The Portland daily press., 1862-12-30
service. Some have already learned of faends

service. Some have already learned of fiaends
killed or wounded.
Our letters, generally, are of a personal
character and give but little information of
general interest. l am permitted however. to
send you some quotations from letter writ
ten by an officer in
HowARD's DIVISION.
"The loss In our division was 1900 or 1900
Hancock and French lost even more, making
the loss of the corps nearly equal to what it
was at Antetam. 1t was mighty struggle.
The enemy were strongly entrenched. They
poured a murderous fire from rifle pits and
batteries upon our lines, as they attempted to
charge upon them. Col Miles, with the mag
nificent little 6lst New York and the Goth,
which were with us at Fair Oaks, came near
reaching the crest of the hill, where were the
breastworks aud batteries.
"But Miles being wounded in the neck, not
dangerously, and storm from the rifles and
art llery being ra n d upon them, they were
forced to give way"
1t is proper to remark that these were.t the
two regiments led by Gen. Howard in his IA
nous charge at Fair Oaks, where he lost his
right arm. They are of the same brigade that
gained so much honor at Antietam under the
gallant Gen. Caldwell of Maine, the successor
of Gen. Howard in the command of that brig
ade.
Gen. Caldwell commanded them at Freder-
icksburg, where, / believe he was wounded.
At Fredericksburg Gen. Howard's Division
was hotly engaged in the afternoon and eve
ming Of Saturday, two brigades holding their
own some time after their ammunition was ex-
hausted.
The horses of Gen. Howard and his brother
and aid, Lieut.. Howard were wounded the
latter twice. Lieut.. Howarl, was slightly
wounded in the left leg; the right, wounded
at Fair Oaks, has recovered its strength.
Gen. Howard has been nominated for Major
General by the President and will probably be
confirmed as soon as Congress changes the
law limiting the number of Major Generals
The limit was fixed at 80 before calling out
the last 100000 men, but it is supposed that
the number will be changed to meet the exi-
gencies of the service.
A LIEUT.. SURPRISED.
Again quote an amusing, though it might
have been a serious, circumstance from the
letter referred too.
"Whie the enemy were shelling us to-day,
shell burst in Gen. Couch's quarters, in a
room in which one of his aids was asleep
1t passed straight through the brick wall and
then exploded. need hardly add. that the
Lieut.. awoke about as suddenly as ever one
did, and for some time could scarcely compre-
hend the status rerum. When he was fairly
ntinselI again, ne was grained 10 ma that he
was neither killed nor hurt"
DEMOCRATIC IDEAS IN sLABvILLE BEFORE
AND AFTER THE BATTLE.
The Argus and Newman's paper (of Hal
lowell) are the printed sheets imported into
this community. The influence which they
exert over their readers is surprising. Their
opinions are accurately represented by these
confiding people. 1t has been amusing to mo-
tice the difference in their opinions before and
since the battle of Fredericksburg. Before
this battle,no language was too severe against
the Administration, because it would not al :
low Burnside to advance. Since. the same
has been the case because, as they allege,
Burnside was ordered TO advance contrary TO
his better judgment.
A story was told me recently, by an old far
mer, of Dutchman who was in the habit of
coming home late at night nearly "haf seas
over" and whose chief delight on those occa-
sions seems TO have been to abuse very afiec-
tionate and dutilul wife. One night, return
ing late and, If possible, worse off than us
ual, while approaching his hovel he thus solil-
oquized:-"Vatf for shall l lick Mary tonight
know not. 1 want not to take the same
thing as last night. What has she been to do
Mine Gott! have it. / ask her if she feed
the horse; and If she have lick her, and if
she haven't pc tanned but l lick her for that"
Our Democratic friends are bound to blame
the Government, whatever il may do.
MAQUoTT.