Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-14
For the Indiana State Sentinel
Letter from AN my officer Dcscri-
bling WI hat he Saw In Washington.
W AsHINGToS, ID. e. , June /

bling what he Saw In Washington.
WAsHINGroS, ID. C, June IL, 1862.
DEAR J1E: ! left your goodly city at { p VI.
on Friday last and by the aid OF a slip Of paper
which paid Sl7 30 for. l found myself this
place on Sunday morning You, of course, know
that | am an officer OF the grand Union army.
aud wear shoulder straps, and as such should have
had due respect shown me; nor can | complain,
for when | lett the cars. at the " Arlington De
pot, met a great string of the politest gentle
men OF the city, each anxious that | should
take seat in his carriage and ride down
20 my hotel. This was "a distinction that
/ did not look for, bnt | attributed it all To
the shoulder straps and nv good looks. finally
selected one Of the finest carriages aud the gen
teman who drove asked me what hotel desired
TO 20 10. This was stumper. for did not know
myself. Indeed. after receiving So much atten-
ton at the depot. | thought it possible that was
to be made the guest of the city, and hotel
already IN waiting to receive The gentle
man, however, not understanding the matter in
tint Ii hit. repeated the names OF large number
OF hotels and among the number was the Ave
hue House, to Which place he soon drove me-
dlsnhOunted, and very politely opened the door of
the carriage, and assisted me in getting out. and
just as was going to thank him for his kindness,
he says dollar, sir. Please" "Whatl' says l.
"A dollar. SIR" So | Just pulled out very nearly
the last "unicorn" that had ABOUT me and gave
it to him. lie thanked NE With gracious smile.
which rather pleased me. and away he went
then went up into the lOtt of the Avenue House
where | found i very dirty little Office with nice
young man behind the counter and niger sitting
by. | registered my name, and inquired OF the
Niger where could get drink. The niger
said that IL Sunday, and none could be had
nearer than Willard's Hotel. 10 which place he
directed me. and away ! went The streets were
CROWDED with -nlfers and uiupprS Many of "a
soldiers very polite. salutng me in true mil
itary STYLE all on account OF my straps | soon
found W Ilards. cot my drink. and started back
| had not got far, before met a squad OF the
incest looking soldiers | ever saw, under the
command OF an equally nice looking Sergeant.
who, upon approaching, halted his men, gave me
the military salute. and thought he was going
To have his men present aims while passed.
The streets were full and | felt proud of the dis
tncton about to be conferred. So just as | was
going To make my most polite salute 10 the men.
the nice little Sergeant says, pass. sir; pass.
sui" The cevili'' saws |. Il have no pas; am
officer of the army-don't Won see my shoulder
strapsI" The nice little officer informed me
that he 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 a crowd OF nisgers and white men
had come ~. many OF when | noticed we're very
much amused. and ! suspected that it might be at
my expense 81 YOU see that did not lee quite
80 comfortable rs I had a few moments before.
However, by dint of hard persuasion, GOT the
officer to let me of under the promise that |
would join my regiment forthwith. This. how
ever, did not intend tO do, for my leave OF ab
senee had three days to run, and | intended to
make the most OF il.
returned Ia he tOtel rather crest fallen, and
fully OF the opinion that / not near SO great
parsonage as | at first imagined.
u Ia the evening vsitel the "secesh' members
of Congress, Col. Dick Richardson's rooms.
where found several other "secesh" Represent
atives Among the number were Robinson OF
Illinois. Dan. VOORHEES, of Indiana Nallandig =
ham of OHIO. aud mlny others These rebels
talked "secesh" right out, and. in my opinion
they ought to be expelled from the House. The,
are opposing all the measures OF the Adminl~tra
ton which tend 10 the freeing and eQualzing the
negro of the South 18th the whites OF the North.
They oppose the organization OF a regiment OF
runaway negroes. their icing armed and uni
formed. a. i being done toy one OF our Generals,
in The South. in order that they may stand shout
der TO shoulder, and assist our brave boys of the
North ia putting down this rebellion. They opr ose
the stealing ofa few IN lion of dollars by men who
have assisted in placing the present Administration
IN power. They oppose the last slide OF Gen
Banks from Stri>6urg. Va, across the Potomac.
They oppo>e the poncy OF the General being
three mics IN advance OF his wagon train, and
beng the first TO cross the Potomac leaving his
officers ana men in the To protect them>el ses
rs best they could. They oppose the princi lie of
Bankss taking more runaway negroes with him
on his retreat than lie had white soldiers. and also
they oppose his permitting negroes to rifle in the
ambulances and wagons while SICK and wOunded
soldiers were forced 70 walk. They oppose the
freeing oil negroes in the District VI Columbia.
They oppose contracting with the slave States.
anu pleisins the faith OF the Government 10 as
sist ln butlng tie slaves OF the several State, 1t
least While our expenses are three millions OF dol
lars per day.
All these "sscesi' member, insist on prosecuting
this unfI establish peace UpoR the
principles o. the Constitution as a -, and he Coz
erhmenf as Il rus
Such men. representing a free and independent
Western constituency, ~ the opinion OF many,
aud indeed all who desire to see the great and
glorious principle Of he equal zttion OF all hu-
man beings without regard 10 color. adopted as a
Government policy, should be expelled from their
position.
After ascertaining the views Of these officials.
] concluded to look aroand town a little. and an
Indiana rebel member offered to accompany me.
which pOliteneSS refused my declining. e hid
not gone tar before he pointed out 10 me some
large brick buildings. aud informed me that they
contained eleven hundred negroes who had re
Gently O6fsiaea their freedom, and come 10 this
city tor the purpose OF making II their home
These poor people had no money. nor nothing to
i've upon. having all their lives been IN bondage,
con eunently the Government had rented these
buildings TOR them. aud l. now. anu has been. -
sum- e,e, Ell hundred ratons 10 them c oh day
from the United States COmmssary Department
These people look well. rs general thing and
viii soon make gOo tizens. liz Is expected that
az the next city election there will be more vote,
east than ever was before in the city OF Washing
ton.
| was much gratlhed 10 learn that these poor
people were a. healthy could be expected \ ei
there vas a considerable amount OF sieknes.
among them. and our surgeons from the hospi
t.lS Who have the Of sick and wounded
soldiers, often have to neglect the duties assign
ell them in orde. that they may relieve The liz
tre-ses OF these poor fellow citizens" OF ours.
bs this time il sas getting quite late IN The
evening" and concluded q retire. b ode good
night 70 Mr.. Congressman. went 70 The hotel
and shown q room about halt mile hig I'll
With kind Of led in il. aud tuned in.
h.r Era f.af /