Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-01


Beside the brave who fell that day;
But who of US has not confessed
He'd rather share their warrior rest,
Than not have been at Monterey!
A Visit to Washington, by one who kept his
Ears and Eyes open,
We have had long and interesting conversation
with gentleman of high position and intelligence,
who has lust returned from "reconnolsance OF
the Yankee CAPITAL. He was in Washington 1or
some time and was close observer of events there
incident to the close of Congress. With an adrolt
ness and holiness he euded all suspicion and MN
gled in freely with all the most prominent OF the
public men and politicians, informing himself, AZ
far as he could of the military situation the feeling
Of the people, and the prospect OF the North With
his permission, We give to our readers sketch OF
some interesting facts which we have been able to
gather in the course of conversation with him:
THE phfEScEs OF WASHINGTON.
Washington is the capital and stronghold of the
enemy, and every thing has been done to make it
improbable. The panic after the first battle OF
Manassas has not been forgotten by Them and hing
Abraham keeps his Scotch cap and military cloak"
in very convenient distance, from fear that ne may
some morning awake to find himself fugitive from
his capital Indeed, Washington is by no means
considered SAFE and the phantom of the "rebel ar
nv" at its gates still disturbs the slumbers Of
great MANY of its citizens. King Abraham seeks
bis repose under the sleepless vigilance of armed
sentinels and feeling of uneasiness and midity is
betrayed even in the pomp and glitter Of Office
The Yankees have, however, not been idle in draw
ing around them every plan and instrument of de-
fence, and are making the city as impregnable as
far as human power and skill can devise Contin-
aoas and formidable lines of Notifications engrdle
the city on every side, and frownng cannon CON-
nd auoru mint IF the counasa The Gibraltar
of Washington is Arlington Heights, and the YAM
kes rely upon the works here for the safety Of
Washington in case of an attack The guns mount
ed at Arlington are of the largest class, and the
place is so strongly fortified that military men re-
gard it as impregnablr-at least the position could
net be carried without the most frightful sacrifice
OF life. The other Notifications around Washing
ton are heavily mounted, and men are kept con:
st,ntly at work on the earthworks in keeping them
in perfect repair: IN the rear OF washington is
ii.,e of strong breastworks, erected as defence
against an attack from the North, and commanding
at several points the railroad that runs into Wash
ii zton from Baltimore.
The defences around Washington are manned BY
comparatively small force. With the army iii
front of Washington it is of course not necessary
to keep much force in the rear. From all the ind
cations and from the most intelligent opinion our
Informant could form, he does not think that the
v hole military force in and around Washington
on all the fertilization ;ncluded-will exceed
$4,000. The force at Alexandra was very small
and would number not more than 5000 or 6,OOO
THE FEELING IN WASHINGTON FOR AN ADVANCE BY
HOoKER-A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES
There was general clamor in Washington for
an early advance by Hooker, but the Yankees we're
far from being sanguine Of the result. So far from
il, we are told that there was very great depres-
,,on in the public mind, and many openly predicted
the defeat Of Hooker. Many objected to the Ad.
ministration yielding to this camor, and persisted
that it would be but leading their men into
slaughter pen." They recited the reverse of
Burnside, and even proclaimed on the streets that
Hooker would share the same fate whenever he
should attempt an advance. Military men IN con.
versation with our friend (ineog) freely expressed
this opinion, and declared that it would be madness
ITO move on the rebel works at Fredericksburg.
Our informant could not discover what was the
plan OF. those who opposed forward movement at
Fredericksburg, and says that there was such a d.
vsrsity of opinion andsuch jabbering and wranp.
ling of tongues at Washington that there seemed t.
be no definite programme Of action that there WAS
no concert of action; no harmony of feeling: and
that the Yankees were drifting about like Shin at
sea without rudder or compass -
Everything had been done in Washington to get
Hooker ready for an advance The last man nd
-AS
for the issue on the Rappahannock, Soon after tho
council OF war" held at the White House. which
Hooker attended, reinforcements- how manv
Is not knoWn-were sent to him. It was under.
s*--1 that this was done by Lincoln a. f;n.i ~
cession, and that Fighting Joe was uis,u ua Io.
70 understand that it was all that would be- done
1or MIN, and that he must advance on the rebels
WIN the army ne has. 1t was the general talk in
washington that Hooker had one hundred and
thirty thousand men, but the average estimate IN
military circles, and as derived from Conversations
with officers. is that Hooker's available force 10
from ninety to ninety-fve thousand. Our inform.
ant from all he could gather, thinks this is fair
~ KING ABRAHAM l.
mere was very great feeling Of dissatisfaction
IN washington at the action Of Congress ;nvost;nn
aancola With such extraordinary powers and esne'
c,any AGAINST the Indemnity bill, giving impunity tn
an hls asss. Ihe conservative classes said that It
was on tne sh principle that 1.-THE King can do M
sae oas e. Ns2s step towards monarchy and =
1eeo OF absolute power. The sword and nnrsa &c
The nation were at his will without even % =.
AZ the SHADOW Of restraint. The peonle wera ~
coming alarmed at the subject and even manv " -
Lincoln supporters and political friends denounced
,ne action OF Congress twas barteriue awav ths;-
hoert'es sad co;nmitting the whole Interests Of ~
nsuon to the power Of ono man. It was said il;
''acai circles tklt this unlimited power had haa,
lug Lincoln to seten! the necessity of converting
,ne new Congress, whose political complexion fore
"sos The hope Of its voting the ways and means to
carry on the war. 70 make the mater sure f.,,
gless; before its dissolution, made Lincoln k;nr
!ns "cosTa.KASps' AT WASHINGTON
ua! informant confirms the ru,nor we have hssrd
:, !as as:atnon and suffering Of the 'contrabands"
il sssooa; ae says they are huddled together
10 tie s'ty-and they are in the most sb;sct on
sqsald poverty They are kept Off ito thswss,s sna
and no one takes the least interest in tbem"s Ives
aetsr.ssic commentary on the hypocrisv Of the Hsr
sis. aeesr school There is the greatest destit,.
.s AMONG thstp many of them are half n.keds and
s'' !''' creatures are being swept off " disease