The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-08-01
[From our Regular Correspondent
Letter from the Camp.

CAMP NEAR HARRISON LANDING,
ID Brigade, Smiths Division, July "a, 1862
All is quiet here. No enemy in force is near
us. The nearest rebel pickets are about three
miles from us. Their main army seems to be
at or near Richmond, and there they may be
waiting for us to attack them. Well, they
may have to wait some time for that The
plan of both parties in this war is rather of the
defensive than of the offensive kind. Our Off
rank and file do not "sec it." The soldiers
would like vigorous measures of some kind
Delays, as the proverb has it, are dangerous
/ will not say that we are in dangerous or
unsafe position; that is, in military sense
1t is of no use to deny that our location svery
unhealthy. We are obliged to use poor water /;
besides, we do not breathe pure air. Sick
ness prevails to great extent and is on the
increase. We need change of place, where
men may recover health and strength 1t is
rumored that our camping ground may be
changed soon. 1t is desirable that this should
be done soon, for our brigade has not two
thirds of its men fit for active duty.
Our brigade was paid off for the months of
March and April, about the 10th inst. Lately
we received pay for two months before, max
ing four months pay in the course of two
weeks.
The prudent ones have taken care to send
home large part Of their money, where it will
do much good; while not a few have spent
their wages very foolishly indeed. The suit
lers have been reaping rich harvest from the
soldiers. Suffers prices are so enormous that
it seems nought but a soldier, who can face a
cannon's mouth, or q rebel bayonet charge,
can have the courage to face them. Only
think of man in his senses paying from forty
to one hundred cents pound for cheese
strong price for an article still stronger--do
for butter, forty cents and upwards for crack
ers, or very plain cakes; seventy-five cents for
pint of apple sauce; from two to five cents
for small herrings; thirty cents pound for
poor mackerel, &c.
In fact, hardly sutler sells an article fit to
be eaten, and most of their eatables are decid-
edly unwholesome. One private in the 7th
Maine is said to have spent about $50 in one
week, principally at the sutlers.' Many cases
of similar extravaganza might be mentioned
Why need soldiers be subjected to such i'm
positions? They seem to be regarded as le-
gitimate objects for any shark to bite, or de-
your.
Cannot our State hurry up her quota of the
100000? We are beginning to grow tired of
waiting for help from the loyal States, and are
anxiously waiting for Pope, or Burnside, or
some other General, to form junction with
McClellan's army. God speed the time. SEX
perience is a dear school, but fools will learn in
no other;' thus saith the proverb. 1t will
apply, am sorry to say, to our nation, as well
as to individuals. Years ago, a little wisdom
and firmness on the part of our rulers would
have prevented this dire calamity of civil war.
They would not be wise, nor their constituents
either, so here we are going through the fierce
ordeal Of war, and here am at the end Of my
communication. ID.