_Saturday, June 22._--Arrival at the National Capital. By daylight the cupola of the Capitol greeted our eyes, a reviving sight after three sleepless nights. Col. Ambrose E. Burnside and Capt. Chas. H. Tompkins had a breakfast prepared for us, consisting of roast beef, soft bread and coffee. After unloading battery, we marched towards Camp Sprague, and established our quarters on the left of those of the First R. I. infantry regiment and battery. Our camp was named "Camp Clark," in honor of the celebrated Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, the model of a Christian minister and true patriot.
_Sunday, June 23._--The sanctity of the day was well observed throughout the camp, and increased by an impressive sermon, preached by Bishop Clark. In the afternoon, passes were given to the men to visit the city. The day closed with a dress parade, President Lincoln and other functionaries being present.
_Monday, June 24._--Grand review of the Rhode Island troops by President Lincoln and Gen. Scott. Marched in front of the White House and through the principal streets of Washington.
From this time up to the 4th of July, nothing of importance occurred; everything went on quiet and pleasant; battery drills and manual of the piece were the usual occupation. Sometimes the long roll would be beat during the night, or guards would fire at some imaginary object of suspicion. On such an occasion a cow was shot.
_Thursday, July 4._--The day was duly celebrated in camp. Rhode Island furnished her troops with a good dinner. Prof. Sweet treated the multitude with a tight rope performance. The day passed off smoothly, with the exception of a strange display of authority by a few corporals, laboring under the idea that their dignity was injured by the men not paying enough respect to them. In those days gunners and caisson corporals played gentlemen. They not only expected to be saluted by privates, but induced the men of their respective detachments to hire negroes to black the boots for all the men, while actually it was only to wait on the corporals; yet they did not want to stand the expense alone. Let it be said in our honor, we allowed this humbug to be of but short duration. I cannot help mentioning the names of the men of the fourth detachment, not because the men were any better than others, but because it furnished the most commissioned and non-commissioned officers of any other in the battery. Corporals, Charles H. Clark and Harry C. Cushing. Privates, Wm. Drape, George Greenleaf, John H. Lawrence, Ben. S. Monroe, Richard Percival, Theodore Reichardt, Robert Rowbottom, Robert Raynor, Charles V. Scott, and Arnold A. Walker.