Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-12-12
orrespandrnte.

FoRr ALEXANDER. Mp., !
Nov. 9th, 81. (

Nov. 18th, o..
Mr. Error
As have seen but little of late in the
columns of the american concerning the
18th Maine, have been induced to write
you again.
When wrote you last We were en-
camped near Fort Gaines. at which place
we remained until Wenle>hy the l2,h
inst, when We received order, to pack
knapsack, strike tents anl prepare to
march" Although there wcre some
slight feelings OF regret among the men,
at leaving place where W. hal bcen 50
long encamPei, yet, upon the whole, ihay
regarded it as an advantageous chan-a.-
There had been 50 much sickness ia tn
Regiment during our stay there, tia: the
location hal become to be regarded as an
unhealthy ono, 50 that a removal was con-
siicrel fortunate occurrence, as adori.
ing chance 70 secure more hc4,tay Is.
cation for a camping groaal.
The time Of our departure hyiu; ar.
rivei. anil as the weather was p5o,iii1u..
anl the distance to our place Of Ir-tina-
tion short, We all anticipated a pleasant
and agreeable march, in which W. were
not disappointed. Tae three mi!., march
was soon accomplished. and W. iluud NJ
s.'vss in i VII, 49,, I51t1: :.',.l,4. ia
Ike our last phaa Of cl.,m IN a; ia
many respects, aal yst pscssutiu, uaas
aiyantag winch W ii 1:tAct. .s,.e-.=.
The tents Of Company c w., e.,ast
upon hill comnanins an extensive vI5N
of the surrounding country, diss'y ~
low which IS tho Potomac.
As it vas Understood that " W., -
remain here during the winter, no paie-
was spared by the men, in pitching their
tents. to make them a. om.9st4b.eA A- pos
sibe Eazh tent's crew having obtained
stove, or substitute Tor one. aal Ere
wood being abundant, We now begin to
live in quite a domestic aud home-aAe
manner. In our tent We have 4 lite
stove which IS almost continuity load /
with ffy-pans, tea-po;s, codse-pat7, etc.
and We sometimes begin to realize the
tEath OF the sly ia, that " too mauyc o0As
spoil the btoih.' By going upon 'ha 'ys-
TEN of turns. however, W mauagseaeh
to derive our respective share of benefit
from the stove; ani think the li.arnut
kinds Of chicken fixing, which We pre-
pare might not prove very tempting - the
paates Of our more favored irienls at
home, to Us they arc perfectly de.iaioas
Each tent has reesatIy been supF'jel y
Government with a stoye,--a shett-.ron,
cone-shapei thing, without bottom aud
made to sit upon the gtounl. As they
are withou; convenience for cooking, th5-e
possessing others DO not use them.
The Publications here consist Of three
forts-AIcxanler, Franklin AMI Ripleg.
by name, Tue former is the largest, ani
mounts seven guns, one OF which l. 100
FOUNDER; the Others bninsof smaller ,iz'.
The other two Forts mount tx guns each.
The intention is to unite the three Forts,
aud Regiment Of New Jersey pi4e
months men are at WORK daily upon them
The boys of the 18th consider themselves
highly favored in not being compelled to
take in hand the pick aud shovel. Oar
worthy Colonel uses all his influence a
gainst it, considering it of far greater im-
portance to make good soldiers Of his
men than skillfnl trench dissars.
We are drilled in the forenoon Of each
day at the large guns in the Forts. the
afternoon being devoted to battalion and
company drill. It has been supposed all
along that we were TO be made into regi-
meat of Artillery, but the impression pre-
walls at present that we are merely to be
drilled as such during the winter, being
prepared to enter the field in the Spring
as Infantry.
As so much of the time is taken up
with drill, it is not often the men have
chance to attend to their private affairs )
but to-day being Thanksgiving day in
Maine, we are all off duty
The health of our regiment has greatly
improved since our removal from Camp
Stetson, and trust it may continue to do
SO, as ill-health has seemed to attend the
18th ever since it left Bangor
Capt. Smith has been sick for several
weeks, and has but just returned to his
company Daring his absence the COM
pany was under the command of Lieut..