The Portland daily press., 1862-10-04

shore. We employed the next day in watch.
ing the desultory cannonade and in Kidding
ourselves of the smoke and dust of battle. At
midnight we were aroused from our slumbers
by the ominous order "Fall in y and soon. but
silently we were retracing our steps across the
blood-stained field of Antietam, now reeking
with the stencil of decaying flesh, both human
and animal. Fortunately it was too dark to
make out more than the outlines of the still
unburied rebels, or the ghastly sights the field
presented two days before, must have been
twenty fold augmented. Onward we tramped
till daylight Of a beautiful Sabbath morning
tinged the eastern horizon, and then halt.
hasty breakfast, and on again. "Where are we
going" is the question we ask of each other:
but no one knows and then the prospect of
another's Sunday battle is discussed, for it
gradually leaks out that the rebels in heavy
force have re-crossed the river at Williamsport,
and that our corps is to give them battle. AS
we march, the report gathers strength that the
rebels are 10000 strong, but nearing the
scene, their numbers dwindle down to two reg
iments of Cavalry and one of Infantry, who.
upon the approach of COUGHS division, make a
hasty exit across, before they have succeeded
in doing any damage more than frightening the
Pennsylvania militia at Hagerstown, half out
of their senses. 1t is said battery of guns,
belonging to this militia, so much be-praised
by the Philadelphia papers, actually pounded
away at piece of woods for an hour, when
there was not a rebel within five miles. and
then started at once for home: Such men may
do for home defence, but it is an insult to the
thousands of brave troops from Pennsylvania,
now in the field, to call them soldiers
A night and day spent at Williamsport, and
we marched out to this place, where few
days rest has much refreshed us. "Where
next?' is the inquiry; but our General does
not divulge his plans, and we are kept in bliss
ful ignorance. The impression is now pretty
strong that we shall go into camp near here
for few weeks, until the prelminaries are
arranged for short and decisive ending of the
fall campaign by the capture of Richmond
and the forces defending it.
This letter is already much too long, or l
would tell you something of Maryland The
contrast is great between the treatment ac-
corced us by the people of Maryland and that
vouchsafed by the people Of Virginia Here
we are warmly welcomed on every hand, and
hailed as deliverers. Their hatred of "secesh"
is much more intense than we of the North
feel. They have ample cause,--their proper
ty destroyed and stolen, their fair land made
by these men the battle ground of the sections,
restoration of the Union is to them the
greatest boon, as they will no longer be on
disputed ground whereon the battles of two
rival nations are TO be fought. No curse can
befall community like that which makes it a
battle ground.
The health Of tho 5th Maine Is good. DR..
Buxton has returned to us, and he takes hold
with II will. Our Colonel has been quite un-
well of late, and Lieut.. Col. Scammon has ably
supplied his place. 1t Is thought that our Col
onel will soon be promoted. He is the Oldest
volunteer Colonel in the army, and certainly
has superior claims for brigadiership.
ELLERY.