, 1884-10-31
THE WARS BEGINNING.
How the Union Soldiers Were Quar-
tered in Capitol Building.
Wuskots, cartrfdge-Boxes and Conn
miasary stores In Marble Corridor
and Legislative HaII-work-
man and Soldier.

. - N~A~T4
The first troops which arrived at Washing
ton In April, 1861, were qnartsred in the
capitol. The Pe~nnsylvanians were billeted
in the committee-rooms aud Offices Of the
house, the representative hall being reserved
for the Seventh regiment. Armed men and
the rude implements Of carnage massed in
these marble corridors and gorgeous rooms,
awakened me TO a deep sense Of the power
and the abandon Of military rule. On the
luxurious damask and brocatel covered sofas
lay stretched men who probably never before
reposed In such magnifcence. Over the
tapestrial carpet or the floor were strewn in
profusion and disorder the suddenly accumu-
lated stores Of the commissary's department
here a slab OF bacon, there n quarter Of
beef, or a saddle OF mutton, or a Virginia
ham, a sea-biscuit, tin drinking cups, papers
Of pepper, bags of salt and cans of vinegar
filling up the insterstices, and rounding up
the pyramid. Upon tho rich and costly
bronze ornaments, upon the gas chandeliers,
and upon the gilt brackets that held back
the silk and lace curtains, were festooned
knapsack and belt, cartridge-box and bay
~onet-scabbard, the smaller implements and
surroundings OF a soldier.
In the halls and corridors the men were
being drilled and taught the expertness OF
carnage. In broad contrast to the dark and
polished Tennessee marble wninscoting
were the blue uniforms and rough b~earinL
of the men. Upon the rich e~ncaustic things
fell with a dull, heavy sound the iron-shod
butts Of musket and rifle. The archod and
frescoed ceiling echoed and fe-echoed the
ringing clatter OF the ramrod, as the recruits
perfected themselves in the manual Of load
ing their pieces In the senate chamber
we're quartercd the Sixth Massachusetts, reg
iment. Upon the cushioned sofas OF the gal
leries Of the senate chamber the men found
excellent couches. When they had concluded
breakfast In the morning, ami the guard for
the day being detailed. the remainder OF the
command were at their ease. In the vice
presidents chair sat Col Jones, the com
mander OF the force, a frank, free-heartedi
soldierlylooking nian. The clerks desk was
occupied by the adjutant and his assistants,
engaged in making up the muster-roll, re
turns and acquisitions incident TO active serv-
les. The privatss were engaged at the sen.
ators' desks writing letters.
All the statuary in the halls of the capitol,
and In the old rotunda, had been boxed, 70
preserve it from injury through carelessness
The pictures In the panels had also been faced
over with heavy p~lanking, which secured
them from harm. The porticos Of the capitol
building were barricaded to the height OF
about eight feet. The iron plates for the
new dome were used for the breastworks be
tween the marble columns Behind these
were placed barrels OF cement, piles Of stone
and timber, forming IN impenetrable bar
rier, in the rear Of which the troops
could take shelter in case of an a.
tack. 1t seemed a strange contradiction
to see the workmen engaged in the c%onstruc-
ton Of the portico, going on with theiI
labor OF laying the foundation, amid thou
sands Of armed men; the click Of the chisel,
the stroke OF the hammer, and the ring Of
the trowel, blending with the word OF com
mand, the challenge OF the guard, and ~
tramp Of the batallions drilling in the CORR
doris. 50 reluctant was civilization to recede
before the adv ancing desolation of war, thai
the artisan fingered to enrich with his skill
the parapet and dome that the morrow may
see leveled to their foundations, Within
musket range Of the outposts Of the troops
were even then a score OF men chiseling in
marble the flowers and clusters Of grape and
ivy wreaths, with which the finished portions
of the capitol were so profusely decorated.