Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-08-04
Picture OF the Siege of Washing ton seosI 4. Oh
Tnsde-Scenes OF Three Days.

A letter to the New York rimes from soldier who
was in w Washington from the beginning to the end OF
the rebel raid furnishes very good description Of
that city under its first siege. He says
At the time Of the appearance of the first Buternut
at Rockville, Nd the capital city had not force enough
four rife pits. 1t was uncertain at which point
of the thirty odd miles the columns OF Br cknrdge and
Early might be hurled. And when it was learned at
midnight of Sunday, the 10th inst, that the enemy
massing their columns against Fort Stevens, with
the knowledge of our weakest point Of defence-whicl
was the alarming feature of the whole afair-the
terror Of the cz,ns amounted almost to pal alysis-
At the disposal OF Gen. Augur were few hundred
days men, unused as yet to the sound of heavy arte
ry five thousand of veteran reserves men thoroughly
capable Of fghting bat utterly incapable OF marching
at the double quick from one threatened point to
another.
On Sunday, rumors Of the approach of the enemy set
the uLh dged artillery at anxious practice with the
heavy guns ard flied the rfepts with oil the veteran
reserves around the city. L he report Sunday night
hat the enemy at Rockville, eighteen mills dis
t,nt, brought all the from the Alexandria side
As your correspondent and the sualght pass 18th
street, the thunder of the guns of Fort Reno, which
believing under the frantic practice OF the militia
vas swaying the people to and fro with exciement.-
A bread grin very hdeousy perceptble on THE Sc
cession mouth, and many ANXIOUS face Looked out
from behind waving flag, and many hearty "GOd
bless you," came from loyal heart we marched up
the road.
Arriving at Fort Stevens in the suburbs OF the
CITY, found few regiments scattered around In that
lazy ind ference which is evnced only by The veteran
at such an hour Ths rife pits were sparey occupied
aud troops slowly coming in, composed ony Of DIS
mounted cavalry and convaescents from hos plta's-
We were ordered three miles to the lett to Fort Reno
and stationed there 10 the rife pits but until one o.
clock the grumbng of the under the into!erable
heat in that ehadeless plain " was all the sound we
heard" After resting few moments, we o.dered
back On arrival ~one-third Of the eglment and
five commissioned Officers had been stricken down
with heat and sun-stroke. By two O'Clock the rebel
skirmsaers were appearing and disappearing in that
snake the grass style becoming their status
the residence of Hon. Frank Blair. By three O'Clock
their skrmsh ue had worked its insidious way within
pistol shot OF the gunners at the or and mat were
becoming decidedly interesting, sufficiently so to begue
the President the Secretary OF State and his son. many
of the Foreign Legations, and all TIE military notabes
of the capital, 10 the scene
So close were they that of the gazars from Fort
Stevens shot the parapet and the whistle OF a
bullet heard close beside the Presldent's carriage
VII ch at this stage of the proceedings IN pos
ton enabling lis distinguished occupant to crack joke
in response the crack OF the rebd rfa Whether 1t
was last outrage that determined the ohcers In
charge not we do not know but about this time
proceedings were being taken put end to this rebel
recreation A line of sklrmishers, composed of tn
Veteran Reserves, some dsmouned cavalry and hund-
red day men, depoyed in front, and steadily drove
back for a short distance the whole rebel line.
The scene at this time of the rarest in bis
tory From the eIeva ed position of the enrenchmens
the view was uuobscuIed tor ten miles 10 every dlrec-
ton b7 anything but few groups OF trees and under
brush The BEAUTIFUL agricultural region under the
guns Of Forts Stevens and DcRussey radiant with
tue glory of the rpening harvest, and the spendor
uncouded sunlight. Light putfs OF smoke shot on
from the dark green Verdure and great "h'e wf3atnf
from the bursting shells circItd against the deep blue
of the sky. From the burning dwellings,, WHich our
skirmisbers destroying, n order to give range to
the artillery, Secession fam lies were pouriog through
the lines, with deep and ;udoie curses uttered within
reach osthe Presidential ear, and loy families, with
sorrow stricken faces hurrylDg toward The city
vast audience with hushed voices and earnest gaze
were looking cut upon the scene, and there In sight OF
the OF the day with honest Abraham On
one side of the rife pits and dishonest John O. Breck
;nr5pe on the other the Postmaster General his
house the beaoouarers of his former friend, and
traitor euemy was ruggllng 70 destroy the very
capital where the people had delighted to DO him honor
This was the last scene your correspondence eyes rest
ed upon as be went over the breas.|ok TO get near
er view in Obedience the order "In Advance March"
of his officer. For the hog0r Oh our nation and Its I'M
mortal noera let hope that such sights and sounds
be seen eard ageln under The saado" OF tie
capital.
Down below but little to be eeen b1t considera
be was to be done in the line OF sharp ookou and art
fu dodgiug "Wh sneycr you see head Elt 1t" was
the IRISH rule to be adopted Slowly and steadily the
line progressed care uIiy keeping the profile of the ad-
vance, and still carefully ensconcng oneself be
hind any friendly 1t delightful SIGHT to see
rebel drop here and thC Geagonzing to bear from right
or lett tie cry Of suffer- ng from asricken comrade Nc
charge was yet made 'at the line held. -,
Two hours of this nd then ge!;et cane. The Six:n
Corps had arrived and e Veteran Reserves with then
smooth bores, with wht they had fought hooy aSans
the Eoglish riffs of eir opponents, were iecei'eo
with SWeli done pood and faithful" from tie Grove
in the pi,s and the f1ht y Sixth went in with hear
ty "God bless you old We e." from ALL Those griu sol
d,ers went to their work With sang fFosd that dit
ores heart good TO see. dressed in every imaginable
costume, with battered tattered OLD hats; ah so
of atterdemalionttire, vii The dust OF the
and the south aide vet upon them chatting aod laugh
inc thew senntered over the oreaetworks. Observing
%, - = l.: .o..:.. .f . oantaan hanging On thei