The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-11
CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. "a, 1863.
N rur Enron Op THE Union AND JOURNAL.

A few struggling notes from your ''own cor
respondent" from this place may mol DC whoi-
ly uninteresting; and will venture to jot down
a few Of my observations, stating at the out.
set that propose writing Of those topics not
generally spoken Of by Washington corrcspon-
dents. All is as quiet here as usual and moth
ing reminds casual visitor that there Is o
stupendous civil war in operation, the result OF
which has everything to do with the existence
Of this place as q seat Of Government, and of
our country as Power on the earth. One
only sees here the representatives OF the diiier-
ent branches of the Government service. Most
OF them waiting for orders, or on aturlough
from tedious and long service. At oil times oil
day aud night may be seen riding to and fro,
cavalry men most Of them good representatives
Of yankees. 0ftener than ever before do we
meet disabled soldiers on their way to homo or
hospital,and very many without On arm or leg.
One poor fellow saw had both arms taken of,
as he said, at fredericksburg. So many OF
these distressing sights does one SEQ here and
elsewhore-thc result OF war, and so many do
We see that really need and require our aid and
. sympathy, that onr purses can never DO too OF.
ten opened to relieve them. And am glad to DO
able to say Ii, the generosity Of no people has
been more nobly displayed than by loyal Amer
leans In this war. Ipray the stream of money
and sympathy may yet continue to flow out to
these needy sufferers. Let the people give and
continue to give to the needy, suffering defend
ers of their country; tits by the valor Of our
army and navy alone that our country will be
saved from its wou.d.be destroyers. and may 1t
never be said they needed succor and 1t was
not given them.
The Capitol is being got ready for the meet
ing Of Congress. The dome and the statue
upon its top are expected to be finished by the
time Congress meets. The Capitol extension
on the North East wing Is nearly completed, (,
and when all finished twill DO o structure
worthy this great nation, solid and gigantic in
its proportions rs it Is beautiful and complete
In its architectural design.
Tho horse cars are an institution here, rs
we'll as in every we'll regulated city, which does
great service for n small compensation; for
you may now ride from Georgetown to the
Navy Yard tor five cents, which would cost at
least one dollar and half to 60 BY any other
conveyance, for you must remember that coach
drivers here arc the grcadiest set Of fellows to
be found in the country.
Taking the horse cars hero on Pennsylvania
Avenue, II you please, we will ride down to
Seventh Street. Here the conductor gives us q
check, which VIC use on the Seventh st: car;
this car brings us to the river near the Long
Bridge, and embarling here we will 60 on
board n small steamer and take q short ride,
this fine day, down the Potomac. Passing tho
Navy Yard on the left and Arlington Heights
on our right, we soon reach the old city of
Alexandria, once busy and thriving, now dull
and quiet. One sees hardly any but soldiers
about, and they are to be seen in all directions.
There is an indication that ut some time some
kind OF business thrived here. for the roadways
all through the town are cut up, rutted, gull
lied aud In horrible state. never saw paved
roadways In such bad condition-'twould be
40 r;I aHu mt n IN
faster than walk.
We go past tho house where the ever to be
lamented Ellsworth, one Of our coun'ry's ear
liest defenders, fell. A flag Is kept flying from
the window to direct the stranger to the spot
As we passed about the town we looked in
at the door Of au old fashioned brick school
house, where we heard much noise, and TO our
astonishment found II mixed school. We
asked man who seemed to be the teacher IL
the white and colored children get along to-:
gether well? "0h," said he, "these are all
niggers here" But, said I, there are several
light, straight-haired children who have white
skins. how of them, "rhey are only niggcrs"
was the reply. could not help wondering to
myself, If these little children whom mistook
for "white" children arc nothing but "nig-
gers" where is the rule or gage that will enable
one to state definitely the exact point at which
body cease, to be white and commences to be
"nigger"!
Passing on short distance we come to tho
station OF the Alexandria and Richmond Ra,l
Road, which we found to be enclosed with q
stockadc, which rs you know is made by driv-
ing logs into the sround. rs near to each other
rs possible, these Were about twelve feet high
and ut this height sawed off Inside the stock
ade was large number Of engincss and other
rolling stock belonging to this and other roads.
Just here has been fire, and we were told that
these are the last of the slave pens in this place.
At this place we passed an old church in
which we were told Washington worshipped.-
All may we'll revere 1t for his sake as we'll they
may whatever was his or connected with him.
We saw three large rows of wooden build
ings and made inquiry what they are, and were
. told they are freedmens' homes-Or CONTRA
band barracks. As we wished to see anything
and everything new, we ventured to peep In,
and happened to look into the school 70 )m,
where was large lot Of boys and girls, learn
ing to read; also in looking about other parts
of the barracks we found older persons with
their books intent on learning to read. was
told by the superintendent that the male con-
trabands readily find work, and are "getting
on in their new homes very well, nearly nil OF
the men getting money enough to pay rent for
the room they occupy. They need books and
clothes, and medicines and many other things
for the children, intrm aud sick. They come
to the free air, and want help only until they
can learn to take care Of themselves, which
will only be for a short time. Surely, some:
thing done for these poor down trodden and
unfortunate people Of our land, is something
done for humanity and for God Can not, will
not the people of the North yet give and help
these untortunates. My letter is too long al
ready, 80 more another day. %