The Portland daily press., 1863-09-17
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Federal Capital.

WASHINGTON, Sept ii, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press: H
The smallest nation on this continent at
present is undoubtedly the once powerful
tribe OF Montauk Indians, now ruled by Syl-
vester Pharo, chieltain whose subjects are
named Elisha Bill, Dave and Stephens-four
in all and four only. The prospect is never
theless, that these poor Montauks willnot long
enjoy their paltry distinction as the least rem
nant of an American nation Another bar
barism than theirs has assumed national func-
tions, and is melting yet more rapidly and
indeed utterly away. The Confederacyis is re-
duced practically to four States. Mobile is
but an outpost North Carolina is weary of a
hopeless contest. Quantrells ferocious brig
andage is not war. Our Ninth Corps which
has met the enemy in every State along the
line OF operations from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi, has marched once more in pursuit
OF the graybacks to Knoxville, and without
finding them. Only in Virginia, South Caro-
lima, Georgia and Alabama does the rebellion
still exist as warlike power, and there ham,
pered and checked on every side. Rosecrans
occupies Chattanooga Gillnore's batteries are
already in position on Cummings Point, in full
view of the doomed city OF Charleston. Uncle
SANS web-feet, in the Presidents quaint
phrase, are moving on all the watery mar
gins.
In Virginia the two armies lie in mutual OBJ
servation along the banks OF the upper Kappa
hammock. The rumors of a movement on
Lees part last week were not without founda-
ton. The Army of the Potomac was under
marching orders all the week il is only three
days since thev were countermanded. The
general belief army was, that Meade IL
attacked would fail back to a position of his
own selection and win another victory like
that at Gettysburg. OF our Maine regiments,
l learn that the Sixth is at Warrenton; the
Fifth at New Baltimore, oItheast of Warren
ton; the Third, Fourth and Seventeenth at
Sulphur Springs, and the First Cavalry hard
by, on the other side of the river.
Col. Smith of the First is in command of
brigade, and deserves a brigadiers commits
sion. 1t is praise enough, to say that he is
worthy of brave Doutys place in the affec-
ton and confidence of his men, and that /
have heard from their own lips. Several of
them have been waiting here OF late for fresh
horses, having lost theirs in the field. "When
II first came ont here" said one, whom l
found comfortably lounging in the Presi-
dents room at the Capitol the other day, 1--WE
didn't see any fighting for some time, and /
Thought the first Maine wasn't going TO do
"much; but we go right in when we get a
"chance." And SO they do. Let us honor
them for this too; that when in the first
flush of anger, upon Doutys death, they swore
to take no more officers prisoners that day,
they did nevertheless bring in North Caroi-
ma colonel and major, though the colonel
fought desperately and only yielded when Sc
verely wounded and overpowered by num-
bers. Whatever threats grief and passion
might prompt and excuse, it is to their honor
and the honor OF the Northern education
which breeds such reverence for the sa-
credness of human life, that they could not
overcome an instructive aversion to an act of
murder committed in cool blood upon help
l1-A l.. A.
trast between the social institutions which de-
velop such men as these and such as Guam
trells miscreant cutthroats. The social sys-
TEN which spawns such infamous wretches as
those who rode through Lawrence in the gray
light of that terrible morning, must 90 down!
there is no longer any place for it on earth.
Let it be buried out Of sight, and if possible
out of memory forever.
Sulphur Springs is about seven miles from
Warrenton. Only one hotel, and that sadly
dllapidated, remains of what was once a famous
watering-place. The Sixteenth Maine lies at
Rappahannock Station; the Nineteenth near
at hand; the Twentieth at ford two miles
above. The pickets are stationed everywhere
on the northern bank of the river except at
the Station. There, two hills on the southern
side, which might otherwise be occupied by
the enemy's artillery, are held as outposts, for
TILED against infantry and cavalry. There is
P~Se~hAOAA
Virginia.
Many signs betoken the rapid improvement
OF public sentiment in this city. Arrangements
have been inaugurated for a course of radical
lectures this winter, such as was delivered two
years ago at the Smithsonian Institute 1t
was then and last winter impossible TO secure
haii IN the city for the purpose, and the OBJ
Jecuohs 10 the use OF the Smithsonian lecture
room again were found to be insuperabe
But the lesson of federation has been prettv
thoroughly learned. A few evenings ago
noisy company of young men sauntered down
Seventh street, roaring the chorus of ..John
Brown" There is nothing very remarkable
in that; but two years ago some of them would
have been murdered if they had selected that
air for street vocalization. A large lot of con-
fiscated property, including land formerly
owned by the rebel Governor Letcher Of vir-
ginia, lying in the very shadow of the Capitol,
was sold Wednesday morning by Deputy Mar
shai rhniips. IL is even urged that some ar
rangement be made by which negroes shall be
enabled 10 ENJOY the convenience of the street
cars without budding on the platform-by
setung apart certain cars to their use, for ex-
ample. But TINS seems almost too much to
nope. l. rs enough ior the present, if white
men can hold and modesty express their own
opinions without molestation.
The humors of the draft are much the same
here as elsewhere. One man had his front
teeth extracted, as happened in your city: but
the obliging Provost Marshal, being assured
by the surgeon that no other disability would
prevent the conscript from serving, assigned
him to duty in cavalry regiment. l tell the
the tale as twas told to me. We have not vet
had the case reported in Rhode Island where
man produced certificate, duly attested
that he was the only son of his grandmother
VINO was dependent on him for support. A
piack guard waits daily about the City Hall
10 Lake lake charge of the black conscripts.
Ihree patents were granted to Maine mer