from the men, and as there are only a few of them compared with the rank and file, perhaps their better education, and the influence they would exert should the officers who guard them fall into their hands afterwards, and from the courtesy among officers the world over, and many other reasons, made their case much easier.

But among the common soldiers, their case, at the best, was deplorable. They were starved, crowded, and abused, even with us, to the bit ter end, and what redress could they get? Had I space, I could relate scores of instances of rebel cruelty.

We had among us eleven Free and Accepted Masons, of which I was, luckily, one. We were always used well by our "Fraters," and the obligations well lived up to. Many were the kindnesses we received, and as far as I know, they did all for us they could. They seemed to be as desirous of finding us out and helping us, as we were to receive their tokens of brotherly love and friendship. Much has been said of the power of this "Ancient Society," and I can say that from my long imprisonment, it has not been overrated. Many a prisoner has escaped, and hundreds helped more than will ever be known.

It was fortunate for me, also, that I had some knowledge of medicine, and from my slight knowledge I was enabled to do favors to the guard, especially in one case where a Georgia sergeant, and a South Carolinian, fought a duel. It was thought I saved one's life. From that I had many privileges of parole to go into the forests and get wood. You may well

believe I used this for myself and for my comrades.

All exchange of prisoners of war had been stopped for over a year, and General Banks, although defeated, had many prisoners in his hands, and had arranged a cartel, and 1,200 men of his army, prisoners, were sent to the Red river, some 200 miles, for exchange, in midwinter. Thinking their case was sure, before leaving our camp they gave away all they could spare to their chums, left, and started on their long march. They were gone five weeks. The cartel of exchange was revoked, and they came back to our overcrowded camp barefooted. You can imagine their feelings, and ours. Their sufferings were beyond words to express. Many died on the way, hungry. We were all afflicted with body lice and scurvy. God knows how those men, even more than those left in camp, suffered. But, as God willed, in two months they again left (what remained of them) for God's country, with us, forty of the old mess, as I will relate.

We had been raised to the highest pitch of hope, and then again depressed, so that we sank into a state of almost helplessness. But the time came. We were taken outside, fortytwo, the old squad, Butler's men, and paroled, the 1,200 of Banks's men, and finally started on our trip to the Red river, marching 200 miles, taking their dirty old crowded steamer. Sick, ragged, dirty, and almost starving, we bore it patiently. We were allowed much liberty, for who would escape at that time? We had enjoyed very good health, but on the influx of the new prisoners, we be

came afflicted with scurvy, and diarrhoea, etc., and were a pitiable lot, with teeth and gums sore, from which many of us have never recovered. I, for one, lost all my teeth and have none now, nor can I wear them.

I was fortunate, as I had been in New Orleans for over a year, and found my dress suit there, and many old comrades and friends, among them my captain, Farrington, on General Reynolds's staff, who was not

remiss in his kindness to me, and who obtained me a furlough home, which I made the most of and rejoined my regiment, the old Twelfth Maine, at Berryville, on their start up the valley.

I went through that campaign until the affair of Cedar Creek. I was by no means in good health, and that the thirty days' furlough I received from New York city was a bonanza to me, can be well imagined.

TON'S DEFENSES.

The provost guard, or "City Guard" of Washington.was comprised of a battalion of Regular Infantry, Battery K, Fifth U. S. Artillery, Troops A and E of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, and the Sturges Rifles (Illinois Volunteers). The infantry was practically Sykes's battalion with some changes, and was made up as follows: Company I, First, C and G (perhaps H) of the Second, B, D, G, H, and K of the Third, and G of the Eighth. The companies of the Third and Eighth were quartered in Franklin square, which had been occupied by the Twelfth New York Volunteers, Colonel Daniel Butterfield, the booths or low board barracks being on the north side, with the company streets running north and south. Company I of the First Infantry was quartered near the corner of H and

ond, except H, were located in a large warehouse in Georgetown, known as "Forrest Hall."

A, D, and I Companies of the Second Infantry, are reported to have arrived August 5, from the Pacific coast, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hannibal Day, and also taken quarters in "Forrest Hall."-(National Intelligencer.)

