Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-05-09

a very great extent of ground. Themes "a.
sued delays equally great; for It woald have
been impossible to make long marches with.
out leaving the rear of the column Lost Or
scattered in the woods at night Six miles I
day was the most that could be accomplished.
Detached corps, relieved Of all incumbfanes.
may sometimes have made longer MARCHES;
but these were exceptions. The troops 1eobsa
and had an intelligent air. The Uniform of
the whole army was the same sky-blue pan.
falcons, generally tucked into the boots, and
blouse or jacket or dark blue tunic. Some
red mark on the dress distinguished the ertil.
lery, and touch Of yellow the cavalry. The
ordinary headdrsss was. the kepi, but many
wore soft, black felt hat, with some brass
ornaments. The officers, dressed like the
men, were distinguished by small shoulder.
straps and a purplish-red sash. Nothing
could bs more simple. commodious, and mill.
tary than this uniform, when properly worn.
At the end of each days. march. the camp
was formed with much order and regularity.
The sllelter-tents Of the soldiers were put up
in twinkling. The staff officers tents wers
larger and more commodious. The head.
quarters were established in . central position,
with the tent of the General-in- Chief n the
middle and two parallel rows Of tents on each
side. The cavalry officers report ed their N
'connoissances and the numberless 'skirmishss
with the enemy. The telegraph wires wsrs
brought on, attached to the ordinary posts, or
envrloped in gutta percha and unrolled along
the ground from a small wagon. driven fast.
followed by the operators on horseback. with
their apparatus slung over their shoulders.
All the branches of the service were organ
lied, and the printing Office worked % Teku-
larly az it would have done at Washington.
Let us do justice to the Americans. They
understand this camp.lifs better than any 9th
er people. Their wandering habits, the famil.
iarity which many of them have with the nat.
riarchal march Of the columns of emiersuts
across the western prairies, the nomadic life
which their officers nave had among the Iudi.
an tribes make them more fit for this kind Of
life than any other soldiers. This sucamp.
ment of hundred thousand men, the daily
erection Of this city Of tents. was really Gu.
rious spectacle, which recalled to mind the de-
scriptions in the Bible but there was nothing
Biblical in the forest Of transport ships, most
" steamers, which came up amid clouds of
smoke. as soon as the camp was fixed. and
which, blowing off steam with great noise,
made fast to the river banks, aud there impro.
vised wharves, which soon became the scene
of extraordinary activity. Thousands e
wagons moved in all directions, BY roads
opened for them in the woods by the axs, il
a few minutes. and soon returned laden With
all the provisions necessary for an army: bic.
cult. salt meat, coffee, sugar, oats. corn, hay.
&c. The sick were put on board the vessels.
Alas they became more and more numerous;
for the season was both rainy and hot. and
these beautiful meadows Of the Pamunkey
bred deadly fsvers. Then night came, dis.
turbed only by the tedious song Of tho mock.
ing.bird. The next day aotilla and army
resumed their march, leaving nature behind
them silent hat desolated by their passage.
On thu 10th Of May, We arrived e The
White House. handsome residence. once
The property Of Washington. and now bslouk.
ing to his descendants, the Lao family. TIE
head Of this family General Lee. was ons Of
the chief officers Of the confederate army; ono
OF his nephews was serving in the Federal
ranks, General Mcclellan. always careful to
respect private property. placed ssntinsls
around the house Of the hostile general, l6r-
bade any one TO- enter it, and would MT satsf
it himself. but set up bic tent in neighbosink
meadow. The general has bssn r~nroaehv1
in Congress for thus respecting southern pro-
prrty but the opinion Of the army Wa az.
isrent il participated Ia the delicate feeling
Of its leader. This feeling was carried o II
that. gsneral's servant having fonnd shaahse
Of champagns in deserted bousr. The esass-
al sent it back openly the next day by on
Of his aids-de-cainp. Ono may smile q thie
somewhat puritanical austerity of mahossgt
to which We ars but little acustonsd 10 70.
rope but for my part / must confess that /
have always admired it. sl lts.,,. ,,s a.
At tl,s White House the Pamunkey csassd
to be navigable. The York River railroad.
which connected that river With Riohaon6.
crossed It at this point on bridge whieA
the enemy had destroyed, and then seslinssd
on in straight line to the capital ,of virria-
ia This rad remained almost uniuiured;
having neither. embankmehts nor viaduet. i
was difficult to bs destroyed. Only y ~
rails had been taken up. which wrs aota re.
placed. All the rolling mock had beeo, -
RI d off; bat the Federal army, lad q, IL
transports locomotives and numerous eise
which were at once landed. The whols tra6e.
port Aotilla was unladsn At The White H66ts.
where. under the protection Of The gasbsAtq
. vest depot was formed. and al ths Astixity
Of q ssa.port was displayed. Thea ~ egny
again took up ito march for RichNeod. foj,
lowing the railroad. which was 70 ssrv6 = ~
vital artery for ito operations. t
Hsanwhile. Whist wse Tho suieslv optng1
We hlvs shown johnson oaeess116lly suG16.
t;nn IL. C.a.r.1 aAv.rns -rs,Gr6 = ~ ~ -