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young girl was raped and murdered near the canal. They are searching the canal for her body to day. I visited the city reservoir. This is raised about thirty or forty feet about the common level of the City. It is about 60 feet in diameter and is fed by a large spout raising in the middle the water comes from the river and supplies the city. There are now about 7000 men encamped here.
Monday Sept. 16th We left Harrisburg this morning at 3 oclock arrived in Baltimore, passed through the city. at the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio railRoad we saw the bullet holes where the enraged irishmen fired their muskets when their officers would not let them fire into the mob that were attacking them as they returned from the three months service. We arrived in Washington about 5 P.M. I wrote to Benj# #my brother and then started in search of him. I went to the Post Office and mailed my letter, then after making some inquiries, I started and run about three miles, when not finding his Regt. I thought it was about time to return to our quarters at the soldiers retreat 40 rods from the Capitol.
Tuesday Sept. 17th I arose early this morning and went to the Capitol. I visited the picture galleries. I beheld the statues, I gazed upon the walls and columns of polished marble. I assended the dome and cast my eyes on the scene before me. Munson's Hill and other points occupied by the rebel hordes were in plain view. I could see thousands of our own tents artilery cavalry and infantry * camps in every direction as far as the eye could distinguish an object. I could see the regular streets of the city laying beneath my feet. Yet one relic of barbarism was there. the names of thousands who had assended the dome were written in pencil marks on the smooth white plank. The building is yet unfinished notwithstanding it is magnificent beyond description. I left the Capitol and went it search of Berry, and after visiting a great number of camps
- It was in Washington that about this time Julia Ward Howe wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Without knowledge of this fact no one can understand the Battle Hymn. [written in 1916]