From the Doylestown Guards.

[Correspondence of the Bucks County Intelligencer.]

ARSENAL GROUNDS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,

June 28th, 1861.

Washington is truly a city of magnificent distances, but

not a city of magnificent enterprises.  It seems nearly a

century behind the cities of the North.  Washington, the

capital of our great country, where the President and his

cabinet reside, where Congress convenes, and where all

the great measures that affect the Nation at large are

brought into life—one would naturally suppose that this

City, so famed, is just the place in which to get the latest

news, and to understand fully the great events that each

day brings forth.  The truth is, there are few country

villages in the North that do not exhibit greater signs of

life and progress than this City of Washington.  The

public buildings here our country may justly be proud of ;

but individual wealth and enterprise has done literally

nothing.  The whole city affords but three or four little

newspapers ; all the “latest news” go by telegraph to

soldiers of Washington only know of it when they receive

the Press and the Tribune.

How can we account for this want of enterprise and

life that is found in almost all the cities and towns south

of Mason & Dixon’s life?  Does not the peculiar institu-

tion of slavery found here account for it all ?  Wher-

ever Slavery is sanctioned by law, and considered to be

honorable and just, you never can find much intelligence

and enterprise.  Slavery is a curse.  There is no truth

clearer than this.  It is a curse to the negro, and a still

greater curse to the white man,.  Its natural tendency is

to weaken and destroy.  A community may give it the

sanction of law, and labor earnestly to make it seem just

and right, but the curse it carries with it will show itself. 

If you want to know what slavery will do for a ?

visit Old Virginia (just now is a good time).  She was once

the leading Sate in the Union—first in intelligence, in en-

terprise, in wealth—having a fertile soil, and a mild,

healthful climate.  What has brought her to her present

position?  Poor old Virginia !—the oldest and the poor-

est state.  She has clung to the institution of Slavery un-

til it has eaten out her life.  Slavery would not allow her

to have free schools, and so her people have grown up

ignorant and prejudiced.  Her last great act of folly will

completely seal her doom ; for she has consented that her

soil shall be made the battle ground, where traitors shall

rally, entrench themselves, and resist the lawful author-

ity of the Federal Government.  Liberty, like Righteous-

ness, exalteth a people—but slavery, the embodiment of

Sin, impoverishes and destroys them.

There is very little war news in circulation, every im-

portant item being carefully suppressed.  But let no one

think that nothing is being done.  Silence sometimes is

more terrible than action.  Gen. Scott, in my opinion,

is pursuing a masterly policy.  He is making every prepa-

tion for a triumphant campaign—disciplining an immense

army, and demoralizing and killing the confederacy with

inactivity.  Every day of delay gives strength to the

North, and brings weakness to the South.  Food with

them is double the price it is with us, which bears heavily

on their depleted treasury.  The movements of the rebels

seem to have made it necessary for the Administration to

change its policy somewhat ; but all things seem now

about ready for a grand dash upon the enemy, when there

will be such a rattling among the dry bones of traitorism

as the chivalry never dreamed of.

The Guards received marching orders on Monday last,

and all things were put in readiness for the move.  A few

hours before the appointed time arrived the order was

countermanded.  We are again quietly fixed in our old

quarters; but there is no doubt that in a few days we will

have permission to visit the old Dominion.

A Soldier’s life is a changeable one; for a while all

passes along smoothly and pleasantly, and then the cur-

rent changes, and there comes the roughness and bitter-

ness of life.  With health, exposure and hardships are tri-

fling, but they bear heavily upon the sick.  The general

health of our Company has been remarkably good.  On

Monday last we could have said, our ranks are yet

unbroken, our number is still complete.  It cannot be said

now.  Death has visited us, and taken one from our num-

ber.  Edgar Kibby, after a very short illness, died on

Monday evening, the 24th inst.  He complained on Sun-

day of being unwell, but nothing serious was apprehended. 

On Monday morning he was walking in front of our quar-

ters, still complaining.  He grew suddenly worse in the

forenoon.  In the evening he was taken to the hospital

where he could receive better accommodations but all

attention and medical skill was unavailing.  He died a

few hours after his arrival.  On the following day he

received at our hands a Christian burial, ? with the

honors of war.  A pine board was placed at his head

giving his name, residence, and the Regiment and Com-

pany to which he belonged.  At a meeting of the members

of the Company, called on Thursday evening, the 27th

inst., to prepare resolutions relative to the death of our

departed friend, George Hart was elected President, and

E. L. Rogers Secretary.  W. W. Marple, L. Rush and W.

Kachline were made a Committee on resolutions.  The

following were submitted to the meeting, and unanimously

adopted.

Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to remove from

our midst, by death, Edgar Kibby, a member of the

Doylestown Guards, and one of our most worthy and

beloved companions in arms ; therefore,

Resolved, That we, the surviving members; do tender

to his sorrowing parents, brothers and sisters our hearty

sympathy for this, the heavy loss they are called upon to

bear.

