On the 2d of July, they arrived at Washington, and Tom had an opportunity
to see the "city of magnificent distances," of which he had heard so much.
The regiment marched from the station, through Pennsylvania Avenue, to
their camp ground in the rear of the White House. They were received with
enthusiasm by the people, but the miserable uniforms with which they had
been supplied, now faded and dilapidated, with the finishing touch of
destruction given to them by the perilous journey they had made, gave the
politicians their first lesson on the worthlessness of "shoddy."

The regiment entered the grounds of the White House, and as it passed up
the avenue, President Lincoln appeared in front of his mansion. The boys
greeted him with a volley of stunning cheers, which the President
acknowledged by a series of bows, which were not half so ungraceful as one
might have expected after reading the descriptions of him contained in the
newspapers.

To Tom Somers the President was a great institution, and he could scarcely
believe that he was looking upon the chief magistrate of this great
nation. He was filled with boyish wonder and astonishment; but, after all,
he was forced to admit that the President, though a tall specimen of
humanity, looked very much like the rest of mankind--to borrow a phrase
from one of his illustrious predecessors.

Tom was too tired to wonder long at the grandeur of the Capitol, and the
simple magnificence of the President. The tents were pitched, and the
weary men were allowed a season of rest. In a couple of days, however, our
soldier boy was "as good as new."

"Come, Tom, it is about time for you too see something of the city," said
Ben Lethbridge, one afternoon, after the regiment had become fairly