The Portland daily press., 1863-08-24
COMMUNICATIONS.

RAPPAHANNocK STATION, VA, I
August 18th, 1868.

RAPPAHANNocK STATION, Val
August 18th, 1868.
7othe Editor Of the Press:
The weekly visits of the "Press- make me
feel as il much nearer Portland than really
am. The visit of our Western friends, the
great meeting of the true men OF Portland to
hear Gen. Shepley, are matters which many of
us in the army feel deep interestin. We are
now keeping as quiet as this very hot weather
will allow. never saw anything quite equal
TO this for heat.
The drafted men are coming in. Stragglers
are returning. and some who were taken pris-
oners at Gettysburg have returned, and our
ranks begin TO have the appearance of former
days Do not for moment suppose we are
idle, for this army is very far from that. The
lst Army Corps now commanded by Mai Gen.
John Newton, is at this place. on both sides OF
the Rappahannock river. We have strong
position and can hold it just as long as we wish
TO do so.
We now occupy ground almost sacred in
the history of this war. Here was quite a
battle between "Stonewall jackson" and our
army under Gen. Pope. Gen. Banks was en-.
camped in a beautiful oak wood here. but the
rebels getting battery in range on hill on
the other side Of the river, soon compelled our
troops to fall back towards Bealton The
Railroad bridge over the Rappahannock was
destroyed, but was rebuilt last week in the
short space Of two days, and this bridge of
250 feet in length, and our cars are now run
ming to the South side Of the river We see
all around here the great destruction which
fks he sfisfs iafge p1saf tbs hase been
us plainly that once this was quite village,
and now not family remains here.
ANY one has only to ride on the cars from
Fairfax Station to Manassas Junction and so
on to Carthletts and all the way to Warrenton
Junction TO see the wreck of cars and all the
apparatus for doing railroad business in one
common mass OF destruction. The whole dis
tance OF 25 miles you will see strown on either
side of the road car wheels, whole truck frames,
broken engines, smashed up cars and the half
buried remains of those loaded with Quarter
master and Commissary stores, which were
burned on Pope's retreat. The few inhabitants
who remain are sick at heart OF their folly,
and all whom / have seen wish themselves
out of this, athe worst fix they were ever in"
as one expressed it to me the other day. Not
withstanding the hard fighting and long
marches we have had, we are ready to move
forward at an hours notice. We have conf
dence in Gen. Meade and believe he will yet
lead us on TO greater victory. There are
many things we love-our friends at home,
our dear old flag, brave and true man, &c,
and some few things we hate; and among
them our enemies at home. We do from the
bottom of our heart hate THAT word don't ex-
press i'll desplse, t0dlte those beings, mot
men1 who are seeking to counteract our ef-
forts to put dewn this ungodly rebellion; and
while we feel anxious to see this war closed
that we may be at home once more with loved
ones, we also feel that we have an account to
settle at the ballot box with the traitors at
home. We have thousand times more re-
gard for the prisoners We take from the rebel
army than for the miserable sneaks North.
Look out, Mr.. Copperhead, the day ofjudg-
ment will soon be upon you and no space left
you Tor repentance.
A sad accident occurred here yesterday.
Charles Small, a Sergeant Of Co. G, 10th reg-
ment, was drowned here, while bathing in the
river. Sergeant Small was from Wilton, Me-,
where his parents reside. He was very fine
young man, and few had more personal friends
than he. No less than eight have been drown
ed in the river at this place since We came
here two weeks ago. Sergeant Small's fnner-
al was attended at five o'clock on Sunday, p
NJ Religious service was suspended in the
other regiments and all attended this service
which was conducted by Rev. George Bnln
chaplain Of the 10th regiment. assisted b,
Chaplain Cook OF the oath New York anc
Chaplain Ward OF the l04th New York.
The 10th regiment Maine Vols. is the onl,
Maine regiment in this whole Corps, while thu
Sd Corps and some others have as many a
three or four Maine regiments each.
Yours, de-, KESToN.