1862 August 25 Washington, D. C.

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]      

                          
                             Washington City, D.C. Aug. 25, 1862.
     At 10 last night we entered the “Capital
of the Country,” but did not get a view of the
place until morning.  Such noted places as
this I will not attempt a description of,
others have done so better than I can even hope to,
and the common reader certainly knows more
about the “City of magnificent distances,” than
I can expect to tell him.  But one has
strange feelings on his first visit to the
Capital of the United States in such a time as
this.  I know that every one was strangely
impressed, they knew not why.
     An accident having occurred on the
“Long Bridge,” we were detained in Washington,
as it was pretty certain we were to go forward
without delay to the aid of Gen. Pope.  The 30th 
& 36th have already gone forward, they being in
advance of us. ---Workmen are repairing the
bridge, and in consequence of the uncertainty about
the time of its completion, we have to limit
our excursions through the city, and keep an
eye on our Regiment, for fear of being left.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925