The Portland daily press., 1862-07-19
U. s. BRANCH MINT,

Is connected with the 18th Regiment, in New
Orleans, will be found interesting.
U. S. BRANCH MINT,
New ORLEANS, June %.
II is Sunday and again sit down to write
you; not that have any news to write, but to
tell you of my continued good health. My
health never was better, and / consider myself
pretty well acclimated by this time, though
know that the hardest part of the season is yet
to come. A great many are getting discharged
on account of ill-health: some that are as well
man to get frightened, and think he is going
to be..sick, than real sickness; and many Of
ficers and men are going home from here by
every steamer For my part, wish to return
with the regiment, and l shall stay here till /
am sick or till see no prospect OF settle
ment of this war for a year or two, then shall
wish myself at home, and try and get dis
charged; but as matters stand now, do not
wish to leave the regiment,
Our regiment has had chance to do little
in the fighting line, as you doubtless have seen
by the papers, and they have done it well. l
did not see or take part in it, as l was order
ed to stay here. They left here week ago
tonight; went in the cars to Lakeport, en-
barked on board steamers, and went to
the upper end of the lake. to destroy a bridge
there. This bridge forms the railroad commu-
cation with the city. The bridge was occupied
and defended by the rebels, reported to be 1900
strong. Our boys went to work in good shape,
haff Of -. fpa
pounders), destroyed them, set fire to the
bridge and burned about 700 feet They cap
tured large flag, of silk, presented to the reb-
el regiment by the ladies of New Orleans. l
hope we shall have the pleasure of marching
through the streets of Portland with it this
fall.
This city is as quiet as any city of New Eng
land, and the Union feeling is every day show
ing ITSELF Our men and officers go to any
part of the city without arms of any kind. and
/ have heard of no cases of insult. / have to
60 out to Lake Ponchartrain nearly every day
and do not go armed, as | did when we first
first arrived, for there is no need of it. have
sent you papers by every mail, and you can
see by them that Gen. Butler has done well.
and has gone to work in the right shape in
governing this city. All here speak in favor
Of the way he has governed this city; cap
tured city, yet only so in name, for all true citi-
zens, all loyal men are protected, and those
that have been in arms, by taking the parole,
are unmolested, and may go about their busi-
ness as before war began. Yet he is just. and
a citizen or soldier violating the law is pun
ished, and at once. We are expecting mail
tomorrow, and / hope TO hear from you.
1t seems too bad to keep Neal Dow and his
regiment on Ship Island, yet he is there and
probably will stay there till we leave here. /
hear that there are many cases of sickness, and
many of his men are dying from fevers. 1t is
hot here, as hot as we ever see it in Maine,
and the worst to come. can hardly imagine
what it will be like. stand the weather first
rate, have fixed up shower bath in my com
missary room, and have bath sometimes eve
ry day, or every other day sure. JULIUS.