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions

be published in the Philadelphia Press, Doylestown Dem-

ocrat, and Bucks County Intelligencer ; and also that a

copy of the same be forwarded to the parents of the

deceased.

Last evening our regiment went into camp.  Our tents

are pitched on the green in front of our old quarters, the

front row of tents resting on the banks of the Potomac.—

The location is a delightful one, but, oh, how hot !  There

is not a tree or bush on the ground.  If we can stand this,

then, the warm weather is no excuse for not marching fur-

ther South.  The men seem to be all well pleased with the

move.  Anything for a change.                             SIGMA.

WASHINGTON ARSENAL, June 25th, 1861.

On Saturday last, at 2 o’clock, we received orders to

have our company ready to march.  We were to start

when certain ox teams made their appearance, which,

after we waited patiently for five or six hours, hove in

sight, three of them; eight oxen to each wagon.  We fell

in with the teams and proceeded to the Arsenal proper. 

First, I might mention that the first order from head-

quarters had been countermanded, and a detail of thirty

men made, which they represented were about all that

were wanted.  We arrived at the Arsenal and reported

ourselves to Major Ramsey, U. S. A.  We were then or-

dered to load up two cannon, 32-pounders, and one car-

riage, which we did in double-quick time.  We then pro-

ceede on our way, ten men to each team—the team with

which I was connected going first, or on the lead.  We

traveled very slowly—about one mile an hour.  You may

judge of the monotony of the trip as far as travel was con-

cerned.  We tramped along, enjoying ourselves immensely,

because we had some of the best fellows in our party there

are in the world.  We were asked on every side what

they were we were hauling, although every one could

plainly see.  A great many people have an idea that a

cannon is a gun somewhat larger than a musket and

probably drawn by five or six men.  They do not seem to

be aware that a 32-pounder gun weighs from 7,800 to

8,00 pounds, and that it takes eight oxen to draw one to

a battery.

We passed up through Georgetown to the Aqueduct, and

there halted to rest and water our cattle, which wanted it

badly.  We remained there half and hour or so, when we

heard the other teams coming up.  Shortly after we all

moved on and soon reached the 2d Michigan Regiment,

where we were halted and examined, and not allowed to

pass until they were perfectly satisfied of our loyalty.

We passed nearly seventy sentinels and had to halt seventy

paces distance, where the following colloquy took place :

Sentinel—” Who comes there ? ”  Answer—” Corporal of

the guard will countersign ?”  Sentinel—” Advance,

Corporal of the guard, and give the countersign.”  The

sentinel then says “Countersign correct, pass Corporal

of the guard.”  Then we would pass on to the next, when

the same conversation would be repeated.  We have the

same formula each night when on guard.  When any one

approaches us, and if they do not halt, we call “ Who

comes there?” three times, and then shoot and run for

camp, each sentinel firing his piece.  It is a very danger-

ous business in an enemy’s country.

Well, we passed on through the Second, First, and

Third Michigan Regiments, and arrived at camp, where

we were stopped again, but passed finally, and unloaded

our cannon.  I immediately crawled into an old ambu-

lance wagon, and spent a miserable night.  Next morning

we started back.  I kept up as long ? could, and then

laid down.  Two of my companions, Marple and Dyer,

went to a livery stable, and hired a carriage to convey me

to back to Washington.  Price $1.50.  Distance about 5

miles.  While I lay there, an old negro came up to me.

He looked precisely like Thomas Growden of Attleborough. 

I asked him some questions which he answered very po-

litely.  I found him pretty well informed.  He ? been

a slave, had married in Virginia, but had been freed by

his master whom he represented as being very kind to

him.  He had been a slave for 15 years, had children

in Virginia, and I judged by the color of a little child he

was leading, his grandchild, that his daughter had been

chased by his master, and, if he was a white man, prob-

bly caught.  He went and brought me a small piece of

calamus, which he represented was very good for sickness

of the stomach.  They came with the carriage and I was

soon landed at the Arsenal grounds.

To-day we went down to the Arsenal and changed our

guns.  We now have splendid guns, the Minie musket with

the Maynard primers, manufactured at Springfield, Mass. 

I would rather have them than rifles.

I was at the Arsenal a few days since, and I saw in one

room five hundred children making cartridges.  It looked

nice to see so many engaged at one business.  Each child

make from 750 to 1,500 cartridges in one day.  The chil-

dren are from 8 to 17 or 18 years of age.

