“A constant rumble of baggage wagons is heard in the streets night and day, intermingled with the almost steady clatter of the war-horse upon the stony pavement,” wrote a correspondent to the Pittston Gazette on August 29, 1861. The writer, who called himself “Traveler,” had been in Washington, DC about a week and had seen what the Civil War had done to the nation’s capital.

He continued:

“Now a regiment of Infantry comes this way with its stirring martial music, and then a regiment of Cavalry prances that way, keeping time to the shrill notes of the bugle-horn, as they journeys to their various encampments outside of the city and in ‘old Virginia.'”

The author of this letter provided a vivid picture of Washington as soldiers poured into the city by the thousands in the late summer of 1861. They speak of the loyalty of the inhabitants of the capital for the Union cause and rails against those proposing “peace” as United States soldiers die in the effort to keep the country from fracturing.

This is poignant primary document from the end of the first summer of the Civil War, a time-period of tremendous change and turmoil.

From the Pittston Gazette, September 5, 1861:

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Letter from Washington. 

WASHINGTON, 

Aug. 29, 1861. 

DEAR GAZETTE: 

My gun must not be idle, in such a place as this, and not knowing what else to aim at I have concluded to fire at you. 

You need not, however, take the trouble to fortify yourselves against my piece, as it is far away and will throw nothing but smoke – but use the means in your power to fortify your community against the assaults of the enemies of the Government, all about you, whose piece of ordnance they call “Peace.” 

Strange that these black-hearted rascals, who have brought on this war, and are now waging it to the very death, turning the world upside down, should be able, by calling themselves the “Peace Party,” to lead astray, to gull and befool any portion of the people at the North. 

This glorious Government has in its midst one enemy. Where this enemy thinks it policy, and dare, it steals, shoots, hangs, burns, and devastates; but where these means can not be made effectual, for want of power, it “puts on the livery of heaven to serve the devil in,” and goes about as meek as a lamb, crying peace, peace. 

The Government must be bled and weakened. Where Davis & Co., fail to do this with the sword, Breckinridge, Wood, & Co. are doing it by the process of applying these peace leeches, which answers the same purpose. 

Why do these men, and their followers, cry peace? 

Do their allies, at the South, propose peace and compromise on any other conditions than that they have granted to them just what they propose to get by conquest, viz: the entire control of, at least, one half of these United States? 

If they do, I am ignorant of it. Therefore who ever advocates peace and compromise, at this time, is a disunionist, without any question whatever; and they are , in this section, counted in the same boat with those who are waging war against the Government. 

I have been about town here for a week and have not yet heard a word of sympathy with the rebellion from any quarter. The people here were never Republican, did not vote for Lincoln, and cannot be considered partial to that party, but the great majority of them are decidedly in favor of sustaining the Government administered by any constitutionally chosen man. But enough of this. 

Without being on the spot, you can form no correct idea of the gigantic preparation the Government is making for defensive and offensive operations. A constant rumble of baggage wagons is heard in the streets night and day, intermingled with the almost steady clatter of the war-horse upon the stony pavement. 

Now a regiment of Infantry comes this way with its stirring martial music, and then a regiment of Cavalry prances that way, keeping time to the shrill notes of the bugle-horn, as they journeys to their various encampments outside of the city and in “old Virginia.”

The War Department is thronged with men of all ages, sizes, and appearance, dressed in blue. Some come up with hasty steps, change their papers and are off again as quick as they came; while others hang about hour after hour, and day after day, trying to get an audience with the Secretary of War, who, by the way, seems to be somewhat busy. 

From the Capitol, little villages of tents are discernible on all sides, especially on the higher grounds. I was over on the “sacred soil” [Virginia] last Monday, and judging from the fortifications all along the Arlington Heights, and the multitudes of Gen. Scott’s mouthpieces planted upon them, I conclude that some of the “Dixie” folks will get hurt if they attempt to force their way up here to see the fashions. Still they may undertake the job. 

We heard thunder from that side yesterday, for about two hours. The outskirts of the two armies are close together, and seem to be getting nearer every day. 

A battle on the Potomac will be a battle and no sham. 

TRAVELER.

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(Featured Image: 7th New York Cavalry near Washington – LOC)

Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.

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This is part of an ongoing series called “Letters from War: 1861” that will share correspondence written on the front lines during the turbulent first year of the Civil War.

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