Year: 1861

A GLIMPSE OF WASHINGTON AS 1T NOW is.


The Washington correspondent oc the New York
Times gives the following sketch of Washington as
it looks under the aspect This letter is dated
on Saturday, the Goth:


1t needs password and countersign now to cross
its porch and to gain admittance. l must have
safe passage from ''ofcer of the day." and give
proper token of my loyalty to sentinel marching
to and fro, with bronzed face, that betokens SER
vice and the resolution which grows out of service,
backed by fixed bayonet on musket that looks
as though, if occasion required, it could throw bull
lets with penetrating force that might leave an
unsightly orice, through which the breath of life
would be diverted to the great detriment of the hu
man system. Thanking fortune that | have sue
eessfuly run the gauntlet of the gentleman with
the unsightly combination of STEEL powder and lead
let me lot down some of the strange scenes by
which found myself surrounded.


In the House wing of the capitol l found the
quarters of the Pennsylvania regiments-the first
command to reach Washington in response to the
call of the government. The troops were 5illeted
through the various retiring rooms and 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 awaken me to deep
sense of the power and the abandon of military
rule I realize the desolation now which war
brings in its train. On the luxuriant damask and
brocated covered sofas lay stretched men who prob
ably never before reposed in such magni6cence.-
Over the tapestried carpet on the floor strewnin
profusion and disorder, the suddenly accumulated
stores of the commissarys department-here slab
of bacon, there quarter of beef saddle of NUT
ton, or Virginia hama sea biscuit tin drinking
cups papers of pepper bags of salt and of vim
egar filling up the interstces, and rounding up the
pyramid. Upon the rich and costly bronze orna-
ments-upon the gas chandeliers, and upon the gilt
brackets that hold back the silk and lace curtains,
fackoO oa1 and half narfr hnx
and bayonet scabbard-the smaller implements and
surroundings of soldier.


In the halls and corridors the men were being
drilled and taught the expertness of carnage. In
broad contrast to the dark ard polished Tennessee
marble wainscoating are the blue uniforms and the
rough bearing of the men. Upon the rich encaus
tic filings falls with dull heavy sound the iron
shod butts of musket and rife. The arched and
freScoed ceiling echoes and re-echoes the ringing
clatter of the ramrod as the recruits perfect them
selves in the manual of loading their pieces.


In the Senate Chamber quartered the Massa
chusetts regiments. Upon the cushioned sofas o
the galleries of the Senate Chamber the men found
excellent couches. When visited them this morn
ing they had concluded breakfast and the guard fol
the day being detailed, the remainder of the com
mand were at their ease. In the Vice President:
chair sat Col Jones, the commandant of the force
frank, freehearted soldierly looking man. The
clerks desk was occupied by the adjutant and his
assistants, engaged IN making up the muSter-rOll
returns and acquisitions incident to active service
The privates were engaged at the Senator's desks
writing letters.


All the statuary in the halls of the Capitol, anC
in the old rotunds, has been boxed, to preserve i
from injury through carelessness. The pictures ir
the panels have also been faced over with heavy
planking, which secures them from harm.


The portico of the Capitol building are barrica
ded to the height of about eight feet The iror
plates for the dome used for the breastwork
between the marble columns. Behind these are plac
ed barrels of cement piles of stone and timber
forming an mpenetrabe barrier in the of which
the troops could take shelter in of attack
1t seemed stranger contradiction to see the work
men engaged in the construction of the portico, go
ing on with their labor of laying the foundations
amid thousands of armed men, the click of tn
chisel, the stroke of the hammer, and tie ring o
the trowe blending with the word of command, tn
challenge of the guard, and the tramp of the bat
talons drilling in the corridors So reluctant i
civilization to recede before the advancing desoa
ton of war, that the artisan fingers to enrich will
his skill the parapet and dome that the morrow ma.
see leyelled to their foundations. Within muske
range of the outposts of the troops are now,
score of men chiseling in marble the flowers ant
clusters of grape and ivy wreaths, with which tn
finished portions of the Capitol are so profusel.
decorated