From the Doylestown Guards.—We make the fol-

lowing extracts from a letter written by Ira F. Gensel,

from the camp of the Doylestown Guards at Washington. 

? space this week is closely filled with important news

matter, we are compelled to slice off the romantic portion

of our friend’s epistle.  The letter is dated Wednesday,

June 12.

The preparations at the Arsenal for an active, and I trust,

successful campaign, are being pushed forward with renewed ac-

tivity.  The force there, has been largely increased during the

past week, and now between two and three hundred persons are

engaged making cartridges for cannon and musket and rifle.  The

companies composing the 25th Regiment, have been detailed for

special duty at the Arsenal, and Arlington Heights.  On Tuesday

evening at 10 o’clock P. M., Capt. Davis received the following

orders :

Sir :—Your command is hereby detailed, for special service, at

the Washington Arsenal to-morrow.  You will report yourself to

Major Ramsey at seven o’clock A. M.

JNO. B. SELLHEIMER, Lieut. Col., Commanding.

In compliance with the above orders, on the following morning,

the Guards reported themselves to Major Ramsey, who ordered

them to assist in loading cannon on the vessels (some of them

12 pounders) and pull the light Artillery cartridges from the

store ? down to the wharf.  A perfect torrent of rain was

? all the time, we were all dripping wet in a few moments,

and continued so until we returned to quarters.

One of the most arduous and boring duties of the soldier, is

guard duty, at least, such is my experience.  I have just been

released from my tour, which commenced yesterday morning at

eight o’clock, and terminated at the same hour this morning.  As

you have doubtless heard a great deal about guard duty, and

thinking a short account of it will be interesting to your readers,

I will give them a brief sketch.

The Guard, at Regimental Quarters, is composed of a detail of

men, (the number specified by the Adjutant.) from each of the

companies stationed here, with either a Sergeant or Corporal from

each company, and frequently both.  The guard is formed on the

parade every morning at half-past seven o’clock, and after an in-

spection of arms, by the Adjutant of the regiment, they are

marched to the guard house, and placed under the command of

the officer of the day, who is always a commissioned officer, and

the old guard relieved.  In an enemy’s country it is one of the

most responsible trusts that a soldier is called upon to discharge,

and therefore it is, that sleeping on, or deserting a post, before

being regularly relieved, is punishable with death.  It is at no

time, however, a pleasant duty, and particularly disagreeable in

? weather, because, of the exposure.  Yesterday was a

most lovely day, and last night one of exceeding beauty, which

fully repaid me for my loss of sleep.  I was posted on the bank

of the river.  At times it was quite dark, and the heavens seem-

ed filled with myriads of twinkling stars.  On the opposite side

of the river, the four New Jersey regiments are encamped, and

the burning of their large camp fires was a grand sight and com-

pleted a most brilliant picture.

Sometimes I would imagine there was a platoon of rebels be-

fore me, and that they were marching directly toward where I

was ?, and I would think there was a good chance to

knock one rebels head off any how, and a much better one, of my

own sharing the same fate ; and then again I would think they

were nought but shadows.  During the long weary hours—for

such ? reality they were—the waters of the Potomac, were mur-

muring a silent dirge as they wended their way to the ocean.

While I was walking to and fro on my beat, I saw in the dis-

tance the well defined forms of four men approaching me.  I

was certain this time, for I could distinctly hear their footsteps,

and I hailed them with—“ Who comes there?”  The answer

was; “ The officer of the grand round ”  “—Advance, officer of

the grand round, and give the countersign,” was the order. 

One of them approached me, and when within a few paces, I

came to a charge bayonet, and kept him at bay.  Leaning over

the point of my bayonet, he whispered the countersign which

was correct.  I then replied, “ Advance and pass, grand ground.” 

I managed to keep perfectly cool during all this time, and when

the last relief came round, at four o’clock this morning, I went

off my post, well satisfied, that with my limited experience as a

sentinel, I was one of ‘em.

On Sunday last throughout the day and night, large bodies

of troops were leaving this city, it is supposed, for Harper’s

Ferry, to which place all eyes are turned at this time.  The ex-

citement continues unabated, while all agree that a battle will

be fought in a very short time, either at Harper’s Ferry or

Manassas Junction.  The Richmond Enquirer,  a few days ago,

announced as amongst the recent distinguished arrivals in that

city, Gen. Beauregard, Robert Tyler, Esq., late of Philadelphia,

and others of the same stamp.

There can be no doubt but that this is the same “ Rob ” who

attended the Democratic conventions in Doylestown, for the

purpose of furthering the objects of the rebels in Bucks county,

and giving treason a foothold there.  Would it be a praiseworthy

or creditable act for the Guards to catch and hang the scoundrel,

before they return ?