The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-10-17
COMMUNICATIONS.
Correspondence of the Press.
The Maine Fiffh---Its Campaign Expert
Puca.


Near Bakersville, Nd, Oct. 8, 1862.
EDS PRESS: While other military bodies
have been basking in the sunshine of popular
ity, have been praised and extolled for brave
and valorous deeds upon the CORY fields of bat
tie, the 9th Maine has been quietly pursuing
its way, endeavoring to merit by action a share
in the flattering encomums bestowed upon
her sister regiments. Yet we glance over the
columns of our home journals, and while 9TH
ers are receiving proper rewards for their la
bors, scarcely a word is spoken in behalf of our
regiment. We find, however, that we are oc-
casionally alluded to as having participated in
such and such an engagement, but whether we
conducted ourselves as men and soldiers should
do, is only known to our immediate neighbors
So, we perceive, that for the people far away
to know that there is such regiment as the
5th, we are compelled to speak of ourselves,
which breach OF modesty really hope, under
the circumstances, will be graciously pardoned.
We have the honor of constituting portion of
a splendid brigade, commanded by quiet, un-
assuming Brigadier, who is every inch sol
der, and in fight, true as steel, and always
there; and as you may know, are attached to
as fine a division as the Army of the Potomac
can boast. And to the reason that General
Bartlett and Major Gen. Slocum will have no
reporters or correspondents hanging around
them, preferring to let their own merits gain
them that distinction which many "stars" pay
considerable sums for, do l attach the cause
that the public know SO little of Bartletts
brigade, Slocum's division, and the Fifth Me.
Regiment in particular. But aware that the
Fifth has many true friends in Maine-and
possibly she may claim not a few in your own
beautiful city, three companies haiing from
Portland-I have ventured to intrude upon
your columns a brief article, not so much for
our own glory, as for the satisfaction it may
afford those interested in our welfare.
need not tell you that the past few weeks
and months have been characterized by many
important and minor movements of our army,
accompanied with excessive toll, fatigue, dan
gerand privation. Your telegraphic dispatches
render you perfectly familiar with the leading
events OF the day; and in large portion OF
these we have had our appointed share and
faithfully, we trust, executed our duties. We
are now lying in camp awaiting future devel-
opments, and we see the interim improved in
taking observations of what has been consum-
mated, and causing it to be made known
through whose instrumentality beneficial re-
suits have been accomplished, if any there be.
The Portland and other papers which came to
hand last evening, contain glowing accounts
of the gallant action of the Seventh Maine
Regiment, now under orders, l understand, to
return home to reccuit They award to it the
highest terms of encomium, and most certain
ly it is entitled TO all praise, for nobly they
executed their mission in the battle of Antie-
tam. The Tenth, too, has had its full share of
eulogy for meritorious conduct Mt Slaughter
Mountain, the retreat from Winchester, and
the last battles in Maryland; and now, me-
thinks, ,re are entitled to word.
In company with our brigade and division,
we can now boast Of having been actually en-
gagged in six pitched battles. Besides these we
have participated in two or three skirmishes,
and covered several retreats. We have lost
in action 275 men, more than one half the
whole number we have had for duty at any one
time since the first battle at Bull Run. Be-
sides these battles, we were brought into the
fight at Bull Run July 2lst, 1851. That bat
tie, with the subsequent sufferings and priva-
tions, greatly decimated our ranks. Besides
our killed, wounded and missing, scores are,
to-day, suffering in their homes from inirmi-
ties arising from the tolls of those terrible days.
But hostilities ceasing in our immediate vicin-
ity with that battle, we passed the summer in
building forts and performing general fatigue
duty, at the same time laying a sure founda-
tion for our future prosperity under the supe-
rior disciplinarian powers of Col. Jackson.
The winter passed, its monotony occasionally
interrupted by our periodical journeys "out
on picket" both arduous and severe. Finally
the Spring campaign opens, and to the relief
of officers ard men, we are on the move. The
capture of the celebrated Notifications of Ma
nassas, is the first job in perspective, but upon
reaching Fairfax c. H., we found the bird had
flown, and back to Alexandria we march to
take fresh start. A month rolls by and then
we proceed to Catletts Station, having Joined
the army of Gen. Mcdowell. After luxuriat-
ing p in mud foot deep for three DAYS. we
are again ordered back to Alexandria, which
city we reached in two days march, the dis.