(from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated History of the Civil War…, edited by Louis Shepheard Moat, Published by Mrs. Frank Leslie, New York, 1895)
The influx of Northern regiments of troops into Washington during the early days of the war rendered that city every hour in the day a scene of exciting and beautiful military display. The grounds north of the Capitol were used for brilliant dress parades and drills, which attracted throngs of visitors from all parts of the city and surrounding places. The various regiments had their cliques of admiring friends, who deemed the evolutions of their favorites, entirely unapproachable. All the troops however, in their drill and bearing were considered worthy of warm praise, and called forth loud cheers from the spectators.