The US Capitol Takes a Beating...By Union Troops-- Part 1

From the July 10th new York Times Opinionator "The US Capitol at War" by Guy Gugliotta. 

Thomas U. Walter, the architect in charge of building the new Senate and House wings and the cast iron dome on the US Capitol building in Washington, DC, was appalled when he returned to his job in early July 1861.

The place was a shambles, and not from Rebel fire, but loyal Union troops. Congress was not in session and the building was empty and had been procured by the Army and had become temporary barracks for some of the influx of troops rushing to the city's defense.

Bread was being baked in the basement, greasy slabs of bacon dumped in committee rooms, furniture broken up and dark hallways turned into latrines.

Walter wrote his wife, "The smell is awful. The building is like one grand water closet (the term for bathrooms when located inside back then)-- every hole and corner is defiled."

And, in the Capitol!!

Have Some Respect. --Old B-Runner