The Portland daily press., 1862-06-24
Tuesday Morning, June "a, 1852.
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.
FOR GOVERNOR,
ABNER COBURN,
OF SKOwHEGAN.
From our Regular Correspondent. ]
Letter from Washington.
OF SKOwHEGAN.

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IFrom our Regular Correspondent
Letter from Washington.
Cool Weather in Wdshington-No ne,cs from
General McClelldn-Bdyonets at the War
ment-The modest mmodores-Secreta-
~ Welles-Stoneacau Jacksonville Geo
graphical Generals Department-Who is
General Of the Army dc, DC.
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1852.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-we have passed the
middle of June, yet the weather for many DAYS
has been cool hereabouts-a blessing to our
poor soldiers, who are on duty in battle, pick
ct or sentry. Speaking of sentries, the War
Office, as the Department of War building is
now called, has couple of sentries parading
before its western door, probably to tell people
who have business with the Office, the way to
the various bureaus. For what other purpose
respectable military persons should be employ
ed in that pacific neighborhood, it is difficult to
conceive.
The Navy Department, busy as it is, most
important as have been its doings in this war,
always seems quiet. In its offices and passages,
there is no hustle, no fuss, no parade, few epau-
lettes and not a feather, especially white one.
Ihe quiet heroes of the sea, such as String
ham Dupont, Foote, Wilkes, Farragut, Porter,
when their duty may lead them to Washington,
walk through the halls of the department with
as quiet and modest step as If Victory bad not
twined her choicest laurels among the thinning
hairs ftheir brow. But for the slightest pos
sible mark of their service, a lace band around
the Gun, or something of that sort, you might
take them for middle aged Kennebec farmers.
drawn on jury. OF these brave men of the
sea, Secretary Welles is the fit civic represen-
sentative. A gentleman of culture, of kindly
heart, he carried into the administration as
much good sense and general ability as any
man IN 1t. To-dayI believe him to be the best
writer Of the English tongue in the Cabinet.
ana the business OF his Department has been as
promptly, vigorously, and altogether as prop-
erly done, as that of any other officer or tho
Government l wish we had more men as
good as he do not blink the Morgan scan
dai, but ! feel that that was his misfortune NOT
his fault.
This is the bulletin we get almost daily. There
nave been however. a few days past, some re-
ports quite mortifying. A few regiments of
tne enemy, 1t seems, surrounded our whole
army on the Chickahominy, entering our lines
on the extreme right, and coming out ON the
ieit after having mode the circuit of front flank
ana rear, killing and burning on their wav.
0en. Stonewall Jackson, who is now more
TAXED OF in rebeldom than Gen. Beaurecard. is
now " lying and being on the south side of
the middle fork of the Shenandoah. The
or1dge on which, coming from the North. he
crossed that river. was not DESTROYED by the
advance brigade of Shields Division. fnow in
McDoweli's amy-corps,) the commanding oe.
ncer, not knowing that Jackson's army was
before MIN in force, believed that he was strong
enough to hold the bridge. If it had proved
So II would have been very advantageous as
over II the division of Shields and the armv of
Fremont might have effected junction.
l lear jealousies of each other among the
generals are making trouble to the service of
our army. Each one has his Department.
BOUNDED by imaginary lines or natural land
niarhs' within his own department. fexcept
when an officer Of older commission pursues
tne enemy into it, each general is supreme.
SUBJECT 70 only Abraham Lincoln, Commander
in-Chief, who has very active Chief of Staff
~ secretary Stanton. But this geographical
department business, though desirable in MANY
respects, causes at times trouble and DANGER.
Gen. Mcdowell, finding Gen. Banks marching
Southwark and towards his territory. YOU NAV
believe, did not want the General to chase the
enemy within his borders, for when Gen. Banks
came there, he commanded, and Gen. Mellow
ell would be subordinate, each being MAJOR
Generals Of Volunteers, but the formers COM
mission he older.
In like manner General Fremont outranks
them both, his appointment as Maior General
or the army bearing the same date as Gen.
McCieilans. In fact, those learned in military
matters say that Gen. Fremont is entitled to
command Mcclellan, their commissions bear
ing Gate the same day,-Gen. Fremonts for
mer rank IN the array haring been superior.
You will understand that both of these officers
are Major Generals Of the army of the United
states, OF which, the law provides for four.
zen. Haiieck being the third and General
Wool having been latest appointed the fourth
Of Major Generals of Volunteers there are
tnirty or more. One ef the four Army Major
Generals, the law expressly says, may be desip-
mated by the President to command the armn
That Office has been, till lately held by Gen.
Mcclellan, and suppose up to this date there
has been no formal revocation OF the designa-
ton, though in effect it has been revoked by
the order establishing Independent depart
ments.
But as the question viii not probably come
up, unless approaching from different quarters.
our Generals rush pell nell into Richmond to-
gether, and settle the question of precedence in
the rebel capital As this is not likely to hap
pen till have opportunity to write you an
other letter, viii defer stating till then nv
views upon the points involved D.