Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-11-16
u. s. Christian CoMsrss1ox

Mn. EDITOR Il like to meet all nv
engagements, hence down set to writ.
you few lines Three weeks ago TO-DAY
obtained pass from the Provost Mas.
shall at Washington, and soon by short
trip on the ferry boat. found myself on
the /" sacred soil Of Virginia
immediately reported at the office Of
the Christian commission in this city
Alexandria is situated on the south bank
of the Potomac, about seven miles from
Washington. 1t is connected with Wash.
ington by railway and steamboats,. A
branch road running by Fairfax Court
House. connects witlQhc Virginia Central
Railroad at Gordonsville.
These railways are government proper.
ty, and all the cars bear the significant
mark u. S. NJ. RE, United States Mil.
itary Railroad.
Previous to the rebellion, Alexandra
contained d population of from 5000 to
10000. The population i; now much
larger, although large number of the
original inha bitants have left the city,
There is a garrison of about 1000 sol.
ders herein the hospitals 1000 or
5000 more-in the prisons. deserterS
bounty Jumpers, and rebs to the number
of 1900.
On arriving here you would naturally
inquire for the places of interest.
From the wharf. walking short dis.
lance up Kings Street, you notice on your
left this sign, Marshal House." you
turn in, step up three or four steps. enter
the Office. ask permission to 60 up the
stairs; the landlord takes the lead, you
follow him up three flights of stairs and
you stand on the top Where the brave
Col, Ellsworth was shot by the rebel
Jackson.
Passing on and turning down few
streets, you come to large house with
high walled yards on each side. On the
front of this building is sign bearing
this inscription, Price, Birch & Co deal
ers in Slaves" You enter the Office aud
ask a permit to enter the prison. for such
it now is-a prison containing about so
secessionists and a few of Mosby's guer-
illas. Yes, there you see them, those
horrid whackers. By the way |
preached to them last Sabbath. You see
some of the F. F. VS., in the very pen
where they shut up and marketed their
slaves
You are shown two in close confinement.
They are accused of murder in the street.
On your return you will pass by the
Soldiers Rest. and the Government Depot.
In these you will see Huch of interest.
OF course you must visit the B kerry,
where Government has employed $50
men. nearly all colored, who bake 1885,
600 loaves of bread per day, using $40
pounds of -four in their manufacture.
You would not want to visit Washing
ton prison. formerly cotton factory. but
by the fortune of war converted into a
prison. 1t contains II 900 or 10000
beings, Il cannot call them mem the
most vile offscourings of our land.
have said you would want to visit this
prison-not SO, if they should use yon as
they did one of our delegates who at
tempted TO distribute religious papers in
one of the wards They threw blanket
over his head and tried to pick his pock-
cts. but the guard flew to his relief.
There are several other prisons yon
might visit. but in the old factory you
have sample of the character of them
all. Returning to our rooms from the
prison, you pass by Christ's church you
step IN and pass up the aisle your atten-
ton is called to large old fashioned
pew. On silver plate fastened upon the
door, yon read the name Of George Wash
ington. You quietly seat yourself Snd
breathe prayer in the very place where
the Father of our Country used to wor-
ship God.