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SEPTEMBER 14, 1861.] HARPER'S WEEKLY. 587 (Previous Page) " I had rather have your word of honor." " You have it, colonel ; you have it." On the day of the dinner the captain, in full uniform, presented himself at the colonel's, and bowed to every body without pronouncing a syllable. He ate like an ogre, to render silence less difficult. The third course was about to be succeeded by a dessert ; the captain was eating a roasted wood-cock ; the colonel was congratulating himself at having escaped humiliating an old brother in arms. All at once a horrible cry burst from the captain's lips. One of his grinders had been broken by a shot lodged in the woodcock's thigh. " Sacre nom de millions de diables!" shouted the grognard, holding out with one hand the murderous shot, and with the other the wood-cock's head. "This infernal brute didn't die of the measles !" POLITICAL PRISON AT WASHINGTON.WE published in our last number a view of the political prison at New York. We now give THE POLITICAL PRISON AT WASHINGTON, where so many of the rebel sympathizers are confined. It is a building of no pretensions, and not very secure ; but as yet we hear of no escapes from it. THE MARINE CORPS AT WASHINGTON.WE publish herewith a picture—from a sketch by our special artist in Washington—of the marines drawn up in front of their barracks at Washington. The Marine Corps was established in 1798, and has since participated in all the wars in which the country has been engaged. It took part in all the naval engagements of the war of 1812, was engaged under General Eaton in the war with Tripoli, defended Washington under Commodore Barney, went through the Creek and Florida wars under General Jessup, was engaged in all the Mexican battles, from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, under Gen. Scott, attacked the Sumatra forts, and the Barrier forts in China in 1859, and assisted in the capture of the Miramon steamer on March 7, 1860. The force stationed at the Washington barracks at present consists of four companies, under command of the following officers, viz. : Company A, Captain Taylor ; Company B, Lieutenant Nicholson; Company C, Lieutenant Meiere ; Company D, Lieutenant Collier. Commandant of Corps, Colonel John Harris. The numerical strength of the Marine Corps has been doubled since the war broke out. CORRESPONDENCE.CAPTAIN BENHAM.WASHINGTON, August 7, 1861. To the Editor of Harper's Weekly : IN your late issue I find a picture " The Death of General Garnett." As the whole country has been under a misapprehension in regard to that affair, let me draw your attention to the following extract from General Morris's report During all the time Captain Benham has had my full confidence in every thing relating to the conduct and management of the troops, and for a large portion of the time he has been in actual command of several regiments of the brigade, whenever separated from my immediate control. On three several occasions, when danger was anticipated at Philippi, I sent him up from Grafton to take command of these troops, and always to the great satisfaction of the colonels of the regiments there. On the march from Philippi to this place he led the advance with the skirmishers, and by his skillful management in this position the army was brought in here one or two hours earlier than could otherwise have been the case, and so as to effect a complete surprise upon the enemy. During the six days here he has had the direction under myself of all active operations, selecting positions for fortifying, in charge of scouts, reconnoissances, etc. On the march in pursuit of the enemy I gave him command of the advance column, the only troops that met the enemy, where his untiring perseverance in pursuit, and his judicious management in repelling the attack from the enemy, who made a stand in a strong position, was such as to effect the overthrow and route of the powerful army of Western Virginia, killing the General, taking his train and dispersing his entire force. He has during the whole of his services in my command exhibited abilities of the highest order, having never in a single instance committed an error, and showing qualifications eminently fit for a command of any grade that may he given him.
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