to
run, and [ intended to make the most Of it.
The next morning after break fast started
out to see what could see. found great
| ''Efuve hack, sir?'' ''Have a carriage, sir,
&c. hut I cnnclndnd to walk I could ncca-