Civil War Troops in the U.S. Patent Office

JUNE 1, 1861.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

347

OUR ARMY AT WASHINGTON.

WE publish on this page two more illustrations of our army at Washington—one representing the gallant RHODE ISLANDERS "BUNKING" IN THE PATENT OFFICE, the other the QUARTERS OF THE SIXTY-NINTH (IRISH) REGIMENT in the Georgetown College. Never since American inventive genius was first aroused did the Patent Office contain such remarkable models of American manufacture as those which now sleep three deep in " bunks" spread along the edge of the cabinets; and to those students of mechanism who have been wont to resort to the Patent Office to work out unfinished problems and botch great inventions, the presence of the sturdy Rhode Islanders, and the stacks of eloquent muskets present a novel and a startling scene.

With regard to the Sixty-ninth the Washington Republican says : " We paid a visit to this regiment, who are quartered in Georgetown College, yesterday, and found the men all busy in the various duties pertaining to military life. They are all in fine spirits, and seem to

enjoy the soldier's life amazingly, although many of them are getting impatient, and wish to be off to some fighting region. The grounds exhibit quite a busy scene, the men in companies and squads learning the use of their arms. Several companies were also in the distant portion of the grounds engaged in target firing, and exercising in loading and firing. The targets were generally brought in completely riddled, and the firing by company was executed with the greatest precision. Several officers of the army, lately graduated

 from West Point, are constantly employed in instructing the men in the use of their arms, which they are beginning to handle like regulars. The hours of drill are 9 A.M. and 2 1/2- P.M. for company, and at 4 o'clock the regimental review takes place. The officers of the Catholic Church near the college have placed it at the disposal of the regiment, and the chaplain, the Rev. Father Mooney, officiates before the regiment every Sabbath morning at 9 o'clock. The citizens of the neighborhood speak in the highest terms of the conduct

of the men, and Colonel Corcoran may well be proud of the good name the regiment has earned. The New York Times correspondent writes of the 69th : " The parade of the 69th today was very fine. The regiment was very full, over one thousand men being in the ranks. Colonel Corcoran exercised his men in battalion drill, bayonet charges in double quick time, in hollow square, etc. Toward the close the music of a band was heard, and the gates being opened, the 5th Massachusetts Regiment marched in and saluted the

69th. After the usual courtesies the Massachusetts and New York regiments were brought in line on opposite sides of the square, and they cheered each other most lustily. It was an exciting scene to see time Puritan New Englanders and Catholic Irishmen thus fraternizing. After the drill the officers of the two regiments had a friendly glass of wine and a most cordial reunion.

"General Runyon and staff, of the New Jersey Brigade, also visited the 69th, and partook of the hospitalities of Colonel Corcoran and Father Mooney. General Runyon, in response to a sentiment offered by Father Mooney, made an eloquent and patriotic address. " It is a noticeable fact that the first interchange of military courtesies was between Colonel Vosburgh, of the American 71st, and Colonel Corcoran, of the Irish 69th. The common danger appears to have made native and foreigners common friends."

The same writer speaks of the Rhode Islanders:

"The Rhode Island Regiment is quartered at the Patent Office. They had service in the large hall

  of the Patent Office building yesterday at 101 o'clock. The drums beat to muster the men, and while the magnificent band which accompanies this regiment made the lofty halls ring with its enchanting music, the men, silently and with measured tread, formed on each side of the wide marble columns, near a temporary desk which was to serve as a pulpit. The officers stood near, uncovered, among them Governor Sprague, a young man about 28 or 30 years, with a pale, delicate, but firm face. It was a solemn scene, as I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to the grand music that resounded through the large building, and the even tread of that large body of silent men on the marble floors of the wide hall. The sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Woodbury. of Rhode Island, was appropriate and very fine."

SLEEPING-BUNKS OF THE FIRST RHODE ISLAND REGIMENT, AT THE PATENT OFFICE, WASHINGTON.
[SKETCHED BY OUR SPECIAL ARTIST.]

QUARTERS OF THE SIXTY-NINTH (IRISH) REGIMENT NEW YORK STATE MILITIA, AT GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, D. C. -

 [SKETCHED BY OUR SPECIAL ARTIST]