The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
Army correspondence Of the Press.
Letter from James River, Va.
CAMP 5TH MAINE, Turkey Branch, |
Near James River) Va, July 4, 1862. (


CAMP 5rH MAINE, Turkey Branch,
Near James River) Va, July A, 1862.
EDITORS PRESS No. of your neat, spicy,
and well-filled paper has. on this Anniversary
of"our country's natal morn," first gladdened
the vision of 'ours" of the 5th. A kind friend
had sent the writer this number, and it has
gone the rounds. "Ours" of the 5th being du
fat in matters literary as well as military, it
may not be amiss TO state here that your debut
is of character that merits and receives their
highest appreciation. In this, however, we do
not include your politics; as soldiers we have
nothing to do with them; for
"0urs not to inquire why
Ours but to do and die"
and hence we know nothing but our govern
ment as it is, and believe in no creed that is
not endorsed by Abe Lincoln and Gen. McClel-
Ian. To them we look for direction; in them
indeed a success, artistically, editorially, and
in everything that stamps lire newspaper.
Allow me to say this much, for claim a cor
rect knowledge of such matters founded in
long experience.
1t is an easy transition in thought to leave
the quiet of your sdnctum for the more stirr-
ing scenes now enacting on the sacred SOIL"
Hither, then, let me take you.
As the telegraph has informed you, we have
had since Thursday week here in the space of
country between the Chickahominy and the
James Rivers, series of battles and military
evolutions the parallel to which cannot be
traced in history. To us who have been actors
and participants in the scenes, there seems an
utter poverty of language to convey our i'm
pressions, or to portray what We saw and felt.
Ii is not possible within the limits of this let
ter to give but an imperfect outline of even
what part was assigned to the "Maine Fifth,-
much more to tell of the whole army-to pic
ture the deadly strife of the combatants, to tell
ofthc terrible bayonet charges, to describe how
whole battalions melted like dew in the morn
ing sun before the deadly rife and the still
more terrible storm of grape and cannister-to
tell of deeds of individual heroism, or, alas -
for truth requires it-ofindividual poltroonery.
For this task let us invoke the pen of Hadley
Il follow only the footsteps of the glorious
Fifth? On that memorable Thursday, the last
in the leafy month of June, when Mccall first
got tangible evidence that famous Stonewall
jackson had given Fremont the slip and had
got his greedy eyes upon the government stores
at White House, the Fifth was busy on the OPP
posite side of the Chckahominy in carrying
out the Yorktown policy of our gallant chief
in building roads and digging trenches, and
while our comrades on that day we're bravely
beating back this willy foe, we were kept busy
plying our spades. But the next day, Friday,
"Linden saw another sight. AT 8 A. NJ our
regiment was turned out by the rapid dis
charges of musketry on our left, telling us that
Kearney was thus early at work. Soon the Or
der comes: prepare three days rations, and be
ready in half an hour to march" This was
done in alacrity, although we all felt something
was now to be done. By o'clock our brigade,
consisting of the 10th, and 9th N. Y, Goth
and 95th Penn, and our own regiment, was on
, the march for New Bridge, situated on the
Night and some two miles from our encamp-
ment. Here we drew up in line of battle, and
as Mccall and Porter were retreating down by
the bridge on the other side of the river before
the overwhelming force of the enemy it soon
transpired that our brigade, which was to sup
port these divisions, was cut off from joining
them over this bridge, and its destruction was
therefore determined upon, sappers being de-
tailed therefor while we countermarched back
through our camp and down to Woodburys
bridge. While executing this movement, the
enemy opened upon us with shell from their
longe range guns, happily without damage.
After getting in sight of our camp but still in
range of the enemies fire, we got orders to re-
turn and protect the sappers and miners in the
destruction Of New Bridge. Soon the original
order was repeated, and we crossed Wood
burys Bridge at quick time, and approached
the battle field, where the fight was now rag
ing with fury greater than ever before, Sykes
regulars being opposed, supported by several
batteries of light artillery, to the whole rebel
force of 10000 men, who were rolled upon him
regiment after regiment, in rapid succession.
Superior numbers forced Sykes back as they
had Mccall and Porter, and Slocum's division.
OF which our brigade is fact, went in in gal
liant style just as the sun was beginning to dip
behind the Western hills. OF the particular
part our regiment took in this fight, it might
look vain-glorious in member thereof to re-
count | will mention, therefore, but one
particular. After we had got well TO work,