The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-08-17
washington correspondence.
WASHINGTON July, q, 18f

WaSn1ngtOR correspondence
WASHINGTON July, FL, 1864.
DEAR JOURNAL: Commencing where
I left off, | made short trip up the Erie
road which | could not begin to make as
interesting to another as it was to myself,
and one up the Hudson which could
easily make infinitely more so if [ chose.
Then on one of the hottest of our red
hot days [ started on my return by way
of Philadelphia. After short but very
pleasant sojourn in Baltimore with some
old friends from Potter, at last arrived
at my respectable lodgings just in time
to enjoy the sensation" produced by the
late rebel raid. Gen. Thomas had called
out the militia. The patriotic clerks of
the different departments had "fown to
arms" and looked a formidable defense
of noble city, with their wilted dickeys,
stove, pipe hats, and smooth bore muskets.
Old seceSsionists of mathematical turn
of mind were to be seen on every street
corner, multiplying the dangers of our
situation by two and the number of the
raiders by ten The burden of their song
was sagely taken up and passed along
until Washington was frightened. They
deny it now, and say they were only
"making believe" Ii that is true l ad-
wise the city to take the stage in body.
They ''play with great fidelity to nature.
During the presence of the enemy on
the Seventh Street road, and in the vi
entity of Rockville, Co., | made frequent
excursions in those directions as far as
prudence permitted, aud in one or two
instances rather farther. From all the
facts | am able to gather | have set down
the invading force at about $4,000. All
higher estimates, | must regard as exag-
gerations, all considerably lower, as the
outbursts of invidous spleen on the part
Of those who would draw consolation from
the modification which loyal men must
feel in contemplating this audacious and
successful Rebel enterprise.
Maryland is the theatre Of widespread
and general desolation. There are heavy
hearts covered by lcng faces to be met
with at every turn. Their whining is
doleful, especially that Of those who have
not established sufficient reputation foi
loyalty to throw themselves upon the sym.
pathy of the Government and its sup
porters. To say tho truth, the pity !
have for them, though great, is not un
mixed with blame. They have, in nearly
every individual instance kept up but a
very thin show of surface loyalty; and
have ever been ready to give information
and even more substantial aid to the en-.
emy. They have been but too willing to
laud the Confederate leaders to the skies
and to sneer at the "negro worshipers, u
as they have seen fit to name all loyal
men. The consequences of their perfdy
have been visited upon them with an un-
sparing hand, "a friendly hand withal
The leaders whose prowess they praise,
have they not picked the bones of thei.
chickens? The "chivalric host" whose
bravery has been the object of their un-
bounded admiration, has it not stolen
their pigs, horses and cows, and pluudered
their boot, shoe and hat stores I dread
that helpless women and children should
suffer, but as far as concerns the men, the
pity feel for them is the same one feels
for the criminal, in justice condemned to
expiate his crime. Their pleas of friend
illness to the Confederate cause were uni.
formly met with heavier levies, by way OF
Communication for the services which these
"blind leaders of the blind" supposed
Il n,';;esndly spirits should render in the
field. .a
The long talked of call for 100000
men was formally made on the 18th ult.,
in accordance with the views expressed
By Gen. Grant.
Considerable gossip has been had here
yesterday aud today concerning the con-
ference between Mr. Greeley and Mr.. Geo.
N. Sanders Confederate AGENT, at Nj
agara Falls. The greatest difficulty seems
to be that nobody knows how much to
believe. There is surely enough said.
Col. Jacques, of an Illinois regiment,
once preacher of the Methodist persua-
sion, has actually been 20 Richmond and
"talked to- JEFF. JEFF, it is said, was
deeply impressed, and took the quandan,
elders hand in both of his, and squeezed
it, nothing more. AS Edmund Kirk.
author of "Among the Pines" was along
we may safely look for book telling all
about ii.