The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-02-18
"reminiscences of the War.
By AN OLD SOLDIER.

One Of the doorways leading into the old
representative chamber is hung with pair OF
bronze doors, the panels OF Wholesome twen-
ty-four in number-contain scenes, executed in
bas reiief, representing incidents in the history
of our republic. I had read an account OF
these doors at the time they we're first hung
in 1859, think. They were cast in Germany.
Their weight must have been several tons, yet
they swung almost as lightly as any door, 30
perfectly were they hung on their immense
hinges.
The new representative chamber is situated
farther toward the westerly wing, and it has
rather unfortunate location, according to some
experts in architecture. Light and air both
seem to be lacking. AS I remember it the
Hall receives much of it's light through colored
sky-lights. This room, owing to its peculiar
location, is sometimes called "The Den," and
it may be, too, because OF the wild beasts which
are, it is said, lions" in that den which Daniel
could not have kept at bay, even though his eye
possessed ten fold lightnings.
On the morning our regiment lay in Wash
ington, as have mentioned, remember while
wandering about the capitol, eagerly looking at
every interesting object, walked into the Sen
ate chamber. 1t was then vacant save OF few
pages, or messengers, in neat, gray uniforms,
who were busy busting seats and arranging pa
pers on the desks of the grave and honorable
Senators. With young fellows delight in do
ing something novel, L took sheet Of paper
from the desk OF Charles Sumner, and taking
seat in the chair of Vce-President Hamhn,
wrote letter TO NY mother at home. found
the seats OF Senators Sumner, Wilson, Hale and
others, whose names had long been household
words in my own home, as well as in multitudes
OF other good, well-ordcred, freedom loving
homes or the Northern States. Each desk bore
a small porcelain tablet, containing the name OF
the occupant
At the head of the grand stairway leading to
the upper corridors there was at that time
large fresco painting, the work OF Emanuel
Leutze. 1t had but recently been completed
and was entitled, from the lines Of Bishop
Berkeley, Westward the Course OF Empire
takes its way."~ II represented number OF
emgrant wagons, with women seated inside
and men and boys driving the teams. They
have just reached the westerly brow of noun
tain range, and are about to descend and pos
sess the valleys which are spread out before
them in the light OF the declining sun as fair as
the fields of an Elysium. The scene may have
been the Rocky Mountains and the valleys Of
California, twenty years ago, or it may have
been on the Appalachian range at an earlier
date.
The front OF the capitol facing the city
had at the time OF war a terraced park e1-
tending it's entire length and filed with noble
shade trees. These, it is stated, have been cut
down since then, as it was supposed they made
| the locality appear too sylvan and rural. There
| is one large entrance on this side which is in
the center of the building facing Pennsylvania
Avenue. This avenue commences at the foot
| OF the stone covered terraces leading down
from this entrance, and ends at the White
| House one mile distant. This western entrance
is a pavilion, and beside fountain which
is here located, a view is had Of the city, the
| Potomac and the Arlington Hills, beyond which
is beautiful in the extreme. IN the months OF
April May and June, the climate of Washing
ton is at its best, and at this time the broad
curving sweep of the river with its background
OF green and undulating hills seen from this
point forms picture OF exquisite beauty
Across the river upon these hills. but in plain
sight from the capitol, the Lee mansion stands
overshadowed by its ancestral willow, and, since
the war, surrounded by one OF the Eternal
Camping grounds" of fame. 1t is one evil
dence of the good taste OF the Lee family, and
OF their love Of beautiful surroundings, tnai
they chose that spot for their home. 1t is said
that the view OF the city and river from the
grounds Of the Lee mansion is one which wher
once seen will never be forgotten, and we car
hardly wonder that the Lee family, aside from
the CON mercial value of the property, should
wish to re-possess it.
The view from either direction was formerly
marred, however, by the huge, unsghtly trunl
OF the Washington Monument, which stands
near the river. When i saw it during the war
the ungainly affair was at least 200 feet high
and was apparently as large at the top as a
the base and was crowned with derrick. II
accordance with the original plan, which wal
more strongly tinctured with sentiment thar
with common sense, the shaft had been built o
blocks of marble from every State in the Union
and as consequence the monument had YER
much the color OF blackened eve when it is
week old. The great park where it stands wa
then used as yard where government cattl
were foddered, and the shaft was surrounde
by a common rail fence
In the time Of the war, Washington was
vast aggregation ofscattle yards, mulo corral,
barracks and hospitals, while on its unpaye
streets there was depth Of tarry mud whic
would have appalled, any one but governmen
teamstor or a soldier who had trampod throug
Virginia.
Through this dead sea OF dozy mira tho arm
supply trains were moving night and day. A
army wagon, team and driver, made up an in
stitution well worthy of description. Th
, hugo, canvas covered schooner was drawn b
threepairs OF mules, the driver riding the nea
wheeler and guiding the leaders with lon