The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-09
Correspondencs ., tie Lansing = P1bi'sn
Letter from Washington.


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Knpatrick's headquarters at Stevensourg, four
miles from the Rapdsn and about the same DIS
lance from Brandy Station, on the Railroad run
ming between Alexandria and Culpepper.
party Of Members of Congress, among them Sen
Ators Howard and Chandler, and Representatives
Beaman, Epson, Kellogg and LOngyear aud
their lsiies, accepted the invitation Of that
splendid cavalry officer, fitzpatrick, to visit bis
quarters and take view Of his camp. The OF
dcers of that Division bad fitted up an old build
ing, to which they gave the name OF LyceUm,
for the purposes Of military instruction ard the
innocent anussments allowed 10 camp. We
rived at about P. ~, and after partaking Of
substantial lanch-very welcome TO hungry
stomachs after = tiresonle rde-se we're invited
10 the lyceum 10 witness, what the Genera
called, It's dedication The officers, guests
and ladies' filed the spacious ball, and the bril-
liant audiepc ewas addressed on the nature, caus
rs and necessity Of the war, by Senators How
ard, of Michigan, Wilkinson and Ramsay, Of
Minnesota, Chandler, of Michigan, and by Mr.
Kellogg, Representative from Michigan. Gen
Fitzpatrick was then called upon. He came
quickly forward, bis step light a. that OF r
ioI his laughing but piercing eve flashing aud
made one of the most patriotic speeches
have ever listened to. He Came out frankly
and earnestly in approval of the policy OF the
administration on the subject Of slavery, and
pledged himself in the most open and frank
terms to support it throughout. He went fur
Their; be mentioned its absolute necessity in or
der to vanquish the rebels all give permanent
peace to the country. He was voc ierousls
cheered by the whole audience, and bats ard
handkerchieis we're swung in the air in attesta
ton Of hearty approval of his sentiments.
Let it not be doubted, the soul 0; the army OF
the Potomac Is devoted to this policy. A few
copperheads and McCellsnized officers Ray
struggle OF for awhile against this sentiment,
but ike the masses of the democratic party eve
rywhere, must 6ualy succumb to it and embrace
il; it s irresistible az justice.
General Fitzpatrick is man Of about 40, in
perfect health, of temperate, even, abstemiou-
habits. courteous manners bat without the slight
est effort at display; colloquia aud frank, OF &
6ne physique. thin and slight in stature, bur
1.-THE and wiry a weasel; of a we'll cultivated
mind, true solditrly heart, and al activity hich
SCENE to multiply him every where and make him
present where be s least expected. He is chaf-
ing to be permitted to make a cavalry rush upon
Richmond, and assured me that be could TO-DAY
penetrate to il with few thousand men well
armed with sabres and CA bines. But a second
" Cum tatOr 10 at the head of the army and
fears to risk anything, as il anything had thus
far been gained by delay aud unreadiness
The party staid at and near bis headquarters.
in the midst Of rows of warm, tenl-covercd huts
filed with armed men waiting for the word for
ward rows of rude sheds filed with horses.
and multitudes of long haired, lOng-eared mules,
some hitched to army wagons, some to trees
and some ambulsnces. For myself, found com.
Portable lodgings at an cid Vi GINA dwelling
house whose mistress was, or affected 20 be. a
descendant of one of the F. VS., and whose
master was sncenty from Baltimore They
and one daughter professed to be unionis's,
~hie the other daughter, "Bloss " Blossom
hOasled of being q rebel. The family informed
me that Secretary Stantons mother was 0Uii
and raised at Stevensburg, but became the wife
Of an Ohio gentleman, aud moved to that State,
where Mr.. Stanton was educated. The old lady
became animated and quite indignant when she
narrated what che said was fact that Mr. Stan
ton had been educated with the money
which his mother got for her share of her faith
er's slaves, and seemed to think it especially III
kind aud ungratefnl in him, now to turn lis OFF,
cisl influence against the holders Of that kind o.
property, the proceeds of ; hch bad educated
him and given him his present high position
Is Was. however, impossible for ne to see il
this any reason why be or any person in Ike cir
cumstarces should be restrained from acting up
on convictions Of what is right and just, unles;
we adopt the paradox, that to have enjoyed The
fruits of wrong makes it forever r right, TO the
participant
Il was a, this place where, q, the commence
ment of tbs war, a secessouist from South Caro-
lima shot an eagle that perched 90 the spiIe Of
the little church. During the last fall the church
was occupied by South Carolina troops COR hos
pital. It took Ere by their caIlessness. aud i.
now heap Of ruins.
And alas, the wild work which wal las mad.
with the whole region. from Fairfax to tue Z 2
idan For distance of fifty miles, along tie
railroad route, you see scarcely dwelling
Barns, out houses of every kind, fences bridges
door~yards, gates fruit trees, shade trees, shrub
berry, implements of husbandry, horses, cattle,
sheep, hay, cornstAlks, all are gone. The fruit
tress of any value have been cut down and
burned for fuel or used for eDcampneuts, and
the life Of others been destroyed by cavalry hor-
SEES, picketed TO them, gnawing off the fresh
bark aud leaving the tree to dry. The whole
route, as you 60 on, echoes on your ear but one
word desolationl desoIation - and until your
own eyes shsll see the sad spectacle, you Cannot
properly estimate the folly, the wickedness OF
this causeless and wanton rebellion. Will
viewing these sad scenes, sad but terrby in
structive Of the promptness aud power of rstri
6,stivs justice, how did nv mind recall toe
word of Chris. in foretelling the doom of another
re5ellious and corrupt people" When We shall
see the sbomiustion Of desolation spoken of BY
Daniel the prophet, stand ia the holy pAee
then let them which be in Judea fee into the
mountains; let him which IS on the housetop Dot
come down to take anything cut Of his house :
neither let him which s in The field return back
to take his clothes; and NO unto them which