Civil War Washington

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

The draft in the District is
nearly completed, and whilst it has created a
great deal of excitement, it has not been void
of many amusing incidents, particularly in the
First Ward, which is generally called the
Court-end, or Upper-tendom, much to the de-
light​ of the low and vicious. The draft has
fallen on many of our useful young men en-
gaged​ in pursuits of civil life. There are
many young men about Washington engaged
in doing nothing, who could be better spared,
and not missed from this community, than
those young men who have been drafted and
are so useful in society.

This draft is singular in its operations; it
seems to baffle the understanding of many.
But one thing is certain: the drafted men
seem to learn very quick how to look for a sub-
stitute​. They learn that sooner than anything
else. But substitutes seem to be scarce, and
some of the drafted, or lucky, ones are at their
wits' ends to find a substitute, but it is just
as I predicted. I have urged them to enlist,
and not wait for the draft. They have put me
off by asking the silly question, "What are we
going to fight for?" Now they are drafted,
that question they have lost sight of.

Aside from drafting, Washington is dull. I
stroll about to gather up something for your
most excellent paper, and the other evening I
dropped in at the 15th Street Presbyterian
church, where a meeting of the Contraband
Relief Association was being held. There I
had the extreme pleasure of seeing the flag
gotton​ up by this Association for the First
Colored District regiment. It is a beautiful
one, and seems to get the admiration of every-
body​ that has seen it. The design is most ex-
cellent​, and the artist, Mr. Bowser, of Philadel-
phia​, has a multitude of plaudits bestowed
upon him for his great artistic powers. I hap-
pened​ in the meeting just as the President
(Mrs. Keckley) called the house to order. The
house was crowded. Here let me say that the
President presided with dignity, modesty and
firmness. The whole Society seemed to be
present, and she managed them with ease and
comfort, and all seemed to reverence her posi-
tion​. In a word, she is a noble woman.

Speaking of societies, I cannot let this occa-
sion​ pass without noticing the Colombian Har-
mony​ Cemetery Association. Of all societies
that I have had the pleasure of visiting, this
is the most dignified. Were you present at
one of their sessions, you would think you
were in the midst of grave senators. The As-
sociation​ has a cemetery about two and a half
miles from the city. A visit out there last
week perfectly convinced me that it was the
cemetery; in fact there is no burial-ground of
any note (of color) in the vicinity of Washing-
ton​ except this. It is beautiful beyond de-
scription​. Adorned with cedars that would
compare with the cedars of Lebanon that we
read of in the Scriptures, it contains about
seventeen acres of land, all enclosed with a
good fence, sexton's house, etc. The Associa-
tion​ contemplates building a chapel, which,
when done, will add much to the appearance
of the ground. This is the place where rest
the remains of the late Dr. Robert Boyd Leach
of Cleveland, Ohio, who died in Philadelphia
on the 29th of July. The death of this good
man will be keenly felt by all who knew him.
In looking at the different tombstones, I came
across one towering over the remains of the
lamented Rev. John F. Cook, who was a mem-
ber​ of this Association; also, of the late An-
drew​ Foote, Francis Datcher, and many old
citizens whom I remember well in their palmiest
days; but they are all gone to that rest pre-
pared​ for the people of God.