Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-14
LETTERS FROM THE RIFLEs-No. 6.

Baltimore, May 10Th, 1861.

Baltimore, May lUll, loo1'
Yesterday, Lieutenant O'Driscoll, Of Co. c,
and private Cutler, of Co. a, who were on
furlough, arrived here and Joined again their
respective companies. They were received
with hearty cheers and a 'tigah." They were
doubly welcome, because they acted as mes
sengers from home, bringing with them many
letters, papers, and other good things. Among
the latter / observed quantity OF tobacco,
which was presented to the battalion by Mr..
Shattuck and also Mr.. Gray, of Worcester.
A donation of this kind may probably cause
discomfort to our dnti-tobdcconiStic friends at
home, but did not see any dissatisfaction on
the side Of the recipients OF the gift, and we
can assure them, to say the least, that we
shall not fight any worse on that account
This is all the consolation which we can give
to the enemies of the world-spread weed.
When we were informed of Mr.. Shattucks
and Mr.. Gray's gift, some. members expressed
their regard for the donors in this short and
peculiar style bully tor Shattuck and
Gray" This is of course in disregard of
aesthetic rules, but it was used as the superla-
tive of all kind feelings.
BY the files of papers which have come to
hand, l see that many complaints are made
blythe trnnns on account of tss4fts bad fale-
, essused By an Inefficient commissariat. With
the exception of about four or five days, our
fare has been as good as soldier could ask
for under the circumstances. There may
have been some mismanagement by the
commssariat, but as whole the irregu-
Iarities and confusion which are complained
of must be attributed to the fact that all of us
are more or less greenhorns in military mat
tiers. If the reports of the papers in regard to
the fare of some Of the troops are true, we
have Jared, since our departure, comparatively
the best. We have three meals every day,
and our kitchen is since two days more on
permanent footing. We have regular rations
fresh meat and bread, coffee with milk-and
1 can assure you we are beginning to like it.
II you know of any one who is dyspeptic adj
wise him to join the militia, and he will soon
shake off his complaint; and, in consequence
of the many drills which he has to 90 through,
the process OF digestion will be rapidly accelera.
ted, and an appetite caused that will make him
feel as if he would like to attend barbecue
on Charles river. With but few exceptions
we are healthy. There ale about four or five
now sick, but not at all dangerously. If any
other companies leave Worcester for actual
service, it will be well tor them to provide
themselves with India rubber blankets, besides
Al I'll Il, ,.I,n
and if the cap is not water proof, with an oil
cloth cover over it, coming down as tar as the
shoulders. The rubber blanket is especially of
great service when there is need of camping on
the grass To have the purse filled is also desira
Bile as many rough and uneven path can be lev
eled in the most expeditions way by spending
few dollars. If one wishes to take his meals
in boarding house. it will cost him from ST.
to 81 so per day-an exorbtant sum Of money,
considering the fare you get
The sudden conversion of many Maryland
"secessonsts" to Unionism seems to you not
an honest one as l see by one of your editori.
ais. You warn the public not to put too much
confidence upon these sudden assurances of
loyalty to the Union, considering the same as
a new style of tactics OF the rebels. fully
agree with you in this advice, as it is utterly
impossible that such thoroughly dyed rebel
as City Marshal Kane, of Baltimore, who
proved himself the most accomplished scoun.
dre on the memorable 18th OF April, can be
| at once converted into a legal citizen. AS long
as there is no effort made on the part of the
| Baltimoreans to try him for treason we can
not rely on any assurances Of pretended loyal
| ty TO the Union, and respect for the consttu-
ton of the United States AS long as they al
low him to act in his official capacity, so long
we IRE compelled to consider the asserted
friendship as sheer hypocrisy. Words with
out deeds are of no value in cases like these.
Five vessels, with troops, arrived here yes
terday, among them the man of war Harriet
Lane. The troops landed in Baltimore
without any trouble whatever. The mum
Der OF troops was about 1900. and com
! prised the following Five companies of the
Third Infantry, U. S. A, from Texas one
company, Sherman's celebrated battery, with
six field pieces, caissons, etc., and seventy
| horses; ana tlle TenHsy wanna rlrst heBfmenl
of Artillery, from Philadelphia, ten compa
MES, 800 men, under command of Col. Patter
son. The Clipper says Eve are very happy
to notice that not the slightest unpleasant in
cdent married the arrival and departure of this
large body Of troops"
Among the correspondence between Gen.
Butler and Gov. Hicks of Maryland, which
was published in the papers, is a letter of Gen.
! Butler in which he offered the assistance of