The Portland daily press., 1862-11-18


treated us very well.
For the Daily Press.
Letter from Boston.
Massachusetts Regiments-G Banks-Mrs.
Lincoln-Hone Gudrds-Military Juuen-
iles-Opuient Military Hospital. !.
Boston, Nov. 18th, 1852.
To the Editors Of the Daily Press: All
quiet along the Charles River After the bril-
liant but saddening parade and departure of
the 41st, AID, 45th Regiments, last week, Bos-
ton has settled down into comparative silence
again. The Cadet Regiment and the Tigers
who have just left us for the vicssitudes of
camp life, were composed of the very best men
in the city and have carried with them the
good wishes of all Eastern Massachusetts,.
May they all remember the advice given in
the legend written on the Flags which waved
over them they marched on the ringing
pavement, snow crush rebellion" and may
they call to mind the vows they took on the
Common, eve toiu crush it." General Banks,
as You have already heard by the Dailies, was
the observed of all observers in the great pro-
cession. He looks the general. His firmly
knit frame is as strong and as nervous as ever,
not nervous in the Specification of the term as
applied by aged females, but nervous in the
sense of having firm muscle well supplied with
vital force. Ii is this nerce which causes every
one to place implicit confidence in Banks and
to give to him their answering support. His
hair is becoming iron-gray and this adds per-
hons 70 his military apnparapca which IA
also greatly enhanced by his dark moustache.
May his projected expedition in which SO
many of our Maine soldiers are to take part,
be attended by the success which has followed
every undertaking of this iron man where he
has been properly aided by the government.
Mrs Lincoln was here last week and re-
ceived at the Parker House fine serenade
Much credit is due to the projectors of the
enterprise for the charming taste with which
they selected, and the ability with which they
executed, the difficult airs. Mrs l.. was on a
visit to her sons in Cambridge.
To-day we have been having parade of the
Horse Guard of Boston. consisting of the Lam
GERS and Dragons. They were preceded
through the principal streets by the Buslers
Of the Boston Brass Band upon horseback,
and they presented really fine appearance.
In the afternoon they went through series of
evoutions upon the Common, supposed to be
somewhat AFTER the manner of dashing caval-
~ corps. But there were many little ras-
cally boys scattered over the parade ground,
that the officers were afraid to order anything
like galop, because it would have resulted
ir the immediate annihilation of about forty
OF the smaller ones. These mounted men
have two kinds of uniforms, one company be-
ing dressed in a serviceable dark-colored suit;
the others are attired in gorgeous array. They
| have large aud very snowy white plumes nod
ding and waving from brazen helmet, and
they all wear coats of scarlet and gold. To-
gether with the immense crests and the puff,
stuffed out coats, they seem like knights some at
medieval tournament more than like horse
men of 1852. Owing to the exaggerated sire
| of the men on account of the plumes and but
tons, the horses seem TO be no larger than
| Canadian ponies. Nothing shows the effect
of the war any more plainly than the attend
ance of spectators on the Common at such
times. Two years ago a parade of a good in-
| fautry company would have brought together
a very large concourse of interested lockers
on; to-day nothing smaller than regiment at
tracts much attention We are becoming a
military people, and two years more will so
accustom US to war and the affairs OF war,
that every man will be soldier and every
woman selfappointed military nurse. 1t
was only yesterday that l heard two very
small newsboys disputing about the rank of a
certain officer.
81 tell you he's major" said one.
"No. Sir. he's a Lieutenant Colonel, because
he had silver leaf on his shoulder strap, and
Majors only have gold one," retorted No. 2.
"well, and that's just the reason" said the
first, "gold is better than silver, and 1t. Col.
is higher than major, so reckon gold leaf
isn't major'sw
The other was a little disconnected by this
but soon said swell you just look in copy OF
'Hardee' and you'll see.' Are We not becom-
ing military people? And speaking OF sol
ders reminds me of visit which made yes
terday to the hospital for ''invalided men" in
Pemberton Square. Last year or year before
| we Snoulu nave saiu luNdii", NO" We "iit>
"invalided,' which is the usual military term
for sick or wounded soldier.
Richard n. Mason Esq. of this city, being
about to leave for Europe, gave to the govern
ment, the free use of his mansion during thu
war, to be used by them as military hospital
This generous man well understood that moth
T ing can be too good for an American soldier
} and acted according TO this belief. The hous
is one of the large buildings in an aristocrat
. part of the city and has all the modern i'm
provements devised for the comfort OF occu
: pants. The high, well ventilated rooms ar
,, used as wards of eight beds, and a convenien
hospital is thus secured. The mirrors ar
1 still hung from the walls and give, with thei
2 surroundings, an air of elegance which, OF il
self, aids not little in the recovery of som
I Responding patients. There are now fifty so
4 diers accommodated in this house and there
9 room for dozen more. So much has singl
|. man done for the war; and let me again writ
!. his honorable name that the loyalists of Main
S may not forget it, X. n. Mason. All honor
! such a man. NOME.
y REBEL OPINION OF GEN. MCCLELLA
Ii The Mobile Register of Oct. 8 has the folloN
is ing estimate of the ability of Gen. McClell;
, as a commander:
- aft NAV NOT he improper to suggest heI