Colonel Day was made provost-marshal of Georgetown. These troops were joined, a few days later, by Company F of the Eighth, and October 22, 1861, by B, E, G, and I, of the Tenth Infantry, under Captain N. A. M. Dudley, which were at first located at "Camp Anderson," but afterwards assigned to the quarters at Franklin square. Early in 1862 (about Jan. 1) Company I, Ninth Infantry, and Headquarters, and A, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K Companies of the Fourth were on duty with the provost guard,

and Jan. 5, 1862, Companies B and C came from the Pacific coast via the Isthmus of Panama, and were quartered with the balance of the Fourth in Duff Green's Row, on Capitol Hili, and were placed in charge of the Old Capitol prison, besides guarding the bridge over the Anacosta river, and patrolling. A part of the Sixth Infantry (D.) was quartered near Judiciary square; Major George Sykes's quarters were on the north side of K street, facing the square, west of the house afterwards occupied by the secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton, which was next door west of the house now (1896) occupied by Senator John Sherman. The line officers occupied houses on the south side of I street, facing the square, and on the east side of Fourteenth, between H and I streets, while some of the bachelors occupied the old "Chain Building" (among them Lieutenants J. A. Snyder and J. A. McCool), which was located on the north side of H street on the southeast corner of an alley leading through from H to I, now the Fredonia. All the kitchens, non-commissioned officers' mess, etc., were located at the northeast corner of K and Fourteenth streets, where the Hamilton House now stands. Our brother, after about August 18, was in the old John B. Floyd house, as stated. This was No. 345 I street (old number), which was, so far as the writer has been able to ascertain, that now (1896), occupied as a dental college, three doors west of the alley which runs from I to H street. The Central guard-house, which was for the temporary reception of prisoners ar

rested by the provost guard, and where the officers on daily duty had to remain, was located on the south side of Louisiana avenue, west of Ninth street, about midway in the block of market houses, nearly opposite where Harris's or the Bijou theatre now stands. Among the officers with their regiments or temporarily attached for duty with the guard, were Major Innis Palmer, Captains D. Davidson, Jesse A. Gove (promoted to be Colonel Twenty-second Mass. Vols., killed at Gaines's Mills, June 27, 1862), C. S. Lovell, George L. Willard, N. A. M. Dudley; Lieutenants Averill, Hamilton, J. D. Drouillard, J. B. Williams, Dangerfield Parker, Isaac Helm, Andrew Sheridan, James A. Snyder, Joseph A. McCool, John W. Whitney, W. H. Penrose, H. B. Noble, C. D. Mehaffey, Francis E. Davies, George H. Butler, Oliver P. Gooding, and W. L. Kellogg. Lieutenant Frederick Devoe of the Third Infantry was the adjutant.

On August 2, 1861, General Andrew Porter, provost marshal, issued "G. O. No. 1, from Headquarters, City Guard, Provost Marshal's office," and all officers and men without leaves of absence or passes, were ordered to be arrested, and reports made daily from the Central guardhouse to him at headquarters.

After the Battle of Bull Run, the streets of the city fairly swarmed with troops, either mustered out and going home, or coming to the front, all militia or partially-organized volunteers, not yet leavened or disciplined. The music of the bands of the incoming regiments filled the air. Many officers and men were absent without

leave from their commands. The hotel corridors were filled with embryo brigadiers, and all was excitement, bustle, and seeming confusion. In fact, it was a small bedlam. The provost marshal had charge of a class of duties which had not before, in our service, been defined and grouped under the management of a special department. The following subjects indicate its sphere: "Suppression of marauding and depredations, and of all brawls and disturb ances." "Preservation of good order, and suppression of drunkenness beyond the limits of the camps." "Prevention of straggling on the march." "Suppression of gamblinghouses, drinking houses, or bar-rooms, and brothels." "Regulations of hotels, taverns, markets, and places of public amusement." "Searches, services, and arrests." "Execution of sentences of general court martial, involving imprisonment or capital punishment." "Enforcement of orders prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors (liquor houses were not allowed to keep open after 9:30 p. m.), whether by tradesmen or sutlers, and of orders respecting passes; desertions from the army, prisoners of war taken from the enemy, countersigning safeguards, passes to citizens, within the lines and for purposes of trade." 66 Complaints of citizens as to the conduct of soldiers." There was a limited censorship of the press. With these multifarious duties, the reader can imagine of what importance this command was in the city, directly after the Battle of Bull Run, and the commencement of four years of horrible war.

