The Portland daily press., 1862-12-01

Giiead, thence the next day to Milville, where
we encamped in cornfield of about rs acres /;
thence on the 9Th across the Manassas Gan r
X, and through the village of White Plains to
point about two miles from Salem. On the
9th we passed through Salem, and crossed a
ridge of mountains into the valley of the up
per Rappahannock, encamping at night near
| Oakwood, the residence of the Scott family.
| From this point we moved about two miles
nearer Waterloo, and about five miles from
Warrenton. While here, with several 9TH
er officers, l went on a day of scarcity in
search of dinner. We called at Oakwood
and were shown into well furnished parlor
and soon lady dressed in deep mourning
came in gracefully, asking "to what am L in
debted for the honor of this visit?" "We are
officers of regiment in camp near by and be-
ing without provision are i'm search of a din
ner." Really, gentlemen" she replied, 1--WE
have been robbed of everything; our meat
house has been emptied, and we have nothing
IN the house excepting some meal, such as we
have been accustomed TO feed to our horses.
Our carriage horses have all been taken: the
last ear of corn is. gone; our servants, with
the exception OF one or two field hands) cook.
housemaid, chambermaid, washwoman, all
have left us, and We have, as you see, very lit
tie for ourselves, and nothing to sel' There
was no gainsaying the latter proposition, and
apologizing for our intrusion we took our
leave. This, l think, is a true picture of the
condition of most of the families, even of the
weather class, in this portion of Virginia.
What they are to do for food Though the win
ter cannot tell There must be such sup
plies as our New England people can hardly
conceive of
The Transcript, which has just come to
hand, quotes from one of the Portland dailies
"the storm of indignation from soldiers and
people, which was to greet the ears of the
President in consequence of the removal of
Gen. Mcclellan" The soldiers are too anx
ious for the close of the war to find fault with
the action of the President in this respect
They have seen that McClean's excuses for
delay were without foundation, and have been
fully convinced that in order to the speedy
settlement of these national troubles an ad-
vance must be made while the roads are in
condition. The Presidents Emancipation
Proclamation was received with favor in this
part of the army, at least. There need be no
fear that the army will fail to support any
measure that evinces determination on the
part of the government to close up this ''show.
as ii is habitually termed. Since Burnside
assumed command the army has been ad-
vancing rapidly.
we are now lying near Fredericksburg
within two miles. The rebels are in possess
sion of the place, and their pckets are on the
south banks of the Rappahannock, while ours
occupy the north within a pistol shot Gen.
Summers Division is in the front, at Falmouth.
and on Saturday last he is said to have sent
summons to the rebels to surrender, on pain
of being 'shelled out. at 10 o'clonk to day.
We have heard no cannonading, and conclude
that the rebels must have surrendered.
Our regiment is now in Berry's Brigade.
and Gen. Berry is with us. He came to us
the day on which the Portland papers an
nounced that he had been endeayoring to keep
with his brigade, but had been obliged "to
leave, and attend to his health" He had not
been with us before since we left Washington.
We are in the LIST Division tBirney's) of Stone
mans corps; and in the I'd (Hooker's) Grand
Division of the Army of the Potomac. The
health of the troops generally is good Colds
and coughs prevail to some extent, and an epi-
demic known as the "yellows' is going the
rounds of the regiment. Our surgeon is a
jewel. One of our assistant surgeons, DR.. In
gals, was left near Edwards Ferry, sick with
typhoid fever. Lieut.. jenkins, of Co. b. was
left at the same place, dangerously i'll with the
same disease. Our field and staff officers are
generally deservedly popular. Lieut.. Col.
Merrill has repeatedly made long marches, 1--WE
or six miles, carrying the musket of a sick SOL
dier, who was riding his horse. He is almost
idolized by the men. Major West is also very
popular. He and the surgeons, as well as the
Lieut.. Colonel, frequently give up thei hor-
ses to sick and tired soldiers, tramping through
the mud as cheeriy as though it were but fun.
will endeavor in my next to give you a
list of those who have died since the regiment
left Maine, together with list of those acci-
dentally wounded, and those sick in hospitals.
Since commencing this letter the mail has
brought me the "Press" for Nov. 18th, and
18th, the latter just week old. We are right
glad to get it, notwithstanding the STRAY
CLEAN" mans condemnation. "Au revoir."
Yours, T.