Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-12

ment in the middle of the pleasures of that
military holiday, PAY DAY. Paymaster
Jordan was here in the midst of operations.
and the men were being paid up to the first Of
September, the privates receiving about $50
each. Only six companies are in camp the
other four, including company d, are at the
river on picket duty DIR. Bates is down with
visitation Of fever and ague, an old acquaint-
ance Of his | believe. The health of the regV
iment generally appears TO be very good.
| There are lew in the hospital, but none of
them are very i'll save Corporal Hildretl OF the
| Fitchburg company, who seems 10 lie at
deaths door
This camp is about five miles from Ed
wards Ferry aud six miles from Conrad's
Ferry The pickets Of the regiment have the
care of the river between these ferries, extend
ing from above Conrads Ferry down nearly to
the other; aud this has been the liveliest place
on the Potomac. There has been some nota
bic artillery practice near Edwards Ferry by
Lieut.. Woodruff of Ricketts, battery. He
seems TO hit as accurately with his rified
twelve Founders as the most accomplished
marksman with a target rifle One day last
week, when the rebels became very saucy
with some OF their big guns, he swiftly silenced
their battery, and thcn experimental on long
baggage train OF the rebels three miles off.
Such an overturniug and scattering of baggage
wagons was never before heard Of Whoever
goes to the ferries is liable to have some ad-
ventures occasoned by some such artillery
skirmistes. The Massachusetts fifteenth has
men there all the time. Thus you will see
that Col DeVens' regiment has the most adj
yanced position here, and that they have on
their hands great deal of exposed pick.
ct business This is why they SO much
need rifles or rifle muskets Their smooth
bores would be well enough, perhaps, in some
situations, for the guns are good for guns of
that kind. But smoothbores are out of place
in such service as this regiment has to per.
form No other regiment in the whole Union
army has more pressing need of being armed
with Mimic rifles. Col. Devens has obtained
few, but he ought to have enough for the
whole command.
Col, Devens' regiment has an extended rep
utation among the camps for neatness, disci-
pline, harmony, and good behavior, and / am
satisfied that this reputation is well deserved.
Although the camp, when we arrived, was
astir with the unusual movements of pay day,
yet it was the neatest and most orderly regi
mental camp we have seen. / can now add
that the signs OF harmony and good discipline
are abundant and unmistakeable. Col. Dew
ems deserves the warmest praise Of every
friend Of the regiment at home, Tor his earnest
and untirng care Of the men. Nothing that
touches their welfare. not even the smallest
matter escapes his attention. Since the pay
master carrie, lie has interested himself 10 have
the men send home as much of their money
as they can spare, aud that, he thinks, is most
of it and hc has devised scheme, all the
trouble and expense of which lac takes upon
himself, by which The money 10 be sent home
may be exchanged for checks drawn 10y him
self on one Of the Worcester banks, to be paid
there il presented six or eight days hence.
| Already a great deal of money has been ex-
changed for these checks, some Of the Irish
| boys belonging 10 the Blackstone company
being among the foremost to take them. And
| in all measures for the welfare OF the men,
Col. Devens is earnestly supported by Lieut.
Col. Ward and Major Kimball. The harmony
and mutual hel iiulness manifest at headquar.
tiers are very admirable
PooLEsvlLLE, Oct s, 1861 Corporal Hill.
dreth of the Filchburg company died last
evening He was young man about nine
teen years old, much esteemed in his compa.
ny. His death was occasioned by what the
doctors call "caIcareOus deterioration of the
liver" lie had Tor some time been troubled
with bad cough resulting from the disease,
but had been confined to the hospital only a
few days. His father and mother reside in
Oakham. This is the third death that has
occurred in the regiment since it left WoIces-
ter. The others were Melvin Rowland, order |
ly sergeant of the Blackstone company, and
Edward T. Ware of the Brookfield company |
Their graves are pleasantly placed in GENE
terry of the village, and the grave stones, arbor
VITAE, and rose bushes, show how aifectionately
they are remembered by their comrades Of the
regiment. Dir. Bales being sick, great deal
of work falls to DR.. Haven, the assistant sur
geon, who gives it thorough attention.
! may have an opportunity TO go to the fer
ries tomorrow if SO, will tell you what l
see and hear. job.