Year: 1862




As the censorship of the "press'' is
very strict just now, I cannot write any
thing pertaining to the movements of the
army in this Department, and must con-
fine myself to transactions in this city
that may be interesting to your readers


For two months past there has been in
process Of erection, just north Of where
the hospital stood that was burned in the
fore part Of Winter, a temporary wooden
structure, for hospital purposes. The plan
of this building 1 will liken to the main
street of small village. The cross streets
representing the half dozen wings extcn-
ding on either side of the main hail.


This, when finished, will accommodate
I suppose near two thousand patients
The different wards are separate and de-
tached from each other, except by way of
the main street or building. This will
give an opportunity for ventilation and
independence of the requirements of diff
ferent wards, which is not now found in
any of the hospitals Of the city.


just before the advance of the army
Of the Potomac towards Manassas, the
sick and wounded were all sent to the city
from the several divisions.


This made hospital room very scarce,
and Sec. Smith with his usual generosity
and patriotic zeal, set men to work en-
largius the hospital in the north wing of
the Patent Office. visited this hospit
al yesterday, by invitation, and found the
whole wing occupied for a hospital.


A temporary floor has been laid and
partitions conveniently placed to divide
the wards, dining room and cook rooms.
The partitions are only about ten feet
high, while tho ceiling Of the wing itself
is 10 feet high, affording the best vcn,i-
lation of any hospital in the city


The space now occupied is 225 feet in
length, and 60 in width, there being room
for 2JO cots, and there are, at this time
about that number of patients in this
hospital,


The visitor can but admire the fitness
of the place for the purposes to which it
has been appropriated, and the patriotic
determination of Sec. Smith and his ex-
ceIant lady to make this the model hos
pital Of the city.


There, may be seen the cruel evidence
Of the horrors Of this unholy rebellion in
crippled and wounded men as well as suf-
ferers from disease common to humanity


1t is difficult to obtain, at the time
most required, all the necessaries for so
many patients, but when every ethor
means fail, and the Surgeons requisitions
are unanswered, Mrs. Smith will go her
self and personally demand the articles,
and of course is successful An earnest
woman hardly ever fails in an undertake
ing of this kind. We have in Sec. Smith
and lady, examples of perseverance in
we'll doing,' worthy to be followed thro'
out the country.


Congress is trying its hand at compen,
sa,ing en- ancipaton in this District


Time is being taken for genera! ex.
preston of opinion on the subject, by the
members.


1t is becoming quite evident that
prime condition of -Unionsm, with some
Of tho Border State Representatives, is
touch not Slavery. The fac, is, they
have ruled this country so long, through
the combination of this grand monopoly,
it is like death to them to give it up,
even when remunerated.


Your Senator, Harlan, made speech
on the subject, yesterday, which | hear
spoken Of as being rather severe on such
fogies as Garret Davis, and such ilk Dor.
der State men. As near as we can find
out, Jeff. Davis is not disposed to remain
in Richmond to receive Union visitors.