It was the office of duty then for this small band of disciplined Regulars to restore order from chaos, sift out the good from the bad, and keep the wheels in motion. Washington bore no resemblance to the beautiful city of to-day. The streets were wretchedly paved, or not paved at all; they were worse lighted, and when it rained they became almost impassable. An air of shabby, dirty neglect everywhere prevailed. The guardhouse was constantly besieged with visitors, and crowded with people brought in for examination. Officers of every grade, from brigadier-general down, were arrested, and if unable to give an account of themselves, were placed in the guard-house until their cases could be investigated. The officers of the guard acted in the capacity of magistrates. Saloons, houses of ill fame, and dens and dives of all descriptions, had sprung up like mushrooms; but one of the most prolific sources of trouble to the "City Guard" was "Canterbury Hall," the old variety theatre. What old soldier who visited Washington about this period does not remember this marvelous dispenser of amusement and good cheer to the volunteer soldier, from his dull and monotonous camplife on the other side of the river, and what a temptation it was to take a "French leave," just for a few hours. of boisterous entertainment within those festive walls? It was on the south side of Louisiana avenue, be

General McClellan assumed command of the Army of the Potomac and the defenses about Washington, July 27, 1861. He says of that period: Many soldiers had deserted, and the streets of Washington were crowded with straggling officers and men absent from their stations without authority, whose behavior indicated the general want of discipline. and organization." The restoration of order in the City of Washington was effected through the appointment of a provost marshal, whose authority was supported by the few regular troops within my command."

66

G. O. No. 2, July 30, 1862, was issued, appointing Colonel A. Porter, Sixteenth U. S. Infantry, as temporary provost marshal; "he will be obeyed and respected accordingly." The energy and ability displayed by the provost marshal and his assistants, and the strict discharge of their duty by the troops, produced the best results, and Washington soon became one of the most quiet cities in the Union." The Washington Intelligencer of August 13, 1861, says: "The guard in Washington is doing excellent service. Our city now exhibits perfect order, night and day."

Extracts from our brothers' letters will give the reader a partial idea of the life and duties performed in those days in and about the city of Washington: Camp Trumbull, Arlington, Va., July 31, 1861. Our battal

66

NOTE. The companies of the Second and G of the Eighth came into the city on the 30th of July. The companies of the Third on August 1, 1861.

ion is now very small; the Second and Eighth have left us and gone into the city to act as guard. Colonel Porter is appointed military commander, and he wants the Third also ; we will know this evening." "Ebbitt House, August 2, 1861. Colonel P. has been made provost marshal, and ordered us over immediately.

"Although I am almost dead with fatigue. I will answer your letters. We are in Washington as a military guard of the city. My company is quartered in a splendid house, directly opposite my room at the Ebbitt, and all the others are very near." (Some were around the corner on the south side of Thirteenth street.) "We marched over from Arlington in one of the most terrific rain storms I ever witnessed. We got drenched through and through.”

"I have been patrolling the city all day, and oh, how warm! But I was relieved at parade. I do not know how long we will remain here, but should judge the time will be quite long."

"Mr. Goodwin, M. C., has a room opposite mine, on the other side of the street. I go to see him very often, and like him very much. Mr. Fessenden invited me to call on him, but I have not had time to do

"I met Mr. Washburn, of Illinois, on the morning of the Battle at Centreville. He introduced himself,

NOTE. It is stated to the writer by one of the old sergeants of the Third U. S. Infantry, that

upon arriving in Washington, after marching from Arlington in the drenching storm, the com

mand was marched into a hall on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, now occupied by Gay & Co., stove and hardware dealers, where they remained at least one night.