Madame c^e Corvin. 67 



ton, stayed away also, and the whole population had changed 

 its cljaracter. The hotels Avere then the centres of the rather 

 mixed and motley society. Washington people kept far from 

 it, and the temporary inhabitants amused themselves as well as 

 tliey could amongst themselves. The elegant and spacious 

 drawing-rooms in Willard's, the Metropolitan and National 

 Hotel, were always crowded, and so were the frequent bails 

 there, called ' hops ' in America. 



I of course took part in these entertainments, for never los- 

 ing sight of the purpose which brought me to Washington, I 

 had to visit places where I had an opportunity of seeing those 

 persons who could assist me. General Fry v/as very kind in 

 this respect, and interested Governor Yates in my behalf, and 

 nv)t without success. The Governor promised me a company 

 from Illinois, but said that he would not have it commanded 

 by any ' New York pumpkin,' and proposed that he should 

 make me captain of that company. He kept his word, and I 

 received from him a captain's commission and captain's pay, 

 which, he said, would assist me in defraying the expenses I 

 incurred in assisting the sick and wounded soldiers, in whose 

 treatment I was much interested. 



During my sojourn in Washington at that time, I became ac- 

 quainted with Aladame de Corvin, who had come from London 

 to stay with the colonel, her husband. She was well known 

 from the ' Colonel's Memoirs,' and I have only to say that the 

 favourable impression produced by that book, in reference to. 

 that kind and amiable lady, was fully justified on nearer per- 

 sonal acquaintance. Salm was much prejudiced in her favour, 

 and very much pleased when we became friends. During the 

 revolution in Germany, Mrs. Corvin had gone through a course 

 of surgery, and was as much interested as myself in everything 

 concerning the treatment of wounded soldiers and hospitals. 



The American Government and people did their utmost for 

 the welfare and comfort of their soldiers, and their liberality for 

 this purpose was unbounded. I have already mentioned how 

 the Government provided for them in the field, and how they 

 tried to conquer the great difiiculties caused especially by the 

 great distances, the bad state of the roads, away from the rail- 

 road lines or navigable rivers, and the insecurity, especially in 

 the revolted States. 



The greatest attention was paid to the care of the sick and 



