The Portland daily press., 1862-10-06

gentlemen composing the Volunteer Relief As
sociation, without the hope or prospect of Pc
cuniary reward, thus feed every regiment that
passes through their city. The tired hungry
and dusty soldier finds here a place to rest,
food and drink, and water in plenty to remove
the accumulated dust of travel Ifhe has lost
upon his journey any part of his apparel, he
may be here supplied; he is sick, the hospi-
tai of the Association, stands close by, and
here he may have good medical attendance,
and kind and careful nursing till recovered and
all without money and without price," A
member of the Committee kindly showed me
the cook room, where are ranged four or five
huge boilers, containing from 40 to 60 gallons
each, the pantry where the cooked meats are
prepared for the table, the store-room filed
with dried beef, hams, Bologna sausages-the
writing room, where soldiers may write letters,
and have them mailed free of charge-the
bathing room fitted up with four or five bath
ing tubs, supplied with warm and cold water,
and the Committee room, where are many ar
ticles of rirtue, gathered during the war.
Among them are shell picked up on the battle
field, shot, broken muskets, battered bayonets,
and bits of tattered flags. We left Philadel-
phia at midnight, and at about three A. NJ.
crossed the Susquehanna, the cars with their
freight in them being ferried across on huge
boat.
We reached Baltimore at about IL A. NJ,
and marched through the city ON the route
travelled by the Mass. 9Th on the bloody 10th
of April, 81. And as we saw the averted
faces and scornful looks of the Baltimore la
dies, and marked the knots of evil-eyed seces-
sionists at the corners of the streets, many of
us thought of that 10th of April, and grasping
our weapons more firmly almost chaied for a
like demonstration. The spirit is there. Bal
timore is thoroughly poisoned with the virus
of secession. Yet there is good and active
Union sentiment there, and willing hands,
prompted by benevolent and patriotic hearts,
greet the hungry soldier with cheering cor
dalty, and provide for his wants. We found
dinner waiting for us at the depot, or near it,
at the Volunteer Relief Associations rooms.
The fare and accommodations are not quite
equal to those of Philadelphia, but well done
for Baltimore.
We left for Washington at about 1-2 p. NJ,
and stopping for few moments at the Relay
House, and occasionally waiting for the trains,
drove on toward Washington, which we reach
ed at little past P. NJ. We have learned
that "our Regiment" was garrisoning a num-
Der of forts on the east side of the Potomac,
south of the East Branch, or Anacostia River.
Weary and worn, We started for Fort Baker,
the reputed headquarters of the Regiment,
leaving the 10Th to encamp near the depot
At the termination Of our three miles march,
we found that headquarters had removed to
Fort Carroll day or two before, long way
to the right, and accepted gratefully the hos
pitable invitation of Capt. Sawyer of Co. E,
then commanding at Fort Baker.
We found Col. Roberts and staff on the
morrow, and having reported to him, we were
ordered to report to the commanding officer of
Co. at Fort Stanton. Here we have all been
since, drilling good deal as Heavy Artillery
on thirty-two pound barbette guns and an
eight inch howitzer; little as Infantry with
our splendid(9) Enfield rifles, making ga
bions and fascines, and wheeling dirt to fll
the former after they were placed upon the
parapet Of the fort. But to-day orders have
come for us to "march as soon as relieved"
which will probably be tomorrow, "and report
to Gen. Birney to be sent into Gen. Berry's
Brigade" We are not sorry. Our first move
will probably be to Alexandria, march of ten
miles-our next to-nobody knows where
When we get there I'll write again.
yonrs, very truly, T.