The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-10-04
Affairs at Was ing ton.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. Gath, 1861

| Mr.. EDITOR :-Jh belnE the dull season OF
Washington there is little of interest to COM
municste. There is little if any excitement in
political circles, all Par ties seeming TO lonk for
ward to the assembling of Congress rs the time
of action The Radicals have not recovered from
the effect of the recent elections in California and
Maine, and are by no means so eager for the war
path las formerly, especially parties who are de-
| pending upon government POSITIONS in this city,
and should Pennsylvania and New York 60
against them, Il hear from good authority that
Thad. Stevens has given up the formerly there
will be large number of rats to leave the ship.
Generals Sheridan, Sic;les aud Hancock were
sclenaded here last night. A brass bnnd, escort
ed by about two hundred negro soldiers in citi-
zens' clothes, and the organization of the Grand
Army of the Republic, proceeded 10 Wizards
Hotel, where Sheridan is stopping. After being
introduced he spoke but IA few words thanking
them for the welcome, and stating that the affair
would always be remembered with pleasure and
pride. At the conclusion of Gen. Sheridan's re-
marks the crowd moved to the Ebbitt House,
where Gen. Sickles was During the remarks
of Gen. Farnsworth, who introduced General
Sickles, he mentioned the name Of Governor
Johnson. Of Tennessee" Her, upon some one ia
the crowd proposed three cheers Tor Andrew
johnson, which were given with will by the
large assembly. Gen. Sirkles spoke at some
length, reviewing the actions of the military in
the South, which he stated were all just and hui
mane, and where any law had been superseded,
n milder one had been substituted. The inbabi-
tants of the country saved from starvation, and
schoohouses and churches established from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande surely we have cause
to rejoice when our Generals turn missionaries;
and hardened must be- the sinner who cannot see
the power of the Scripture, when backed by the
sword In conclusion, the General stated that
n subordinate race could do no more than de.
fend itself, that numbers, ,lture and destiny
combine to assure the domination of the white
man." that n reaction WAS the mo dangerous
form Of revolution; "such would be the character
OF reaction that restored the rebels and their
friends TO power. May that day never dawn
The Penitentiary building, located in the Ar
senal grounds, at the foot Of Four and half street.
the scene of the trial and execution of three men
| and the murder OF an innocent oman, is bout
| to be demolished. 1t having become place of
historical interest," description of what was seen
there during a recent visit will be attempted
| The building is of brick three hundred and
twelve feet long, iiftyscven feet deep and forty
feet high, enclosed by a wall eighteen feet high
| by two and a half thick-lrontng north and
south. The northern wall is semicrcuar in
form, the building extending its whole diameter,
cutting it of froIi the south wall, which encloses
a qua rlaeral spec OF ground. This enclosure
contains all that makes the place int estinp
Upon entering the gate, which opens upon the
wharf, the same entered by the conspiracy pris-
oners when landed from the gunboat the frs,
object that meets the view is large brick buil'-
ing. formerly used as ii shoe shop. Upou turn
ing the corner of this, the -istor is brought di-
recly in font OF the scafIold, standing it did
Immediately after the execution. Nothing has
beer removed, save the ropes. The drops hang
as they fell, and the braces that supported them,
until pulled away by the eXecutioner beneath
1t is rough pine platform, with cross beam
over head, and half of the floor comprising the
drop; the whole structure benr about thirty
feet high. 1t stands IN the northeast corner Of
the yard. About forty feet southeast of the
scaffold, in tn" shadow of the wall, little rail
ing encloscs five graves. The long grrss grow
ing over them has nearly destroyed their form, |
but the names painted in black tiers upon
small white pine bead-boar iell who lie be-
meath The first is Mary L. Surratt; the sec |
ond, David Herold and then follow Lewis
Payne and George A. Atzerrtt; the next in
number, "Here lies the body of Captain Wirz,
the keeper Of Andersonvle Prison"
1t was rumo,ed that The body OF Mrs. Surratt
had been removed, but nothing it, the appear.
ance of the graves denotes that amy of them have
been disturbed Directly north Of the scatfold, |
about the same distance as the graves, is the
door leading from the cells, through which the
prisoners were led to execution Upon entering
this door and ascending two flights of wooden |
stairs, the cells are reached They are built in |
the solid wall, aud are about five by eight !
feet closed by an iron grated door, through |
which proceeds all the light and air that the cell |
receives. The room in which they were tried |
has but little in it ~ interest the reader and IS
chiefly to be remembered by the amount of per
jury that was developed within Its wells. The |
portion of the building above mentioned is in |
the east wing.
By proceeding towards the centre of the build
ing, you come to n large ruom, fitted up and |
used MS chapel when the building contained |
convicts. Directly beneath this ROOM on the
ground floor, is d room Of equal size. The floor
ing is of brick and loose lank There is moth
ing to attract attention l. this room, save heap
Of cart tn in the southwest corner. Upon draw
ing nearer, one will see that the Trick of The
floor have teen removed, for space of eight or
ten feet square, Il hole dug and then refpd,
leaving surplus Of earth. The hole is hardly |
filled to level with tire floor, and bears the ap-
pearance Of some object having been hastily or
carelessy buried beneath. This is the grave of
John Wilkes Booth. 1t will oe remembered, it
was at one time reported that his body had been
taken to some point on the Potomac, heavily
ironed, and allowed to sink: but few DAYS ago,
Edwin Booth wrote to the authorities here, ear
nestly pleading for the body of his brother, sta
ting that his used mother desired to have it de-
Gently buried before her DEATH He was refused
short time before that ne asked for the trunk
ana clothing left by his brother at the National
Hotel, at the time of his fl ght and subsequent
ly taken to the War Department. This was
also refused. 1t is hard for one to see how the
welfare OF the country Can be benefited by pun
ishing the relatives Of criminals.
A rather strange coincidence is connected
with the history of the Pen,entlary The first
prisoner conhued there, Convicted for stealing y
oarrei OF hour,) the man from whom the -four
was s'olen me warden of the Jail where the
prisoner awaited trial the first warden of the
renltentary, and warden at the time the priso-
ner was confined, and The foreman If the iury !
that convicted the prisoner, all rejoiced in the |
name OF Williams-rather making the affair a |
family matter ~ G W.