The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-19
Correspondence of the Press.
Letter from an Army Hospital.
WASHINGTON ST.. HOSPITAL,

WASHINGTON ST.. HOSPITAL,
Alexandria, Va, Sept. Is, 1862.
DEAR PRESS Since my last attempt at
newspaper correspondence, the Army of the
Peninsula has, as you are already aware
"faced by the rear, and changed front forward
on'-Washington. Some are disposed TO give
it the less military, but quite as expressive
term CT skedaddle-but such an one is the
avowed enemy of truth, and had, for sanitary
reasons, best keep beyond the reach of my
crutch. will not go back so far as to des-
cribe our tedious march down the Peninsula,
or our four days life a transport, where p
800 men were crowded into space hardly suf-
fcent for the decent accommodation of half
that number. Talk of the "horrors of the mid
die passagew But there, don't mention it
we are nothing but soldiers.
Somewhat more than "A year ago I came
back to Alexandria with McDowelrs democrat
lied army, from its first attempt of 'On to
Richmond" Since then have returned the
second, yes, the third, time from similar un-
fortunate attempt,-this time less fortunate
than before, for brought an ounce of lead in
my hip, with the gratifying assurance from the
Surgeon that may be permitted TO carry it
thus the remainder of my days, as souvenir
of Bull Run No. 2.
McClellen's Grand Army has again become
the Army of the Potomac, and with our young
cheftain at our head, we may again move for
ward TO assured victory. Those who still
sneer at Mcclellan, should have witnessed the
wild apfb his nj vbo had fol
lowed him through victories often, defeat sell
dom, on learning that the rumor concerning
his removal was untrue, and that he was still
our leader. 1t will require more than the in
trigues of plotting politicians TO remove one
jot or title of the love and confidence which
we all bear him. In striking contrast with
this is the almost universal sentiment among
the troops of every corps concerning Me-
Dowell. Very many unhesitatingly brand him
as traitor. If common soldier is permit
ed to question the acts of a superior, there are
thousands of them, observing and intelligent
who can speak from personal observation
Well, every community has its Judas, every
Revolution its ArNld. Perhaps had this
treachery been longer permitted, America
might also have have had a Charlotte Corday
Where is 'the Coming Man?" Until his ar
rival give us "ittle Mae"
Were l not already weary from Writing
might give you few sad experiences of hos
pital life. | will, however, relate one incident,
which is, perhaps, not more touching than
many Others that occur daily in Washington
and Alexandria. On the morning of my ar
rival here, the Monday following the engage
ment at Manassas, a Lieutenant of the Sd Va,
(Union) Regiment, was brought in, and laid on
a cot in the lower ward. His left leg had been
amputated below the knee. Hardly an hour
later Lieutenant of the Sd Va. Regiment,
was brought in, and laid beside him, also Sc
yerely wounded. Some little time was occu-
pied in dressing their wounds, when the one
last brought in turned over on his side facing
his companion, and beheld in the now dying
officer beside him-his o,cn brother. They
had not met since the engagement of Friday
and neither knew the other was wounded.
'Such is life would it were otherwise
w. &. M.