The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-15

the invitation and attended church. In th,
afternoon Rev. DR.. Telt Of Bangor preache,
in the open air on the eucampment ground
to a very large audience. DR.. T. is Meth
odist, and preached by invitation Of Col
Goddard. lie is talked Of for the Chaplainc,
Of the regiment. We hope he will be selected
for this post. For he is man OF pluck ant
high mental culturc-so he appeared to DO
His remarks certainly touched the righ
chord as he blended the doctrines of chris
tiani,y with those ola high toned patriot
ism. Surely piety and patriotism cannot b
separated in this mOnstrous attempt t.
destroy the Government. They arc thu
Siamese twins which will certainly annihilatt
treason and rebellion. The next Sunday
Nov. third, it rained all day and our TENT
were necessarily our dwelling places. To.
morrow we expect to attend church in Au'
gusta all day. But no one goes to church
unless he goes Voluntarily. Among the
soldiers there is an alarming amount Of pro
fame language used. Some men seem to strive
to use nothing else but profanity in their
conversation. This certainly tends to make
n poor and miserable soldier as well as most
miserable man. We hear that Col. Goddard
has resolved to abate this nuisance in a
measure at least. Indeed an outward regard
for deoeHey requires an abridgment of the
publicity Of this language, if tho oath OF
allegian.e has any sacrednees and binding
effect attached to it. We hope that Col.
Goddard will soon look to these little things
large hiHgs-whieh have so powerful a
tendency towards giving character and
efficiency to the regiment.
There are quite number Of religious men
in our company, and believe most Of the
officers are Of this character. Certainly we
have very large prcdominanco of moral, in
telligent and capable men in our ranks
These have rented their farms, left their
trades, sold their stores, and left all the
charms Of happy homes, to devote their lives
aud their fortunes to the service of their
country. But why do speak Of this? l,
is nothing more than their Durr to doso.-
The government that has protected their
lives, their liberties, and their fortunes in
seasons Of profound peace and unparalleled
prosperity, has certainly some claims for the
services ofthe recipients of these bounties in
the struggles OF that government for national
life. ltuscd to be thought that bad man
only could make good soldier. We believe
that thepubllc opinion Ofiotelligcnt men is
now Numerically opposed to thisidea. Why
hould not intelligence, stability Of character,
and trust in God, improve the soldier as
well rs the man? Ii is absurd to think other
wise. wish to suggest one other thing in
this connection; and can perhaps do il no
better than to quote few words from an
article in the November number of the At
lantic Monthly entitled the "Contrabands at
Fortress MunrUe," by Edward l.. Pierce. ono
Of the Massachusetts, soldiers who served in
the three months campaign under Gen.
Butler. Mr.. Pierce was assigned the execu-
tive control and supervision of the negroes.
lie says, al did not hear prOiano or vulgar
word spoken by them during my superinten-
dencc, q remark which it will DO difficult to
make OF any ninety-four white men taken
together anywhere in our army. Indeed,
the greatest discomfort of soldier, trhO desires
TO remain gentleman in The camp, IS the
PERPETUAL RElrER,rIoS of language rhieh no
decent lips could utter in sisters presence.
But the negroes, so dogmatically pronounced
unfit for freedom, were in this respect models
for those who make high boasts Of ciyility
Of manners and Christian culture.
The italicised words deter our best young
men from enlisting more than anything else,
am inclined to think. The moral dangers
of the camp are more dangerous than the
physical dangers Of the battle field generally,
must admit. And for one, Us | have often
said, | had rather serve in the army as a
common soldier without pay and without
subsistence from the government, than to
serve among the ignorant, the degraded, and
the proElne which the army takes up. But
IN the Cavalry Regiment we think that in
fucnecs radically opposed to these predomin-
ate. The army opens wide and grand
field for the most successful operations ofour
benevolent societies and citizens. Men are
here concentrated together all the time,
apart iron the world, and might be peculiar
" susceptible of moral and religious im-
prcssions. Let public and pirate beneroicnos
note this fact. But to return.
We started from Biddcford about noon
Oct. 80, we arrived at Augusta at about
nishtiall. At "a late hour Of the evening on
the encampment OF the First Maine Cavalry
THE old Fair Grounds) with the blue vault
Of heaven for our canopy and OnlOng elegant
tables Of implanted hcmlock, resembling n
temporary jOiner's bench, we first took "tea"
in camp; our "ted" consisted OF hard pilot
bread, potatoes, insipid coffee, and "white
bread " Since that time We have had brown
bread (cOrn bread) twice week, ono COM
mon bakers Loaf divided among ten or twelve
men, slowed beans twice week, beef abou,
all the time, about half the time gravy
comes with the potatoes, soup comes once
OF twice week.
Common brown bread, made Of corn, is
greatly to be desired. 1t is cheaper than
whoa, brcadltbaker's "white bread, y can be
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