The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-13
Letter from the National Capital.

with it.
Letter from the National Capital.
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press:
1t has never been my fortune until within
few days to pass along the line of travel be-
tween Portland and this city at this season of
the year. Nothing can be more beautiful than
the country at this time. The beautiful fresh
ness of the verdure that mantles every slope
and hill side and carpets every valley, the del
icate luxuriance of the foliage that now clothes
with flowing drapery of rarest green every
stout old trunk and graceful sapling, the aro-
ma of the broken soil, the mingled breath of
thousands Of timid wild flowers blending
sweetly with the fragrance of apple and peach
blossoms, the inimtable harnonies that rise
from every copse and orchard and thicket,
the glad, glorious sunshine pouring down
from heaven like a baptism of life and beau
ty-all combine to make this season beautiful
beyond measure.
The spring came slowly but the summer has
FASTENED on apace. Already in some few
spots along the southern portion Of the way
the haymakers are beginning their toll. The
grain that five weeks ago scarcely cast a
shade of green over the tawny soil, now rolls
n slow and graceful fluctuations. Other cul-
ivated crops, however, even in Delaware and
Maryland are not very much in advance of
those in New England.
Few portions of our country offer better
inducements to the agriculturalist than that
lying between this city and New York. The
soil is mostly good, not broken by many rug
ged hills nor encountered with stones. The
great markets of New York, Baltimore and
Philadelphia offer the best facilities for con-
verting the products of the farm and garden
into money. Yet the country does not show
snch signs of prosperity as one might expect.
One does not often see either in lands, fences,
or buildings, evidence OF the cultivated taste
the substantial comfort, the tidy thrift, by
which the farming districts of New England
are largely characterized. One cannot but
obse rye how as the church and school house
become less and less frequent, material pros
perity suffers. There are indeed many fine
farms and beautiful residences, particularly
between New York and Philadelphia; but the
whole country is by no means what Yankee
energy, enterprise and industry would have
made it. So at least it seems to me.
The agricultural portions OF "My Mary
land" have never impressed me as very -four
ishing. The crops are thriving in some pla-
ces, bnt in many others are the reverse. There
is almost any amount of exhausted land, COW
cred with small trees or brushwood. In many
places the advance guards of the forest have
carried the fences, those breastworks of cul-
tivation, and are rapidly driving it back across
the worn out fields. The negro quarters here
and there to be seen, which in some northern
eyes have seemed so picturesque and charm
ing a feature of the landscape, never appeared
TO me other than shabby and squald huts, Of
ten in as sore need of the labors of the white
washer as the patriarchal Institution they rep
resent
This city is very quiet. 1 doubt whether
during the two years past it has ever contained
so few soldiers able to do duty. Many have
gone 20 the army of the Rappahannock, and
the apprehension just now felt of a rebel cav
airy raid prevents those stationed around the
city from getting passes to come in. What
reason there may be for the apprehension
above referred to | am not able to say. In
any case no uneasiness need be felt The
stores and depots of supplies at which the reb
els will probably strike, if they attempt any
inroad, are being made, if possible, still more
secure than heretofore.
The movement upon the Rappahannock on
Friday and Saturday last has given rise TO
many exaggerated reports. The matter
amounted to nothing more than a reconnois-
ance in force and as such was perfectly sue
cessful.
1t is now the opinion OF some good judges
here that the next struggle and the greatest
of the war thus far will be in the Yazoo val
ley. The problem of success or failure in
that quarter seems to have resolved itself into
question of reinforcements and all eyes are
turned in that direction with the most intense
interest.
Many will be glad to know that large por-
tons OF Gen. Hookers army are pervaded by
deep religious interest Rev. DIR. Sunderland
OF this city-who by the way has been amply
sustained in the patriotic and Christian course
he has taken in daring TO denounce both the
rebellion and its cause-was last week invited
to go to the front for the purpose of admins
tering the ordinance of the Lords supper to
thousands of brave and godly men, who have
long been deprived of that Christian rite and
are waiting to receive it. In the convalescent
camp at Alexandria, two hundred soldiers at
one time recently expressed in the usual way
their wish to be remembered in the prayers of
| Christians.
The weather here is very cool and dry and
the thoroughfares of the city are filled with
driving clouds of dust. And now, as 1 resume
the routine of Washington life, there rises