The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-06
COMMUNICATIONS
Letter from the Maine Twenty-Fifth.
IT0J leCHANriiLr va, April 30, 1868.

Whalesman may yblubber, lcmigrants may
weep, even lovers, by the law of custom, are
permitted to drown each other in flood Of
tears; but a soldier,---out upon it-he's no lon
ger father, brother, husband, son or lover
He is soldier, and a soldier never weeps, or
weeping, his tears must not be seen. Yet,
when new regiment leaves for the "seat of
war; what mighty force is brought into the
field to break up the deep fountains of his
heart, and make the soldier a citizen, the man
a child again. When the 25th left Portland
Park street was sthronged. Scarcely was there
room for the column to pass. On Commercial
street policemen pressed back the crowd so
that the .boys" might take their places IN the
cars And all these were friends, (God bless
them.) Had they not thus come to bid us
'good bye" and cheer us of, We might have
wept.
Theterm or our enlistment is nearly expir.
ed, and We hope soon to Meet those friends
again. Some comparatively few of our com
rades have gone before, we trust 10 brighter,
worlds and more peaceful homes-one only
4fomsour company (H) !, and could wishes and
efforts have saved him, he would be with us
still. CD, Boody, of Westhrook, was youth
Of great promise, faithful soldier, beloved by
all. ee afi - T4laIfIMT ia
= 1t was not expected that all would return
yet each was hopeful for himself. -sHow many.
Of US win ever cross that bridge again ?' asked
one of another, az the train reached the Cape
Elizabeth shore. mot all, that's sure True,
I. some have passed the river that has no bridge
An equal proportion 1t may be, Of those left
behind have launched upon the eternal sea.
Brave boys" said our friends, as they anx-
iously gazed At the fast receding train, "God
grant II they fall, they fab Hike men, or return
as such.' Aud this is the vital question.
To war for wrong, for the uprooting of free
Institutions, and the ruin of the glorious edi-
fee erected by our fathers, consecrated by
their blood and made the beacon of liberty TO
the world, this indeed is ruipous to morals.
In fact none, but those already depraved and
seeking 70 be doubly damned would have in
stigated work SO fiend like. But war, to
sustain our free government prestrve its bles
sed institutions and maintain Iits integrity, is
ennobling, Is doing as our fathers did and
charged us to do. And our fathers were god
: like men.
Then to our friends at home, we would say
in all good conscience, your fathers, husbands.
sons and brothers, in moral worth occupy as
good position as when they left. And this
pleasing feature in the character of our regi-
ment is the result of manifest causes. First,
= the strict discipline instituted and maintained
by the commanding officers enforced by means
as varied and humane as the varying circun-
stances would admit, aud in no case prosecu-
ted beyond the attainment of its object - re-
pentance and reform for the delinquent, and
warning TO others. And then our worthy
young Chaplain, Mr.. Furbish [ God bless hirnl
first gaining hearing by his many acts of
sympathy and kindness, could not fail of reach
ing our hearts by his earnest exhortations and
prayers.
Ii only those are blessed who are revled,
then, surely, will he be the loser. His hands
z have been upheld aud his heart encouraged
by the able cooperation OF many worthy
Christian men, among whom with pleasure
we mention Rev. Messrs. Sylvester (Co. E)
and Libby (Co. C), the latter a graduate of
Watervie College, and j. NJ. Pease (Co. HI
a graduate of Bowdoin College.
sfE Music is thou ght to be the daughter of the
skies. Some talk of the ''music OF the spheres"
and the "music Of the storms. We find more of
misery than music In the latter, at Chan
tiy; and OF the former can pick up any guam
tity on the battlefield, but do not banker for
their music. But music, such as is music,
land we have it) awakes the nober feelings
of the soul, and makes one dream of Heaven,
and, by kindly inspiration, moves him to live
for it. Such, we have reason to hope is the
inference OF the music of our brigade band
This was mustered in, Jan. 9th, and is not to
be outdone by any, of equal opportunities.
1t numbers sixteen pieces, and its leader, Mr.
j.. B. Briggs, of Turner, deserves great credit
for his successful effort, and its members for
their proficiency. 1t is made up of detach-
ments from the different companies. and II, of
course, comes IN for a full share offprase,
having furnished its full quota OF two men, C.
q. Milbur, who beats the big drum, and j. E.
Brooks, who plays the alto Our dress and
other parades may not be perfect: but old ar
my officers say they find none more 80 and
the band. conducted by our young, vet com
petent, Drum Major, S. L. Dean of Portland ,
in full costume, furnishes one of the most de-
sirable parts of these displays. m q
And then the happy influence of our fire.
quent letters IRON home. Why! the arrival
of the carrier awakens the camp. All rush TO
the place of distribution. Letter for me ?'
asks one, and intense anxiety is exhibited on
every Ineament of his face. aNone :, and he
turhs sadly away Neglected. forgotten.
Not a letter for three days. Something
wrong" "Letter for me?' "Yes. twon
Look at his face! The boy is made A for
tune is In his hand You SMILE II isso.
Hold! What occasions all this confusion ?
The boys are jubiant. "The Paymaster's
Gomez 'Tis even SO. This very afternoon
our pockets are to be stuffed with green
backs.''s ff'ts 'frAtAfti sfAeas r sai tssFA
But this shall not spoil my argument. The
boy holds in his hand, what, when the future
Is contemplated, is Of greater value TO him
than mountains Of greenbdcks. The wise
counsel and blessing OF an honored father,
tender sentfeaties and earnest prayers of
fond mother, sisters love, and tokens of
kind regard from many friend WING shall
sum up their aggregate of good in this and the
world to come? Do not, then, as YOU value
their welfare, neglect to write to your friends
in the army l7H