The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-02-07
HEAD QUARTERS Co. 3, ENGINEER !
CORPS U. s. A.,
W.suIScTnS II g. .Jun Of. 1850.


WASHINGTON, ID. O., jan. 25, 1862.
Mr.. EDITOR: As many Of your readers
have friends in the engineer corps, u letter to
your valuable journal may prove acceptable
and perhaps interesting. Co. Is is mostly
made up Of men enlisted in Saco. have
heard the opinion expressed by unprecedented
parties, that those enlisted from Maine for
this service are very superior men in point Of
intelligence and morality. You must not
expect an elaborate epistle, for soldiers
letter is necessarily hurried production and
the facilities for tho execution OF the me.
chanical part arc often somewhat primitive:
but necessity is the mother OF invention, "
and AN writing ut present with my KNAPP.
sack for seat-a pine board resting on my
knees, extemporizcd for desk-a rusty steel
pen stuck into pine stick-together with
an inkstand which has to be tipped up at an
angle Of 90 degrees before il yields ink, make
up the sum total of my writing "equip'
ments." As primitive as they may seem to
one who enjoys the home luxurics of New
England, yet thcyuro much better than none,
which has been the rule rather than the ex.
ception, in our quarters, for the last three
weeks. But the tide of our affairs begins to
turn, for, by the gentlemanly kindness Of
Hon. John n. Goodwin we were furnished
with 500 stamped envelopes; which, after a
long dearth Of postage stamps, to MS poor
mortals of the camp. came like bread to the
hungry. The favor came unsolicited on our
part, and the delicate manner in which they
were presented by Mr.. 7. X. Lano Of Saco,
added not q little to the value which We at
tach to it and to-day, as If fate was deter
mined that "good fortune" like "misfor-
tunes" should not "come SINGLE We were
visited by Mr.. w. Ii. Thompson Of your
city, who. intuitively guessing our dcstitu-
tion, furnished us with funds to goodly
amount for the purchase of stationery. We
are doubtful which has done us the most
good, his kind words and cheerful face, or
the substantial token of his kindness which
he left behind. The "boys" will remember
him with kindness for long time, for the
sentiments of our camp arc, blessed is he
who remembers the soldier in the days OF his
trihulatiOn :"
Pay day has been postponed so long that
We almost despair Of being able to pass an
opinion this month on Uncle Sans new
treasury notes. Its coming has been proph.
esicd so many times, and yet has not come,
that it's coming has passed into almost as
much of proverb as the coming Of Christ
mas ....
Our quarters are beautifully situated on
tho eastern banks, and within stones throw
of the Potomac. You will more readily un-
dcrstand the beauty Of our location, when
say the banks of the river Mt this point de-
scend abruptly some ID feet to the river
shore in the banks rude steps are dug, by
which We descend TO or ascend from the wa
ter. Standing in front Of our quarters,
(Which is a fine three story brick block built
by Commodore Rogers, Of 1872 notoriety,)
We have u fine view OF the river from below
Alexandria. whose white houses and spires
are distinctly seen, to Above the Long Bridge,
which is mile up stream. Opposite us,
extending up the western side of the Poto.
mac as far rs the eve can sec, are the tented
heights of Arlington. The earth.works
which constitute the defence of Washington
arc distinctly seen, and we sometimes hear
the drum beat for tattoo or reyeile. and sec
the glitter Of the bayonets when troops arc
ON parade. We can also see Fairfax Semin.
airy and the Arlington House, the latter once
tho residence Of the rebel General Lee. but
nop headquarters of General Mcdowell
Tho country is well wooded, and very billy,
but the wood is fast disappearing. to supply
tho wants Of camp. Gen Lees estate which
covers vast extent Of country just above
"Long Bridge" is handled quite roughly by
tho Federal Government, and tho process Of
cutting of timber and wood is going on with
perfect looseness. have no doubt but Uncle
Sam must think II q fine thing to have such fe.-
lows turn tr,itors just at q convenient time
for obtaining supplies. The weather during
the past three weeks, has been extremely un-
pleasant clouds of rain over head, and clouds
Of mud under foot. can truly say Wash.
ington Is preeminently muddy city, you start
up street with splendid dress parade polish
on your boots, your buttons glstening and
every thing tidy and neat but by tho time
you get to Pennsylvania Avenue your feet
are heavy with mud and look like elongated
paint pots of yellow ochre, and you are in
luck, if you are not spattered from head to
foot with the vilest kind oi vile mud, in
which Washington at present abounds. The
only living thing which seems u enjoy the
ptScShs ososo w w aohihStous oiV Wv "VSs
which infest the streets as numerous as the
dogs Of Constantinople. Pennsylvania
Avenue Is q moving panorama Of warlikc
neutrality-suspicious. Of artillery, cavalry,
infantry. army baggage Wagons, drawn by
four mules with driver rs black Us ebony
astride of the near shalt mule, or horse,
driven by one rein leading to the near front
animal, officers and soldiers in uniform, and
blouse, all on the move swaying to and fro
like the ebb and flow Of the ocean, the citizen
Is the exception, while soldiers are the "riiie,"
It Is really quito refreshing, once in while
to see citizens dress among the throng who
are surging up and down the streets Of the
city. The patrole are seen ut every corner,
and woe DO TO the soldier who is caught out
without pass from his superior officer. If
one has curiosity to see tho interior Of the
central guard house, he has only to venture
. small distance from his quarters without q
pass, and the. patrol will very obliginly take
him in charge, show him the Lion and give
him slight specimen Of his growing. Tho
weather has been extremely mild, and until
within few days most Of the "boys" have