Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-16
A ylstr TO AIoaxoND-.rHE oFFIeEAs o.
GOVERNMENT.

I a
GOVERNMENT.
DASDRiDOr, lynn, Feb. s, 1854
To As Editor Of Ae Wig;
Perhaps no nan but soldier form a just idea Of
tie pleasure Of visiting home after the dangers and
exposures of campaign Toe greaser the distance and
the ssssrer the hardshp3 the exquisite the pleas
uo. TIE feeling is very much IKE that excited when
oue returns from foreign country after long alb
snes There is, however, less Of vanity and more Of
manliness in it. nan feels that he has right to
walk the streets OF the Capital which he has defended
With his life. The soldiers home may undergo many
changes in his absence yet the friends who make it go
dser 10 him be in5s have not ehsnged they love him
even more than ever As compensation for trials and
Dangers God hss SO arranged Il in HIS providence, that
the man who viii net suffer cannot. ecjoy. There are
heights Of rapture of which lie must be ignorant
Bat have digressed feOm ny purpose. did not de-
sign 10 give you an essay on Hon, Again."
Il happened on my late visit former ones, that
had much business to do With the Departments and it
gives me pleasure to state that it transacted With
mora than usual pleasure. was glad to find the Presi-
dent looking so well and cheerful Never before have
l seen him look 50 WELL Ho dispatches business WIN
grea, prompness yet with great pcliteness. He did
|
lion whether Abraham Lincoln has, since his coming
into Office had so serene and happy smile as had Mr.
Davis on The day of my visit TO him. TIC first man by
talent well position in the country, long may be
I've % guide our destiny II he loves his friends too
wal As IA perhaps Justly affirmed Of him. Il is offence
or nfrmitY easily forgiven. The President has been
fortunate in the selection Of his staff happened to
haze business with most Of them. lis private Score
tsrE, Mr. Harrison, is q gentleman beyond question:
So ae Coloacls Brown Ives and Lee From the loose
ness with which the wcrd "gen.emsn - used ~ THIS
country this may be regarded saying very little Tor
them l regard t as saying graf deal. l have
long been OF opinion that there as few gentlemen
| in the world as scholars. A gentleman must be man
| Of sense, and Of yirtuOuS feel ngs also. There are
eeuntsrfets know. But there il much truth IN be
saying 'ha Was born gentleman" S1aio Ct the De-
par.I n al Il 0aao.d AN sorry to say are not nHsd
by gentlemen. / mean tie Chiefs OF Departments are
not gentlemen. friend of mine had the courage TO
tsl oce of these officials So sddiug be was "a disgrace
/ 70 the STATE that gave him BIRTH" In my boyhood
had Es respec. for man Wla.ever his position, who
dared 70 treat gentlemen with iEoivilty Ny tsengs
for such now, partake strongly o; contempt and
digut have always thought that such mea were
dFq lalfed for public office. am glad TO md that the
President has only appointed few OF this class to high
positions at tue capital TIE present Qaartermaster
General Is a man well fitted for his post ualess am
greatly mistaken found MIN quick end PRACTICAL To
Q toe street is enough TO satisfy one that he ID
a man Of energy.
HAD heard Of Col Preston OF the Oocscrp. Bureau,
bffsre visited him lie is The very embodiment of
courtesy His opsn hand and teee pas you at at
once lie and the President tue only persons who
extended their hands, introducing myself This is
an Cd and wel-bred custom, much neglected.
Al hougb Col Preston could not comply with my
shes yet in refusing he impressed me the more with
his good manners and kind heart have no idea that
all educ ted men be courteous Col p, but all
well bred men may at leas. initiate hiT. Col Broun,
OF the Ordnance Department, is gentlemanly aud la
borous officer Major BeUtly, at the Clothing Depart
N n found petite, and with sense enough TO look at
a pepper Il does so happen that it IL not tied with 'red
tapen De- Clarke, Of the Medical PGrveyors Office,
found aso polite and attentive. Perhaps there is
office ia Edmond conducted with more ease and des-
patch ;hAa hst 81 the Of Rain and l0h, where
soldiers are paid. am sorry do not know who is ct
the head of this Office The duties may be simple but
have never ssen pr0mp ness and uniform cour-
tesy any where in my lie. merchant epxious to sell
bis goods would not be To5e polite. have frequently
hal business there but never witnessed any tagging in
| the attention The COmmseaIy Department seems sell
conducted. There is not, by the way, hborious
or faithful officer IN the Confsde;aoy than Asjor Clay
bourn l did not mees with bin ibis visit but know
he was a. his post. LAY TIE Government reward him.
l regret can say nothing in commeIdaton Of that De-
/ garment which Lord Chesterfield and the author Of
tie English Dictionary, both from very different stand
points regarded as producing the best specimens of
/ kindness aud courtesy. There are two Bureaus up
/ stairs in the War 0hee building which have never
visited with pleasure and expect enter except
from necessity. They are naturally close together
vas three mes privileged 70 60 ato the office of the
Secretary Of War and 20 wait TIL every Congressman
had represented every Of bis Constituents but as
had otner matters to a,tfnd TO- gave up in despair
Mr.. Seddon is the only Secretary of War thst | have
MOI been able as they in this country, "to get to
see' de is doubtless good officer for he is gen.
lleman sud man Of fac sense. cCud not Belp
thinking TIA. it would be well ii zone hour" in day
had beea appropriated to "0aioers from tho Army"
who have not one-fourh of the time that members Of
Congress have to wait in tho Secre.arys ofice had
business 70 Of advantage to the Government
but it had 70 90 undone because could not afford To
spend tbO best part Of every dy for week in this
oicc. The Adju.ant Generals office is well conducted.
General Cooper not prspossCssing but is courteous
AID attentive to your wants. Col Withers is always
polite end always at his post.
designed saying something about my retu n TO camp
and affairs here but have already extended this letter
beyond Reasonable length. Ia my next may give you
some information, Of which I think the public at TIC
Carial Ignorant in regard 70 matters here Ali the
men OF Capt. F.eklens Battery (Souh Carolina,) aud
these OF Capt. JOrdan Virginia Lave enlisted for
the war. Men and horses arc well fed clothed and
shod. We knoS nothing Of short rations here.
Y0us, KY.