The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-06-16
For the Guardian.
A Trip to Washington.
WASHINGTON, "a June, 1868.

| i do not write because I have any
moving wonders by flood or field to com
municate but because some Of your
readers may be pleased TO read some.
thing from this place, and to learn some
thing of journeying at this time and
season. | shall say nothing of my adj
ventures, for the Hibernian reason that
there were none, until / reached Cleve-
land, Friday evening. Here l had like
TO have gone in wrong direction, with
vengeance. My ticket said from Cleve.
land 10 Rochester, meaning Rochester,
Ohio. | enquired for the Rochester
train. and had it pointed out to me. |
was soon esconced in berth in sleep.
ing car, and was making myself as COM
Portable as possible, the train being Just
ready TO start, when in rushed an ac
quaintance had made during the day,
and informed me | was in the car for
Rochester, N. Y. l assure you l had to
exercise no little speed in getting my
duds together, and getting off the train,
and only just accomplished it. By this
time, all The hacks and omnibusses had
gone, and | was in wilderness of de.
pot. cars running here and there, bells
ringing. and whistles shrieking, ill
began almost 10 be frightened. and had
great difficulty in getting out and finding
a hotel, but finally took quarters at the
Johnson House. At eight O'Clock on
Saturday morning l started for Pitts
burg, The ground was very dry. and
the dust was literally awful. 1t came in
clouds into the cars, and we passengers
could have pretty realizing sense of
the dust curse which afflicted the ancient
Egyptians. Never in all my life was |
so muc prosecuted in this way.
My travelling companions all along
the route were of that miscellaneous sort
which the condition of our country calls
out There were officers and soldiers,
mothers and fathers going for sick and
wounded sons, and the usual diversity of
the sexes. / noticed one German Colo
mel who appeared to have been home on
a iurlough, and had improved the time
to take as n helpmate blooming, pretty
American girl, who seemed perfectly sat
isiied with her choice. and evidently
thought that mono but the brave de-
serves tho fair" The train was long
one. and in one Of the cars l noticed
some twenty or more fellows in a queer
and shabby gray uniform. and learned
that they were rebel prisoners. whom
guard were taking to Fort Delaware.
The sight OF these men affected me much
as il would TO have gazed upon gang
OF pirates. They were the first South
rem traitors l ever saw. Their appear.
ance was solid and sulen, You look.
ed in vain for that intelligence and lively
obs rvstion which the Northern counte-
nance everywhere exhibits.
With the exception OF these rebels and
their guard, the soldiers in The cars. and
the plckels between Baltimore and Wash.
ington along the line of railroad. and
few other things OF this sort. perceiy-
ed nothing all the way from Indepen.
1
dence to Washington that would ind.
cate that this country is in state of war
On the contrary. everything gave token
OF prosperity, activit business, trade.
comm rec. prntils and wealth. No man
can travel wilhou, being impressed with
the unlimited resources OF this country
as yet untouched No one can observe
hS without feeling that there can be but
one termination of this war--a victory
OF the government complete and over.
helming. As yet the Northern people
bave known nothing like distress or want,
nay, they have not even nd their com
forts taken from them AMI when we
call TO mind the sacrifices brave n d
free people will make for the perpetua
ton OF liberty. We cannot despair of our
county. or feel otherwise than sure Of
success.
During all my journey. scarcely
heard disloyal sentiment On the con =
trary, people of all classes were ardent
and enthusiastic in favor of the right
l find. too. that in Baltimore and Wash
ington, no such reasonable ulterances
are tolerated rs are often heard in Inde-
pendence. The Union sentiment is pre-
valent and buoyant, and the good effects
Of freedom are already apparent in Wash
ington, and they are obliteratng the old
vestiges OF barbarsm which formerly
cursed the city. To do right is expedi
emit hlesses him who gives. and him
who takes. But ] am wandering from
the details Of my journey.