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A View from the Dome of the Capital.--A correspondent of a Northern Journal, in a recent letter, says:
‘
Making another occasional visit to this city to-day.
I found affairs not very materially changed from what they were a week ago.--The same if not an increased activity in military movements was apparent; but obedient to Government requirement I refrain from giving particulars.
Long trains of army wagons were in constant motion, ladened with supplies, provisions, munitions, etc. It seems impossible to escape for a moment their rumbling noise.
The day being pleasant, an unusually large number of persons appear upon the street and in public thoroughfares.
Hotels and private boarding houses are said to be crowded.
Each train of cars brings in a large number of passengers, many of whom are soldiers either returning from visits to their friends or coming up to join the army.--An unusually busy scene is presented in the vicinity of the depot, whilst business throughout the city appears quite active.
So far as movements on the opposite side of the river are concerned, none save officials know, and very few of them.
The plans and purposes of
Gen. McClellan are confined exclusively to the
Government and those of his confidential advisers.
Whatever may be said, therefore, in reference to the probable course that will be pursued, is mere conjecture.
Many are of opinion that a decisive conflict is not many days distant.
These surmises grow out of general indications such as are supposed to succeed great pending events.
The grand army of the Potomac is represented to be in line condition as regards discipline, healthfulness and spirits.
It is under constant drill and frequent review by the commanding and other distinguished officers.
General McClellan is almost constantly in the saddle, seeing personally to leading, and even minor affairs.
I again ascended the dome of the
Capital, and had a fine view of the encampments across the river, which have materially augmented during the past week.
An imposing and beautiful view, well worth a journey from
Baltimore, is to be had from this elevated position.
The atmosphere being clear, Munson's hill was in full range of the naked eye. Alded by a spy-glass, entrenchments can be seen in its vicinity and some Confederate soldiers moving to and fro, some mounted, and others on foot.
No flag, however, was discernable, leaving the impression that it must have been taken down and planted elsewhere.
Within a mile and a half, or two miles of this hill, I saw distinctly a number of Federal encampments, fortifications, and flags, beyond the furthest of which, ascended out of a thick woods, rising the dense columns of dark blue smoke, caused from the burning of brush and underwood.
’
