The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-24
[From our own Correspond
Letter from the State CapitaI.

The "straight-out' or "Dana" Democracy, of
this city, held a caucus on Saturday evening
last, which was nnnerously attended by four
individuals. The following persons were unan-
imousy elected delegates to the Dana Conven-
ton to be held in your city on the Sth of Aug
ust Col. ID. Alden, DR.. H. II. Hill, Charles w.
Stafford Thomas l.. Bartlett, and Dan1 Moors.
Two of these gentlemen, it will be recollected,
were last summer persuaded by the soldiers,
then encampcd here, to erect, or to allow them
to erect, Union flags over their premises. You
will observe that the caucus was rather small
in numbers, but they probably thought, in the
words of Virgil ID. Paris, at similar caucus
held recently at Paris Hill, that We .fe,c gen.
tlemen hare got to sdre the country"
1t is understood that DIR. Hill declines to act
as one OF the delegates, and it is not surprising
that one who was formerly so consistent and
Jealous Wing of the Henry Clay school, as
was DIR. Hill, should not feel quite willing to
be publicly identified with Dunaism, or with
any other "ism" savoring of aught but the most
fervent and elevated patriotism. After adj
journment, the caucus was conveyed from the
hall in a one-horse pagon. And why not? 1t
was probably a one-horse caucus.
The gallant behavior of the Maine troops,
both officers and men, in the late battles before
Richmond, is fully established alike in the ar
my aud at home. Not Maine officer deserted
his post or shrank from danger; not a Maine
soldier had the remotest idea of "skedoddting."
The brave conduct of the Third Regiment
| oil du oil LODI to in
as well as that of other Maine regiments. Ap-
| ropos: Col. Mason, who was in too feeble
health to take command in person. speaks in
the highest terms of praise of the conduct of
the veteran It'll, and commends particularly
the GOODNESS, judgment, determination, and
high solderly qualities displayed by 1t. Col.
Conner, commanding, and Major Hyde, during
that week of battles. This regiment fought
the enemy as "rear guard for four days in
succession.
No better proof need be adduced of the esti-
nation in which Maine troops are held than
the fact, that commanders of regiments from
other States have, from time to time, applied
to the proper authorities for permission to re-
cruit in Maine for their commands, in order, as
they confess, to procure better material than
is obtained elsewhere. One commander of a
choice corps, assigned to special service, in
asking permission to recruit in Maine. SAYS that
he has already fifty Maine men in his corps,
and they are so superior as soldiers that
he is induced to make an effort to obtain
more Of the same sort. These fifty men
undoubtedly enlisted in some other State. as
have great many others. Probably nearly
Maine men enough to make two entire regi-
ments, at least, have thus enlisted in other
States. This is wrong, for several reasons
First, the State of Maine, as such. gets no
credit directly for their services; but, on the
contrary, honors are conferred on some other
States on account of their brave conduct In
the next place, such men cannot avail them
selves of the generous provision made for those
who enlist in Maine regiments; and, again, the
chances for promotion are much smaller
That those Maine men who have enlisted in
regiments raised by other States are discon-
tented and dissatisfied, is sufficiently proved
by the numerous and urgent applications to
the proper authorities for transfer to Maine
regiments. No Maine man, if he knows when
he is well off, win enlist in any regiment raised
by another State. Let us have all the Maine
soldiers in Maine regiments, that the reputa-
ton they unitedly achieve may rebound direct
ly to the honor of "The Sunrise State"
In a letter received by Governor Washburn
from Gen. Mcclellan, dated July 18th, the lat
ter earnestly enforces the consideration that
new enlistments should be made to fill up old
regiments, rather than raise all new Ones
Gen. Mcclellan says, 81 would prefer 10000
recruits for my old regiments, to 100000 men
organized in new regiments" The policy of
this State has been in accordance with these
assertions, although fixed previous TO General
McClellan's letter, and the additional bounty
offered by the State to soldiers enlisting in old
regiments, should induce enlistments therein.
The Major General commanding also enforces
the necessity of enlisting for three years or for
the war; One reason given is that the contact
of men who serve for shorter time with sol
diers who serve for the war, has a bad effect on
the army-tends to breed dissatisfaction among
the latter, while the term of service of the for
ter would expire about the time they became
valuable TO the service.
He says that the best arrangement would be
to fill up all the old companies, or if that is
impractcable, to consolidate the old companies
and add new ones to each regiment He says,
"We have here the material for making excel
lent officers in the regiment. These men, tried
and proved in many hard-fought battles, are
infinitely to be preferred to any new appoint
ments. More than that, they have won their
promotion. Policy and gratitude alike de-
mand that their claims should be recognized
With the old regiments thus filed up, the
whole army would in very few weeks be
ready for any service.
OF the officers and men now in the North on
sick lease, Gen. Mcclellan says that thousands
of these are fit for duty, and should at once be
made to join their regiments" All that can
be done by the authorities of the State will be
done to this end.
The Maj. Gen. further requests that no Off
GER who has resigned from his army, be COM
missioned in another regiment unless furnish
ed with special recommendation to that effect
from the commander of his division or army
corps.
ii. W. Cunningham of Belfast, has been APP
pointed Major of the 10th regiment.
Sergeant Theodore Lincoln, Jr of Dennys-
vile, of 9th regiment, has been promoted to