The Union and journal., 1861-12-20

| never enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner 80
well before. A month in camp, isolated
from society aud also from bountiiul table,
will give Iest for both the one and the
other, which can be fen much better than
described.
| think our camp life Of two months in
Augusta has been quite pleasant, on the
whole, although we did feel the pinehings OF
cold and hunger. at first, To n greater extent
than We ought, while encamped in the heart
and Capital of the old Dirigo State. Angus
Ia is a quiet little city OF some 5000 inhabl-
tants, situated principally ON the west bank
Of the Kennebec. Our encampment Is in the
Northern part Of the city, in the direction o'
Hallowell, and about u mile and hall from
the latter city. Camp Penobscot is on the
East side of the Kennebec, while ON the op-
posite side the Insane Asylum makes an i'm.
posing appearance. The site is splendid
one. The cost 0f the Asylum was originally
S2OO, 900. Apparatus lor beating tins In.
stitution by steam has just been completed
Mt a cost oil $4,000. At present there are
about $50 inmates in the Asylum. by the
kindness Of DR.. HARLOW, the accomplished
and gentlemanly Superintendent, we were
shown the various apartments ana their
occupants. The Doctor informed us that
none were - uncomfortable as to require close
confinement. One cannot help smiling at
the ludicrousremarks ofthese lunatic (moon.
struck) people. In one apartment group
Of young ladies were singing and dancing,
apparently as happy and gay US they well
could be. When the visitors approached
and were seen by them, they blGshCd, left
the dance and the music, and vanished,
lust as one has seen sane girls DO
thousand times. These, however, were re-
covering from their lunacy. When one
reflects that these unfortunate people are
berelt of the crowninS glory of man, reason,
the picture is reversed, and hecannot repreSs
feelings of sadness at their iOrlOrn condition.
A visit to such an Institution may be in
structiye. but cannot bring reflections OF any
pleasurablv character. Adjoining in the
Asylum grounds is the Arsenal and several
other buildings, large and small, scattered
over the spacious grounds. Col. Neal Dow's
Regiment (l3th) is now Quartered here, and
is about IL not quite full.
This Is the Arsenal from floor 10 ceiling,
Like a huge organ. rise the Furnished arms
But frOm their silent pipes no anthem peallnS
cNaAtAes thc NlAAasNis wien
II Prof. Lonslcllow should now visit the
Maine Arsenal, he would draw different
picture from that which he drew ON his visit
To the Springfield Arsenal. In the Maine
Arsenal one looks in vain for the "burnishcd
arms" Where are they2 All! too wide n
field for reflection is here opened and we must
leave these "stray leaves" for some other
occasion. In the city Of Augusta, the main
business street is Water ST. State St. runs
through the centre OF the city and contains
some very comfortable looking residences
The State House il ON the Southern extremity
of tins street ard nearly opposite "a little
NOrth) our camp. or our clothing we have
received our bOots-by the fronts of which
we are reminded OF the motto of the State OF
Maine-DiryO-an "that other sentiment
80 dear to every American heart-Libcriy
and URiOH, ROip and tOrCrcr, "a talma,
which is u large, loose india rubber over
coat, u blue Oyercoat, with cape, after the
usual fashion for the soldier, pair OF coarse
pants, n blue jacket, white stable irOck
(made Of duck,) stable jacket, besides
blanket (rather coarser than is generally
provided for the Army, two pairs OF drawers.
two pairs Of socks, u towel, pair of shirts
(blue woOlen,) and cap with glazed cover
Ing answering the purpose OF a hayclock, to
protect the head and neck in wet or cold
weather.
No mittens or gloves have been provided
by the Government, but thank kind Proyi-
dence the ladies OF Biddeiord have yoluntari-
ly knit and sent to us one hundred pairs of
mittens-a pair for each man--Ot just the
"a. A. thay warn wall told Inv
Carr. COwAN, they have, rs they richly
deserve the most sincere gratitude of every
soldier for this act of their good will and
womanly patriotism. Here, Mr.. Editor, al
low me To express my trarmest thdnkst to some
friends (whom have never seen,) in South
Parsonsteld. who, when sending variety OF
useful articles to the Cavalry volunteers from
that section, kindly remembered our humble
self, by enclosing "A most excellent pair OF
mittens, and soldiers PORTFOLIO filled with
a variety of useful knick knacks for the
soldier. shall not soon forget the deed or
the donors.
Since last wrote you, l have tried many
times To get chance to write my friends,
and YOU alsO, but have been absolutely unable
to get time to finish letter. Between
"rcrciLe" (morning call until "iGps" 1.-THE
bur.e sounds for retiring and blowing out of
lirhtsl IA continual aud not very regular
"faIlinc in" is the word. From Z. NJ.
Tars) until q l.2 A. NJ. Reyeillc) every
good soldier is supposed To b. wrapped in the
arms Of Morpheus. But there arc military
friioHs Us wellas iCgdl fdioHs. Stillnolisht
il allowed in the tents after 9P. VI. Should
YOU keep your lights burning longer, the
Officer OF the day will pay you u visit, aud
YOU finally wander away in the land ot nod
with dim perceptions OF the guard house
"doublc dpiy," aud such disconnected but
very suggestive ideas. The commissioned
officers keep light all night it they choose
tp do 80. Wehayc had ltss leisure time than
al first, for the last few weeks, probably
because we now have our saddles and there
fore can drill on horseback We sit in the
saddle from four To six hours daily. The
iilc and drum ol the inEntry give way to the
buclc in cavalry for the various calls 10 duty.
At rcyelle in the morning we "hll in"
for roll clll. and then march TO the stable,
and each man stands by his horse while he
is given his grain and hay. While at the
stable he srooms his horse. At the expira-
tion Of half OF three quarters OF an hour. the
company is then marched of to the wood
nile 10 cet the half cord Of wood allowed it
daily. Each man shoulders several sticks,
and then takes a 'bec hRC" in ''Open OrdCr"
for the kitchen. Then comes the coffee and
hard bread, with sometimes meat, usually
called "brcakfast." Us soon as this can bc
consumed, then comes another "fIling in"
10 water horses. Ones own horse is watered
first, and then the horses Of the men "on
duty," and Others are attended to. Several
more times we "iall in, but lose no time to
have our horses saddlcd and ready for drill.
The drill lasts till noon. We have barely
time (about an hour generality to get our
dinner and get slddled, before we again are
an, ,hc Irill Ahnut 4 II NJ drill and dress