The Portland daily press., 1865-08-14
LETTER. FROM THE FEDERAL oAPI-
a.,-h.f.f Tall.
WASHINGTON, d. c., AUG. s. /

hEiTTEH from THE FEDERAL OAPI-
- Nahilzl Tall.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. s, 1855.
! To the Editor OF the Press. ~ n n ~
This city is of very unstable and changea-.
BILE sort. With apopulation Mixed incongru-
Gus, continually shifting; with public opin-
ion that is but mirror of the public opinion
of the country, and is pretty sure to reflect
strongly whatever IDEAS are for the time up
permost with social customs and fashions in
dress, gathered together from the four quarters
OF the earth, and the four winds of heaven; it
presents, when compared with staid, New.
England town, dogmatical in its ideas, i'm
movable in its customs, changing in its char
acter only. from \ ankee to more Yankee, little
moved by events outside ITSELF as strong a
contrast as may well be imagined. This is es-
pecially the case at the present time. -Four
years ago it was suddenly metamorphosed
from quiet and rather dull capital of ma
ton profoundly peaceful, into the seat of a
government struggling desperately for its ex-
istence, and the base of stupendous military
operations. For four years Washington has
been scarce less martial thana camp. Now it
is once more being transformed into the peace
full abode of civil power, established, assured,
unchalenged by any. HAh aJAlGh
OF this great change one now sees many
things to remind him; and if, as in my own
case, he has been awhile absent, they catch
his attention very readily. The vast encamp-
ments, which but few weeks ago lay near
the city, have dissolved, and the mighty ar
mics here congregated have nearly all been
quietly absorbed by the peaceful population of
the country. Soldiers have not yet disappear
ed from the streets, but though many are
brought here by the general discharge not
yet completed, the sprinkling of uniforms up
on the sidewalks, and about the hotels, is
much less than ordinary. The time when
Senator Neslnith "threD a stick and hit three
5rigadierS" has passed away. For four years,
particularly at about this season, tide of
troops has been pouring through this city,
to replenish our shattered armies and fill
anew the thin ranks. Thousands have fol-
lowed thousands, marching with full numbers
and steady step to battle and to death,-a
grand, heroic sight, and yet sad and mournful
beyond all telling. Now, if we chance to hear
the drums of a regiment, we know it is on its
way home. Those funeral corteges, with muf-
| fed drums, and arms reversed, and solemn
Urges, and those yet sadder sights,-the hos
pital hearses bearing the unattended remains
of private soldiers to their last resting place.
have almost ceased to. move along these
sheets. No CHASTITY cargoes of mangled heroes
come daily to our wharves, nor does the horri-
bic stencil of the embalmer's shops now drive
the passer from the sidewalk. OF the great
hospitals in and around this city, lately so
populous with the suffering and the dying,
many stand empty and deserted. The Finley,
Hardwood, Mount Pleasant, Carver, Stone,
Ricord, Columbian, Judiciary Square and En-
DRY hospitals have either been discontinued, OF
are now breaking up. The Armory Square,
| Lincoln, Douglas and Stanton hospitals are
yet in operation, but even these are probably
more than will be long needed. To one who
can wildly recall the awful scenes of last sum-
mer, and who that witnessed them cannot it
is a sight more grateful than words can ex-
press, to see the long rows of white cots stand
so nearly empty. The Georgetown Seminary
hospital for officers has been discontinued, as
also have the Fairfax and Augur, in Virginia,
and all the hospitals at Alexandra, except the
Slough Barracks and the Sickles Barracks.
Those benevolent and patriotic associations,
which have labored so assiduously and success
fully to alleviate the sufferings of our sick and
wounded soldiers, are feeling that their labors
are nearly over. Some of the State agencies
have been discontinued, and others are en-
| ployed merely in settling accounts and collect
ing claims. The Maine Soldiers Relief Asso-
citation ceased to occupy the office of the State
Agency on the 3fst ult., and, as there now re-
main here only about seventy Maine soldiers in
all the hospitals, who viii be sent home as fast as
practicable, it has voted to discharge its agents
on tne 10TH, and has discontinued its meet
ings, except such special ones as may be called
by the Executive Committee.
Thus are we laying aside the tasks. dron-
ping as well the phrases and expressions, and
discontinuing the mental habits incident to
state OF war, and in thought and feeling. as
well as in word and act, returning To the
ways of peace. And now, even as 1 write
thousands of ears long strained to catch the
first far thunder of battle, the first tidings of
victory or disaster, are turned in very differ
emit direction, eagerly waiting for news of very
different sort. A victory of peace, victory
of mind over the elements, a victory that
shall enable the age to send beneath thou
sands of miles of waste weltering sea, through
ene Deep dark ocean ooze, along its nerve OF
copper Its living thoughts of fire, which shall
olna together Instead of severing the nations,
ana wnicn shall so do something toward ush-
erng IN the universal reign of "peace on
ear'n'-sucn is the triumph for which we hope
and wait Today. T"sp
GB-R r. NJ. Hunter of Virginia. now co,, ,,ad
in Fort Pulaski, has applied through ipfuan-
tial friends for parole of two or three 1vool-,