The Portland daily press., 1863-01-20

Letter from the Rappahannock.
HowARD's DIVISION, I'd CORPS,
Near Falmouth. Va. Jan. o.
n tbe Edifors of ~ pr.ss.

To the Editors Of q Press:
Yesterday afternoon rode to Stoneman's
headquarters and visited the Sd and 18th Me-,
which are in his Corps. Since the battle the
Seventeenth has put on the red cockade-
tie peculiar distinction of Kearneys old Div
ision, and first worn by his order. The Seven
teenth, soon after re-crossing the river, receiv-
ed an order from Gen. Birney, comforting the
honor of wearing the badge on account OF gall
laDtry in action; and you never fail low to
see the scarlet rectangle upon the front, top.
or side OF the cap, according to the rank and
position of the officer or man who wears it.
The @boys" Of the Third seem particularly
cheerful, and smiled audibly as they told me
of the downcast looks and homesick talk of
some Of the new regiments. They say that
members of the Nineteenth Maine who visit
them, claim that the Nineteenth and the Corps
70 which it belongs are going to be relieved
and return to Alexandra.
Great injustice has been done the Third by
sending out extraneous officers to I'LL its va
cancies, instead Of promoting from the ranks.
Its IN outrage against these patriotic and in
telligent soldiers, who noic know the duties of
the officer and can perform them more satis--
factorily than these newcomers will ever be
able to. There would be less complaint were
II not that unthrifty and inefY1cient officers
have in this way been crowded upon them,
even against the protest of those who ought
best TO know and whose interest is most near
lr concerned.
All speak in high terms of Major Lee who
was wounded at fredericksburg. He is now
away on furlough. Gen. Ward, who com
mands the brigade, also made special mention
Of the conduct Of Major Lee at the battle
After he was sorely wounded he refused to
leave the field and still rode his horse in the
discharge of his duty.
was at the encampment of the Nineteenth
this morning. Col. Sewall Is absent upon
sick-leave. Lieut.. Col. Heath is in command.
The sickness Is decreasing and the men are
comfortably quartered.
We have had colder weather for a few days,
though hardly cold enough to compel over
coats yet. The clear moonlight nights would
remind you Of some winter evenings in Maine
but the snow and sleighing are only seen in
dreams of home.
Flags of truce are frequent, and we get the
Richmond dailies as regularly as those from
Washington. The news from this source of
late has been very interesting. The character
and tone Of Gen. Bragg's dispatches became
considerably modified during the course of
the five or six days fighting with Rosecrans.
He finally concluded he "could not drive him
from his intrenchments." having fallen back
from his own intrenched position some thirty
miles or more.
IIOIu OOutucIu SUuTCts We get Ille ldtest III
telligence from Vicksburg, already communi-
Gated to you from here by telegraph. JEFF.
Davis in his recent speech laid great stress
upon the importance Of holding Vicksburg.-
They will strain every nerve to hold this point
their last footing upon the borders of the Mis-
sissippi
The news from Rosecrans was cheering to
this army. 1t Is grievous shame that they
must receive 1t through such poisonous chan
nels as the New York Herald.
Gen. Burnside is to review the I'd Corps d
Armee now commanded by Gen. Howard, to-
morrow. Gen. Howard expects to return in
ten days. His health is reported much i'm
proved. Gen. Sumner Is absent in Washing
ton, and Gen. Sedgwick now commands the
right Grand Division.
An escort with mufed drums and reversed
muskets was given yesterday to the body of
q rebel officer who died In one of our hospi-
tails in Alexandria. The widow accompanied
the remains, having gone up on the boat last
week in charge of Vice President Hamlin.
She did not know of his death when here on
her way up; and afterwards, when it was
made known to her, she became deranged in
mind. Yesterday she seemed to be restored
again, and considerably composed. The es-
cort the propriety of which was doubted by
some, went from Grand Division headquar-
ters to the bank of the river.
learned by an officer from the 5th Maine
to-day that Col Seaman had resigned, and
started this morning for his home. Col
Scammans loss Is much regretted by the reg
iment- Rev. Mr.. Adams, the chaplain, is dill
igently at work as usual. He is expected to
preach to brigade Of this Division next Sab
bath, w