The Portland daily press., 1862-11-19

related In the early days of the rebellion,
you will remember, flourished the Clay battal-
ion, one of the organizations hastily formed,
to defend this then almost defenceless Capital.
We were armed with musketoons, changed
into breech-loaders, after MerrilPs patent,
calibre of an ounce ball of the round pat
tern, and now carrying an elon gated slug
weighing something less than half pound.
OF our number was an old war-of-1S12 man,
patriotic, but tremulous, who, one day when
we were off duty, took to lingering the too
delicate trigger of one of the aforesaid musk
etoons. 1t was in Wizards Hall, which was
our quarters. 1t. Ash was talking with some
one standing on the platform. Bang! went
the musketoon in the old soldiers hand. Its
big, deadly projectile passed within an inch or
two of Ash's head, and striking the wall, stove
up one of the bricks. That bullet, four inches
TO the right of what proved Its harmless course
would have deprived your readers of the para
graph above quoted, which tells of the rout of
the Fifth Virginia cavalry.
The Maine Cavalry, like all the Maine
troops, are held in the highest estimation.
They have seen great deal of service, and
by this time must have grown into reilie
moustaches, vertable Cuirassers of the Old
Guard saw Capt. Cowan tBiddeford) in
town day or two since, having brought in
$50 men Of the Maine First Cavalry to reflt
and remount. This will take day or two,
when he expects to lead them to Warrenton,
where he says he has been with the Cavalry
twice within the past year when the rebels
have not held that village. Warrenton is some
sixteen miles west of Manassas. 1t was on the
Warrenton turnpike that Mcdowell led out
his men the morning of the first Bull Run.
Than that battle, unfortunate as it was, we
have had none better planned. believe that
to-day Mcdowell carries as good military
brain under his hat as any man who is known
to fame in our army. Is it not remarkable
that the same man, (Col. Miles, to whose con-
duct at Bull Run SO much blame was imputed,
should have lost US Harper's Ferry?
met to-day one of the old Bull Run pris-
oners, Dr. Hunhins, formerly surgeon of the
Fourth. After a variety of transfers, from
hospital here to hospital duty on the field, and
again to the surgeoncy of his old regiment, he
is now division surgeon of Gen. Stoneham's
division, and as snch has just brought to Wash
ington and distributed in the hospitals, the in
valids of that division, five hundred in num-
ber,-which, in division SO strong, must be
esteemed a slight proportion. He returns i'm
mediately to his command, after visiting AQUA
Creek, to adjust that portion of his business
relating to the quartermaster's department
We are looking for battles in the Valley of
the Shenandoah. From all can learn-though
now the secrets Of army movements, on either
side, are well kept--at least one or two corps
of the rebel army lie north Of our main army
The corps commanded by one of the Hills, is
understood to have its headquarters at Pied
mont, on the Manassas Gap railway, 81 miles
from Alexandria, within one days northward
march of Smokers Gap, from which it is said
our troops have been withdrawn. Report
also has it that Jackson, with his division, is
still further north, lowering on the road be-
tween Winchester and Harper's Ferry. This
favors fighting, since the main body of our
army must be looking southwest at a point
south of even Hills position. We have it that
the main body OF the rebel army has been
lately reinforced by troops from the west, and
that they still await us in the direction of our
advance. Our army is numerous, spirited,
completely equipped, well led so that, if the
foe be met you may look for heavy, brilliant,
efiectual battle, and for victory.
Yours, D.