The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
Letter from Skowhegan.

tFrom our Regular Correspondent
Letter from skowhegan.
Bad Ne,cs-F'drming and laundering Dis
tricts-The Feeling Of the Peopie-Aa old
Mans Opinion-The Neu Church-Pdstor-
al Chdnges-Telegrdph to Skouhegdn.
SKowHEGAN, July Is, 1862.
Messrs. Editors
Since y asst wrote you, the community has
felt the shock of one of those great waves of
calamity which, from time to time, during the
past two years, have swept over our land
Again we have had the sickening reco from
the first dreadful tidings, the hours of cruel
suspense, the feeling, intense, but subdued, of
blessed reliei when the truth was known
Men talk soberly, yet proudly, of the long,
fierce struggle: and womens' eyes flash through
tears, as they think Of their heroes, whose
precious lives are part, perhaps, of the costly
sacrifice once more laid upon the altar of cur
country. Enough of the shadow of disaster,
hung in the air, to give to the festivities of the
Fourth a tone more quiet than usual: but there
has been apparently no disposition to allow any
thing TO ineerfere with the observance of day
which we have never had more cause to honor
than now.
During the past week chance has taken me
on a tour through the farming and numbering
districts, in the upper part of this county, l
have encountered great many people, and
have had many conversations with that class
of plain, homely, yet thoughtful men, who
form the solid foundation of our society, the
granite sub-stratum on which rests the
rich and cultivated Soils Throughout this
class find but one mind, one resolution, to
put down rebellion and disunion at any cost
I'll tell you what it is emphatically de-
clared an old man. at whose door we had
stopped TO ask direction about the roads lit
was thirty miles from railroad and only the
stage-drivers know how the mails get into that
region; but he was reading Portland PRESS
of the day before onlyl; "I'll tell you what it
is, this thing has got to be put right straight
through. We've shilly-shaied about long
enough. We're too tender of hurtin the feel
in's of rebels. I've no patience with all this
nonsense about sympathy for our misguided
brethren. There is one big, black, ugly devil
that has poisoned half the land, and is poison
ing Of it it yet; and it's my opinion that we
never shall get shut Of this business till we've
killed the beast. Some folks are opposed to
any such action, because there are few loyal
men down South that are attached to the crit
ter, and like to see ii round their houses But
we can't allow folks to keep rattle-snakes and
catamounts loose on their premises, if they do
happen TO have afancy for em, Whena thing
has proved to be a nuisance it has got to go
down, and there's no use in talking We are
coming TO that fast. I've confidence in Mr..
Lincoln. / believe he'll do what he thinks
right. didn't like him holding back the news
tother day. It's bad policy. Folks will eth
er know the truth or think something great
deal worse. Besides, the people have got this
thing TO shoulder, and they've right to know
what sort of pack there is to lug. 'Taint
fair to treat 'em like great baby that must be
cheated into having its tooth puled.' Icould
not dispute him!
Here in this peaceful region, SO far remote
from the scenes which war is trampling into
desolation, we feel in reality but little of its
effects. The presence of some disturbing ele-
ment is, of course, always apparent in the cir
cles of trade: but still business goes on: men
buy and sell, and plant and build very much
as usual.
Things look prosperous. said that build
ing went on as usual, but that is hardly true.
at least in degree. Many buildings are going
up in our place, and some fine ones but the
numerous branching streets which have been
won't ever summer, to stretch ont into the
country with the rapidity of runners into the
strawberry bed, lengthen somewhat more slow
ly now. The new church, intended for the
united Congregational societies of the north
and south sides, advances slowly toward COM
pletion. The site chosen is pleasant and CEN
tral, and the plan of the house admirable Mr.
Cutler, the popular and beloved pastor of this
church, is now absent in Florida, fulfilling the
duties of Chaplain to the 9th Regiment of
Maine Volunteers. His pulpit is supplied in
the interval, by various gentlemen. Other
changes have occurred among the clerical BODY
here The Rev. G. +. Allen, who for two
years has ministered acceptably to the Metho-
dist Society, has been transferred to another
field OF labor, and his place supplied by Mr..
Randall, a man well known in the denomina
ton. The Baptist society are yet fortunate in
retaining as their pastor the Rev. Mr.. Bullen.
whose untiring labors and genial character. as
well as his fine abilities, trained in the schools
and nolshad bv fnre;on c,,l.,,s1 -: