e direction of affairs. He
afterwards joined the rebels. I observed also that our encampment was
commanded by hills on the north and east, and Colonel Butterfield
informed me that the picket line was a long way inside the base of the
hills. At about six o'clock in the evening, a train with troops and
three civilians was made ready for Washington. The American flag was
displayed at many of the houses on the line of the road.

I arrived in Washington the 27th day of April. I annex a copy of a
letter that I wrote to Governor Andrew the day following:

WASHINGTON, April 28, 1861.
To His Excellency Governor Andrew.

Sir:--I arrived in Washington to-day, after a journey of forty-eight
hours from Philadelphia by Annapolis. There have been no mails from
the North for a week; and you may easily understand that the mighty
public sentiment of the Free States is not yet fully appreciated here.

The President and Cabinet are gaining confidence; and the measures of
the Administration will no longer be limited to the defence of the
capital. Secretary Welles has already sent orders to Captain Hudson
to purchase six steamers, with instructions to consult you in regard
to the matter. I regret that the Secretary was not ready to put the
matter into the hands of commissioners, who would have acted
efficiently and promptly.

Mr. Welles will accept, as a part of the quota, such vessels as may
have been purchased by Mr. Forbes.

Senator Grimes of Iowa will probably give Mr. Crowninshield an order
for arms. The United States Government may do the same; but no
definite action has yet been taken.

Martial law will be proclaimed here to-morrow. Colonel Mansfield will
be appointed general, and assigned to this district. He is one of the
most efficient officers in the country.

Baltimore is to be closed in from Havre-de-Grace, from the Relay House,
from the Carlisle line, and by an efficient naval force. She will be
reduced to unconditional submission. The passage of the troops through
Maryland has had a great moral effect. The people are changing rapidly
in the country places. Many instances of a popular revolution, in
towns through which troops have passed or been stationed, have come to
my knowledge. I came to Washington with the Twelfth New York Regiment;
and from Annapolis Junction there were cheers from three fourths of the
houses by the wayside.

Everything appears well at Annapolis, where General Butler commands i