Night before last Uncle Abe came down to the Arsenal

to witness experiments with some rifle cannon with bombs

or shells.  While firing out into the river a shell struck

the water close by a boat, and Abraham asked Major

Ramsey if it was not dangerous to fire while the boat was

so near, “Oh, yes,” replied Ramsey, “ but the boat must

not come in the way of the shell.”  Uncle Abe began to see

the Major knew what he was at, laughed; and said no

more about it.  He passes about thirty feet from our door

every few days.  I know him as far as I can see him, and

Seward, too.  Cameron was down to see us the other even-

ing, and Seward was with him.  As they passed a lot of

us; some one asked who it was Cameron had with him.  I

replied that it was Seward.  They all started a laugh, but

they soon changed their tune when they found out I was

right.  He was dressed in light clothes and straw hat, and

looked like anybody else but Seward.  But I knew his

nose, it is so much like mine.                               C.

We make the following extracts from a letter written

by Ira F. Gensel, dated at the Arsenal Grounds, Wash-

ington, June 27th :—

Since I wrote you last, a great many distinguished visitors

have been to see the regiment.  On Friday evening last the Hon.

Wm. D. Kelly, of Philadelphia, paid us a visit and at evening

dress parade delivered a very neat and appropriate address to the

men.

The Band of our Regiment, on Saturday night last; honored

Senator Johnson, of Tennessee, with a serenade at the St.

Charles Hotel, where he was stopping.  I happened to be one of

the crowd, numbering about two thousand, who heard the great

speech of the distinguished Senator.  After the band had played

a number of patriotic airs, the crowd which had assembled

called loudly for Mr. Johnson.  After a few moments elapsed, he

appeared in front of the Hotel, and was introduced to the au-

dience; by the Hon. John B. Haskin, of New York.  Senator

Johnson spoke for almost two hours, and delivered one of the

most eloquent speeches I ever listened to, and at times the ap-

plause was so great, that it was impossible for him to proceed. 

He said that thus far he fully approved and endorsed every act

of the Administration, and had come to Washington to sup-

port, both by vote and by speech, in the Senate, every act and

every measure President Lincoln may submit to Congress, call-

ing for aid, in executing the laws and crushing out this rebel-

lion.  The Hon. Emerson Etheridge was also serenaded, but I

did not hear his speech.

On Sunday afternoon last, Lieut Swartzlander, who had com-

mand of the Guards during the Captain’s visit home, received

orders to provide his men with rations for fifteen days—and be

ready to march on Monday night.  Capt. Davis was immediately

telegraphed, and we commenced getting things in readiness for

the march.  On Monday morning there was no drilling, but each

one was busy in packing his knapsack.  About one o’clock trans-

portation wagons, with tents, ambulance, and camp equipage

were sent to head Quarters, and orders were immediately issued

to be in readiness to march at four o’clock.  But a short time

before the appointed hour, and Aid from Gen. Mansfield came

down and countermanded orders.  The men were all anxious to

go, and were disappointed in not getting off.  I have learned

since that we were to have been sent to Fairfax Court House.

On Monday afternoon, Private Edgar Kirby, who had been

taken seriously ill this morning was removed to the measles

Hospital, in the city, where he died on Monday evening at half-

past seven o’clock.  The Hospital Steward told the Captain that

his remains had been placed in a coffin ready for interment, and

that they must be removed at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning. 

Early on Tuesday morning, Lawrence Frankenfield, Samuel

Crossdale, Henry W. Haney and Samuel E. Crouthamel were

detailed to dig the grave, which is in the Soldiers’ burying

ground, near the Congressional Cemetery.  Sergeant Rogers was

detailed with twelve men as an escort; Lawrence Rush, Warren

W. Marple, John McLaughlin and Charles Frankenfield were the

pall-bearers, and the rest of the company followed as the mourn-

ers.  The funeral took place at ten o’clock in the morning —

Corporal Marple read a portion of the Episcopal service for the

dead, and three vollies were fired over the grave.

On Monday evening, President Lincoln, the Secretary of War,

and quite a number of the officers of the army, visited the Arse-

nal for the purpose of witnessing the experiments with some

newly invented rifle cannon.  On the arrival of the distinguished

visitors a salute of twenty-one guns was fired.  The experiments

proved highly satisfactory.  Several of the guns carried twelve

pound balls over four and a half miles.  On their return to the

city several of the companies formed in line, and as they passed

cheered them loudly.  On Tuesday afternoon, the muskets we

received at Camp Scott were exchanged for the Springfield mus-

ket.  It is the most improved arm now in use, and with the

bayonet, weighs a little over nine pounds.  The exchange of

muskets looks as though we would soon see some active service.

To-day, pursuant to orders from Regimental Head Quarters,

the different companies composing the Regiment have been

pitching their tents, on the parade ground.  This evening, the

Guards will vacate, the brick house they have occupied since

their arrival at the Capital.  Yesterday Captain Davis was visited

by one of the members of a committee, from Philadelphia, who

are authorized to tender him the Colonelcy of a Philadelphia,

Regiment during the war.  He is now holding the matter under

advisement.