The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-07-12
For the Union and Journal.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
IuIy y 1871

July2, 1901.
Nh. CowAS-SIR.-Having nothing particu-
lar to do just now, think cannot better dis
pose Of my time than by making you acquaint-
cd with some of the incidents which vary the
monotony Of our camp life here.
As believe mentioned in my last. we are
cncamped in a very beautiful spot, a New York
regiment in rear Of US, and one on our left, aud
the Maine regiment on our right In the field
in which we are encamped there are number
of very fine oaks, and beneath them many Of
the tents are pitched, the white canvass con-
trasiing showingly with the bright green foliage
giving our campa most picturesque and ro-
mantle appearance. When wrote to you my
FIRST letter. Immediately after our arrival, we
were OF course in complete state Of "pi, NOW
we are just getting settled down; the Quarter
maeter; whoever he is, seems to have "woke
up" and we are all having frst-rate time.
enjoying life with an intensity Of enjoyment
which is unknown to you civilians. There
seems to be something in the atmosphere Of
this sunny cline more conducive TO happiness
than that Of more northern and colder regions,
the air is SO soft and pleasant, the sky oclear;
the nights 50 cool and delicious, one cannot
help thinking that 1t is far too valuable part
OF the nation to be given over to the rulers Of
Secession" and for my part cannot help
thinking that II Is far too beautiful country
to be burdoned and crushed with the curse Of
slavery.
Yesterday myself and some few others Of the
Biddeford Company took a stroll over the
camps Of the other Maine regiments. My i'm
preston is that the Filth will compare iayorably
with any Of them. We were much struck with
the beautiful prospect obtained from the camps
Of the second. The boys Of the second are en-
camped on thotop ola hill from which better
view of the city of Washington and the sur
rounding country cannot be had elsewhere
The Maine regiments all have that rough, har-
dy appearance which denotes the possession OF
iron constitutions, Injured to har,lships and
hard fare. IfJetf. Davis has any better mate
rial to bring forward he is fortunate man,
We have no fears that the "chiyalry" will make
any serious impression upon their ranks in the
day of trial.
There is q small creek some few miles from
the camp where those who choose and risk it,
60 to battle. After our visit to the camps, we
proceeded there. Aftercrossing several fields,
deserted and lonely as IL the husbandman had
never trod them, We struck into wood skirt
H., al "a. I, ,,f f,x ,niIoa h,nnnht
us to the oblging picket ofthe federal army;
short walk beyond brought us to our destna-
ton. II was most romantic looking spot
The banks were rather high and covered with
cover to rihcmen. or course we took the pre-
caution to have our reyolyers with us. We
were not fortunate enough to have an occasion
to use them.
Last night we had little excitement to cir
culate our blood, In the shape of heavy thun-
der storm and gale of wind. The rain de-
scended in torrents and the thunder and
tightening were on magnificent scale. A
Gs FOUNDER would have been mere pistolcrack
In comparison to ii. When the rain came down
the heaviest, and the thunder rolled the loud
est about half the tents gave way before the
sale-a number went down, wrapping the in-
mates in winding-sheet of wet canyass-while
the pins of others were loosened and II was
only by united effort that they were kept up.
The Biddeford boys treated 1t as true soldiers
should treat such things, as acapitaljokc. All
things come to an end-our storm came to an
end-and We laid down, drenched to the skin,
and sung "Dixie" till ono after another, we
dropped into the arms Of morpheus and gave
our minds to snoring.
This morning we learned that q New York
regiment and the first Maine regiment left last
night during the storm for lIarper's Ferry,
SO after all, the gallant First will have chance
to earn some glory and do their country some
service before they return in August. They
have gone to meet the encmy-in all probabili-
ty the enemy will be theirs.
need not tell you We are all burning to fol-
low in their footsteps In the meantime we
keep our muskets in order and our powder
dry. lam yours &c.,