Litchfield enquirer., 1862-03-20
From the f Sunday Mercury" LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.

From the ( Sunday Mercury"
 LATEST FROM WASHINGTON. sg
 EDIroR T. T.-Now sws]e Columbia,s bo- som withe pride, that sets her eyes ablaze with Hsing fro and with her arms upreaching to the skies, shs draws in air new stars with crowns adorned, te ring the temples of her conquering chiefs. Far in. the West, she sees the ivid and in the Sonth beholds how Ajax bold defes the lightning of the rebel guns. Then clasping to her breast the flag we love, and donning swift ,Minerva's gleaming helm, she stands where Morn's first glories kiss the hills, and breathes the pssan of q fame redesmedl
 Three cheers for tho chaps who pocketed Fort Donslson Co.,, my boy, and may the rebels never have an easier boat to row than Roanoke. Tbs other day was talking to New England Senator about the taking of the fort, and says
 It vas . gay victory, my learned Theban but it makes mo mad when think how that slippety rascal, Floyd, found an egress down the river is es ss
 The Senator pulled up his collar, my boy, ob served to the tumbler-sergeant that he would take the same with . little more sugar in it, and then says he:
 oi" In that observation you sum up the whole cause of this unnatural strife It is, indeed, the negro, whose wrongs are now being reyenged upon us by an inscrutable Whig Providence and II the Government does not speedily strike tho letters from the slave, that slave may yet be used to hght horribly against us. shall cite the significant fact you mention, in my next ex- citing speech. s!
 Iopened my eyes at this outburst until they looked like the bottoms of two quart bottles beamina in the sunshine. and then says I:
 "You talk as fuently as Patent Office Re port, my worthy Nestor but don't exactly per esive what my remark has to do with tho colored nagro.n .es@tsatE M
 - 2 Why" says hs, "didnt you say that the saisor Floyd found a negroes down the river?"
 For an instant; my boy, I felt very dizzy, and was obliged to lean my head against tumbler for moment.
 "Your ears, my friend, says I, are certainly long enough to hear correctly what is said to you; but this time you've made slight mistake. l said that Floyd had found an egress down the river."
 The Senator looked at me for moment, and says he: "Sold bya soldierI Good-mornng."
 Yesterday afternoon, my boy, Colonel Wobert Wobinson, of the Western Centaurs, ordered Captain Samivel Sam mith to make a reconnoi- sance toward Flint Hill with company of skel- eton cavalry, having learned that several bushels of oats were stored there.
 Samivel drew up his company in line against a fence, and then says he: Comrades, we go upon mission that is highly dangurious, and America expects every hoss to do his duty. If VIC meet the rebels," continued Samivel, impress siyely, they will try hard to capture some of our horses; for they're badly of for gridirons down there, and three or four of our spirited auima would supply them for the season. If any of you see them coming after the hardware, just put your gridirons on gallop and fall back'
 At the conclusion of this speech, Private Pe- ter Jenkins observed that he'd been falling back ever since he got his horse for. which he was sentanced to laugh at all the colonel's jokes for e week. t :. Would that possessed the fiery pen of bully Homer, to describe the gallant advance of that splendid corps, as it trotted ercely on to victory or death. At its head was Captain Samivel Sa- mith, mounted on a horse of some degree of mer- 1t, his coattails Tapping behind him like ban aers at halfmast, and his form bouncing sabout in the saddle like an inspired iumping-iack There was Lieutenant Tummis Kagcht, recently of the German navy, riding an animal with prows as sharp as yacht and that was broad side to the road at least half the time. There was private Peter Jenkins, seated directly over the tail of g yellow wenameled charger, that walk cd ct right angles with the fences, and never stopped to take breath until it had gone three yards. .... A There was Sergeant O'Pake, late of Italy, who bsstrode 8 sorrel, whose side was full of symmet- rical gutters to carry the rain off, and who kept his octagon head directly under the right arm of the horseman ahead of him. There was Pri- vate Nick O'Demus, with his sabre tucked neat ly into the eyes of his neighbor, managing an anatomical curiosity that walked half the time on its hind legs, and creaked when it came to ruts in the road.
 Onward, right onward, went this glitterng cavalcade, my boy, until they came to the out skirt of Flint Hill, where solitary remnant of First Family mi ght have been sitting on fence, eating sandwich.
 "Tr-r-aitor! ]" shouted Captain Samivel Sa-mith In tones of milk-souring thunder, where is the rest of the Confederacy, and what do you think Of the news from Fort Donelson ?'
 The Confederacy hiccupped gloomily, my boy, as he took an impression of his front teeth on the sandwich, and says he:
 The melancholy days are come-ths saddest of the year."
 "That's very true," said Samivsl. pleasantly, and proves you to be person of son, edd cation. But tell me, sweet hermit of the dale" pursued Samivel, where are the oats we have heard about r
 The solitary Confederacy checked a. rising cough with another bite at his ration, and says he: s..z.~..
 You have the oats already; for they were eaten last night by six Confederate chickens and my slave, Mr. Johnson, sold them chickens to prospecting detachment of the Macerel Brigade this morning. Don't talk to me any more" continued the confederacy, sadly" for am very miserable, and haven't seen quarter in six months" i~
 Samivel seemed touched, and put his hand halfway into his pocket; but remempered his probable children, and refrained from romantic generosity. l,ga 5f4s-I9l
 Let me see MT. Johnson" says he. reflec. lively, and l will question him concerning the Southn
 The Confedsracy indulged in plaintive cat cah, whereupon there emerged from an adjacent elump of pushes beautiful black being, richly sttared m heavy seal-ring and a red neck tie. It was Mr. Johnson. .t
 You have sent for me-" says Mir. Johnson, with much dignity. " and have come. If you do not want nc, will return"
 You have seen the tragic Forrest? P says SamiveI. ,rs-.,.
 The forest is my home" replied MT. John- con, and in it's equal shade my humble hut ssands sacredly embowered. As the gifted Whittier might say:
 Ieere lofty trees up rear in pillared state, Ane crystal steams the thirsty deer elate
 "ni,e through the halls that base the dome of