The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-14

off, gave us their hearty goodbye chez rs.-
Among the officers OF the regiment whose
wives had come from home to say goodbye to
them, was Major Blake and Capt. Sherwin.-
Mrs. Blake aud Mrs. Sherwin, were both Of
them affectionate and devoted wives and
were among the vast number Of loyal women
OF the North whose sacrifices for their country
we're infinite. When Mrs. Blake next saw her
husband, a bursting shell in one OF the desper-
ate charges in front of Petersburg had robbed
hIm or life, and she only received back from
the battle field the manged remains OF him
who had been an affectionate and tender hus-
band, brave and accomplished officer, and
noble man. Mrs. Sherwn next saw her hus-
bands body as it lay lfeless in an embalmers
tent at City Point, Va. These were only two
among many similar instances.
We reached Washington IN the evening OF
May 18TH and spent the night and following
forenoon. while awaiting transportation, at the
Government buildings near Capitol Hill. Dur
ing the forenoon of May 10th, many OF us had
leisure and license to rambe over the city view
ing its sights. remember, in my own case, that
ing very soon after day break, taking solid COM
fort gazing upon It's magnifcence. The grand
dome over the Rotunda had just been complet-
ed and was one OF the most majestic objects to
be seen in life time. Previous to this date
details had been frequently made OF officers
and men from our regiment to go to Washing
ton and other places on provost duty, and had
L IN al
previous occasions. AZ the time OF my first
trip there, when sent up in the fall Of 1862
from Baltimore, with sixty confederate officers
as prisoners OF war, the east front OF the cap-
tol was in an unfinished state. The dome had
been only begun and the fronts OF the two
wings were faced with rough brick and mortar.
Immense derricks overhung the three portions
OF the front, the center and each wing, while
the space about that side Of the building was
filed with stone cutters sheds and rubbish
But even at that time there were many fine
pieces Of statuary in position on the grounds
on that side of the capltol-beautiful marbles
too-some of them. from the hands OF masters
OF the art Since the war a superb park of
suitable dimensions has been laid out there
One of these statues is OF George Washington,
representing Pater Pdt,'tae draped after the
pattern or Ance Mt Greek Statuary. The fig
ure is seated on throne resting on a large,
square pedestal of granite, and facing the Gen.
ter OF the building. One hand holds a SCROLL
while the other is pointing upward. About the
base, cut in relief on Its four sides. are the
words used by some orator whose name do
not now recall, while eulogizing this great
man, (if an not in error) on the floor Of the
Senate Chamber: " First in War, First in Peace
and First in the hearts OF his Countrymen !"
The immense bronze statue representing the
Genius Of America which now crowns the
grand dome Ga picture of which ornaments all
SIS U. S. Greenbacks) stood at that time on the
ground. 1t is about twenty feet in hight and
is said to weigh as many thousands OF pounds.
AS previously stated, at the time Of the arrival
OF our regiment in Washington, the grand
dome was completed and the wing fronts also.
Previous to the erection OF the dome the capi-
tol must have been building of very tame and
unlnteresting appearance. but now it is donbt-
full if there are more than two or three build
ngs in existence possessing more majesty and
beauty than this. On the eastern front there
are three lofty flights of granite steps-one
leading 10 the Rotunda at the center OF the
building under the dome, and one to each wing.
Standing upon the top OF one OF the wing
flights, and looking down and away to the CEN
tral entrance under the dome, one will begin to
realize the vastness OF the structure, and when
the eye wanders from this point, far away to
the opposite wing, sense OF the grsndness of
the capitol building and its vast dimensions
comes upon us. The central flight OF steps
leads to the Rotunda under the dome. AS its
name indicates. this is circular in form. Hung
around upon its walls are large number of
historical paintings representing events in our
national life, and these, II am not mIsnform-
ed, were bought from time to time by the Gov
ernment from the artists who painted them al
large prices in pursuance of congressional
resolutions. Some OF these pictures are hide
Gus enough to warrant the belief that congress
sional esthetics must have been at that time
exceedingly crude, or else there were jobs" in
congress OF this nature before Winnie Ream's
time. On the right hand as you enter the Ro-
tunda from this way, is a corridor leading to
the Senate Chamber, and on the left is one
leading to the old House OF Representatives
i now used as a national "Valhalla." Here are
the statues and busts OF many OF the famous
men OF the nation, now dead, and q number oi
them were placed there by the States OF which
those whom they represent we're citizens. Or
the floor of this chamber | was shown q darl
stain and was told that it was the stain oil
blood shed by Southern member years ago il
fight with another Southern member, bowie
knives being used. II is said the stain OF blood
cannot easily be obliterated from wood. In
proof of this il is stated that in a certain room
in Holyrood palace, Scotland, a stain exists OF
the floor which is Of the blood Of the husband
OF Mary Queen Of Scots, who was assassinateC
there.
, DECATUR LOCALS.
From Our Own Correspondent.