The Portland daily press., 1862-10-29
WASHINGTON. D. C.


EDITORS PREss:-I desire to communicate
few bits of information to your readers who
are interested in the 23d Regiment and who
in Maine is not? We arrived Monday evening
last, 20th. On Tuesday morning, after sub
stantial breakfast of bread and beef we prepared
Capitol Hill, three quarters Of mile from the
Capitol. Co. B was detailed to guard the bag
gage and the other companies marched to the
Arinory and received their arms. They are
smooth-bore muskets from Springfield, Har-
per's Ferry, and have seen one made at the
Palmetto Armory, Columbia, S. c. They have
the appearance Of having been in service, aud
their history, if it could be known, would be
interesting. These are real percussion lock
muskets not old flint locks altered over, such
as were sent US at Portland.
The men and officers are generally very well,
but experience much discomfort on account of
cold nights and windy days which are necessa-
rily very dusty. In this respect, Camp Abra-
ham Lincoln is to be preferred before our, pre-
sent locality. But we are. nevertheless, in
EOo0 sphAbS, ohh iSode oiiA "haAhS W ~ "hNiS
we may be ordered. learn that we are as
signed to Growers Brigade, Hooker's Division,
now at Seneca, 30 miles or more from here, on
Seneca Creek, on the Maryland side of the
Potomac. The l4th New Hampshire Regt.
which came on just in advance of us, and
was eneamped within 20 rods, marched about
an hour ago,-9 o'clock A. M.-for the same
place. We are quite near the 25th Maine, and
have daily intercourse with members Of that
Regiment. Col. Fessenden is acting Brigadier
General, and is in Casey's Division, which is
expected to form reserve corps for the defence
of the Capital. Our journey from Portland
was delightful, excepting the night ride from
Philadelphia to Baltimore. We had our appe-
tites regaled, our hearts warmed, and our
courage strengthened by the abundant enter
tainment and cordial greeting we received in
Philadelphia, and in fact, all the way to the
latter city we witnessed unmistakable eviden-
ces of ardent sympathy with the object for
which we were marching to the field of strife
The people of New Jersey were particularly
enthusiastic, and beautiful ladies and children,
dressed in Sundry clothes, saluted us
from windows, doors and wayside, as we
sped along. These scenes the Maine 23d will
never forget. particularly the kindness and
hospitality of the City of Brotherly Love"
AT Baltimore, where we arrived on Monday
morning about 4 o'clock, we got good break
fast of ham and bread, with good coffee. We
marched about two hours through the latter
city, and were delighted with the splendid ap-
pearance of the city generally, its nice location
for business, its substantial residences, and the
many evidences of Union feeling We saw; the
Stars and Stripes hoated from several public
places, and from many dwelling houses.
From Baltimore to Washington was a te-
dions ride, as we were about six hours on the
way. We had however good opportunity
to witness the appearance of the country, and
observe the difference between Maryland and
New Jersey.
Corn appears to be the main product of
that part of Maryland through which the
railroad runs, and the fields are overrun with
weeds and foul growth OF various kinds. At
Contee's station, about twenty miles from
here, several slaves, including females were
digging potatoes with implements similar to
what Maine farmers call "nigger hoes" The
owner, good looking man, was sitting by
the roadside talking with the guards which
are stationed all along the road at short inter
walls. Washington is place like no other in
creation. Here one can see the elephant for
nothing, and sight Of the kangaroo thrown
in. We do not long for the "flesh pots" of
Camp Lincoln. but we do miss the familiar IA
ces of kind friends and the many substantial
tokens Of affection and regard we had at that
place Instead of calls from our lady friends,
we see women of all ages colors and nations
nearly, basket in hand, peddling apples, cakes
etc, to the soldiers, who patronize them quite
freely. But you may depend, the officers and
soldiers Of this Regt have no disposition to
shirk from the stenness of war duties, or re-
greet the many privations which they are nec-
essarily obliged to submit to.
We have already learned to appreciate clear
atmosphere, clean faces and hands and would be
content with a soil, less sacred. but more sta
tionary and settled than that of Maryland. We