The Portland daily press., 1862-08-23
COMMUNICATIONS.
General Hospital, HARPER's FERRY,
August Ii, 1862.

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August Ii, 1862.
Editors Of Press The fortunes of war
fuctuate. Last week we were making prep
arations for long soiourn here yesterday
we received preemptory orders to remove the
sick to Frederick, and close the Hospital forth
with.
Our medical director, Surgeon Dawson, has
left for another field, and our lame, halt and
blind, are to commence the line of march to-
morrow. All who are able are to be sent to
their regiments, while the feeble and the con-
valescing are to join the multitude in Freder-
ick Hospital.
The cause of this sudden removal is a mys-
erected on the extreme Of the nights, and we
know that guerillas are banded and are prowl-
ing about within six miles of us. We put that
and that together-and satify ourselves that
this is no safe place for us-until Jackson is
gone the way of all the earth tho we are
told that the poverty of this region, and the
impossibility of securing sufficients upples are
the proximate causes of the abandonment OF
this post. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad are
completing their iron bridge, and Government
is placing pontoon bridge side by side with
it-so that "the impossible" in the matter of.
procuring supplies is inadmissible. Like the
general run of newspaper correspondents, sI
am informed that some important events are
about to transpire, but am not permitted to
tell'-because don't knor what they are.
only know this. Before the end of another
week, the Hospital at this point will be closed
and we shall be scattered to the four winds
The box containing currant jelly and keg
Of tamarinds came last night. At first, 1
thought would not open the box, but send it
to Alexandria, where so many of our Maine
wounded are Upon reflection, l concluded
that over twenty-four Maine boys already here
could enjoy some of the jelly, SO distributed
enough among them to satify them that our
Maine ladies know how to make currant jelly.
The number mentioned do not all belong to
the 10th Regiment. We have Cavalry boys
and they come in for share, when the Sun
rise State pays its respects to the Old Domin-
ion.
If am not much mistaken "Spring' cur
rants were touched by the hand of Mrs
"Frost" in the process of changing into jelly.
And the touch was as magical as any the frost
king ever gave to the spring flowers, or fruits.
Our boys gave "three times three" (Sunday
though it isl when told them how Spring
currants became Frosted: and, if eating is
proof Of pudding, we had the proof of the
goodness of the jelly in the rapidity with which
ii disappeared.
How our sick will get on without their
smother" cannot tell; but do not feel it to
be my duty to go to the Hospital at Frederick
and remain there. i shall go and deliver the
packages belonging to those already there, and
after that shall journey homewards, unless the
spirit impels me to follow the fortunes of the
Maine Tenth.
The Regiment is sadly cut up and scattered,
and somebody ought to go from Hospital to
Hospital, and see that the comforts Maine so
literally provides, are enjoyed by her wound
ed sons.
1t is one thing to send, and quite another to
make sure of safe delivery of the articles
Had / "the wherewhith" no idea of home-com-
fort would lead me far away from our suffer
ing sick. As 1t is, unless some unforeseen
Intervention gives me the opportunity crave,
shall, as soon as possible, distribute the gifts
now at hand, and return to old Portland, to la
Dor for daily bread, and pray for Gods bless
ing on those over whom my heart will still
yearn. One not in the field can hardly appre-
ciate the feelings of those in daily contact
with the sick or wounded. Their very help
lessness gives them claim upon ones sympa-
thy, even though we know their vices, are the
sole cause of their suffering. How, then
must the feeling be intensified when we know
that deeds of daring, or patient, heroic duty,
have0rown the sufferers upon our care.
That the home friends may know who are
here, append the names of those who kept
tryst with me this afternoon, and talked of the
loved ones far away; and also those who have
left us for the Regiment, or elsewhere
Present: Charles Higgins, Cyrus b. Town
send, Simon Gibarson, Osgood Webb, Albert
Dunn, c. w. Harmon, ]. E. Osgood, Corp
Wallace Milliken, E. G. Getchell, D. L. Blanch-
ard, Richmond Sweetser, w. A. King, Irwin
q. Martin, Z. p. Ross, and W. II. Warren.
L. I. Chute, and Frank Morse, could not
walk to my quarters, so sent can of Jelly to
each.
Absent:-George A. Gordon, John Chaplin,