The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
Correspondence of the Pres.
Letter from a Soldier.
CAMP BRIGGs, Pittsfield. Mass,
Aug. 81. 1862,

Aug. 81. 1862.
EErToRs OF THE PRESS: Dear Sirs,-In
accordance with promise made you few
days since, we take our pen in hand Tor the
purpose of introducing ourself While we do
not pretend to claim that our sketches shall be
either brilliant or witty, will state that they
may be relied upon as truthful; for having en-
tered the arena as a soldier,-exchanged the
pen editorial for a musket,-we have no inter-
est in rendering other than reliable statements.
We shall from time to time, as incidents worthy
of note transpire, endeavor to furnish the read
or with brief army letter, descriptive of the
scenery, and the characteristics of the people
Of the various sections of country through
which it may be our lot to pass; general army
intelligence, comprising incidents of march,
the horrors of the battlefield, IL we are so un-
fortunate as to be a participant, (which Heaven
forbid) and comments on the war policy of the
Government, and strategic movement of our
Generals, SO far as snch intelligence shall not
be forbidden, as detrimental to the cause of
our country. As we are connected with the
37th Regiment of Massaohnsetts volunteers, it
Is not to be expected that we can give peril
nent local intelligence of the movements of
Maine regiments. Therefore our attention will
be given to war matters of general interest, as
we have already indicated.
The camp of our Regiment is located at
Pttsfeld, Mass, a pleasant village of some six
thousand inhabitants, situated amid the pic,
turesque scenery Of the Berkshire hills, a more
genial location than which it would be hard to
find in New England. Pittsfield has been in
former years, and is now, notwithstanding the
financial depression of the times, somewhat
who fee from the dust and hustle of the city,
to recuperate their weakened systems in the
free mountain air. As the neighboring hills
abound with game, and the adjacent streams
and lakes contain large population of the
finny tribe, both the sportsman and the angler
find this place worthy their attention. The
manufacturing interests of the place are not
extensive, though far from being neglected.
and comprise nearly every branch of indus
terry texcept the manufacture of cotton goods)
which is common to New England. There
are two newspapers published here, the Eagle
and the Sun, which present neat appearance,
and are well edited. The Eagle is published
by a son of Maine, is conducted in credita-
BILE manner, and deserves, and we doubt not
receives, that support which should be the re-
ward of merit
Our camp ground is located about one and a
half miles from the village, on elevated ground,
and is abundantly supplied with fine water
Tk
contains abont 1000 men. The tents are erect
ed in regular order, the streets numbered from
A to K. Nearly all the streets are ornament
ed with beautiful. trees, evergreen originally,
but soon destined to wilt beneath the rays of
the sun, as all vegetation must, when deprived
of root We have every day hundreds of Wis
itors, who remark the order which pervadts
our camp. No intoxicating liquor is allowed
upon the ground, and 1--WE think for this reason)
there has as yet been no breach of the'peace.
Major Oliver Edwards is at present in COM
mand of the Regiment, and it is, with good
reason, believed that he will be our Colonel
His urbanity, intelligence, and patriotism, have
made him afavorite with the Regiment, and his
promotion is earnestly desired. Our Adju-
t<tht, AHohias Ooft. appears 10 Ue the right
man, in the right place. or the company Off
GERS it is impossible to speak, except in general
terms. While all the Captains and 1st Lieu
tenants seem to have been carefully selected.
and admirably qualified for their positions, mi
nor officers seem in some cases, though rarely,
to have been appointed through the influence
of friends possessing a moneyed influence
rather than from any qualifications of their
own for the places they fill.
We expect to leave for the South the pres
ent week, and all-both officers and men
seem to hail with joy the prospect, though
family ties must for a season be severed. But
we all hope to return to our New England
homes ere long, believing the war will be a
brief one; for we do not think the rebels can
withstand but short time, the immense force
now being raised and equipped for their sub
lection.
On our return from a furlongh in Maine last
week, we accompanied the 10Th Maine Regi-
ment from Portland to Boston, and had oppor-
tunity to notice the manner in which Ameri-
can people treat the defenders of their flag.
Crowds thronged every station, and hearty