The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-08-31
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Army.
CAMP OF THE 1sT ARMY CORPS,
RAPPAHANNocK STATION, VA,
August 2lst lS63

CAMP OF THE 1sr ARMY Corps,
hArPAHANNoGk STATION, an VA,(
August 2lst, 1863
To the Editor OF the Press
Great changes have taken place in this Army
during the past four weeks, but most OF these
changes have been in connection with the other
corps and not with the LIST. We remain as we
have been for some time past, on both sides Of
the kappallannock river, at the place where
the Alexandria and Orange railroad crosses it.
Our pickets extend out as tar as Brandy sta
ton, some five miles towards Culpepper. We
are now being supplied with potatoes and soft
bread, both OF which are brought up from AL
exandria. The potatoes are new ones and of
frst-rate quality. The soft bread is from the
great Government bakery at Alexandria the
largest bakery in the world. covering about
one acre of ground, and making about ninety
thousand (90O00) loaves of bread a day. They
have turned out as many as one hundred and
fifteen thousand t1l5,0O0) in one day. This
bread Is oil first quality, and is God-send to
our brave men after living so long on "Hard
tack" Government runs twenty five trains of
cars each day 10 the Army TO bring up Com
missary Quartermaster and Medical Stores,
and the Army is now well fed and cared for
in all respects. We are now having very fine
weather, not as warm as it has been for the
past three weeks.
A few copies of the "Press'' have reached
the army containing Gen. Shepley's speech,
and we want more. The few copies here have
been read and lent into other regiments and
sometimes out of our brigade, and zoe do re-
.joice and zee tciH rejoice" in the noble, patri-
otto words he has uttered, and wish that ev-
cry man, woman and child in Maine could
read that speech. When the news first
reached US from our own State, coming as it
did from the City Hall in Portland, we sup
posed we were mistaken. We could not be-
lieve that any one would dare ever talk about
calling home our troops" much as we know
they opposed the present administration and
putting down of this rebellion. We did not
suppose them all lost to any feelings of patri-
otism and honor, and if nothing else, we sup
posed they had little shame left in them.
But we find that We were mistaken. We are
now compelled to believe that there are those
at home who, seeing THAI the rebels cannot
succeed alone, that England has not sent them
an army, Though she has a navy) and that
the rebellion will soon be crushed, will come
forward, and IL not 60 into the rebel ranks, are
doing all they can TO weaken our own right
arm and stay our victories. We have heard
the death groans Of the rebellion from all parts
OF the South, and now we hear its echo from
our own beloved State.
do not wish to 60 home to remain there
until the war is ended, but 1 would like TO be
at home in September at our State election,
and have the privilege of voting against the
traitors. And there are thousands here whose
wishes and desires are the same as my own.
A great many of the colored men who have
been with US as iaborers have gone to Wash
ington and enlisted in the ranks, and are not
only willing but anxious to fight for liberty.
They rejoice that they are now allowed to be
soldiers, and rest assured they win not as a
body disgrace their uniform or ingloriously
forsake the "Star SD9ppled Ranner1
The l4th Maine volunteers. the only Maine
regiment in this corps, are now drawing ra-
tions for l45 men. and are hoping soon to see
their Colonel and those with him, now prison.
ers in Richmond, again in the field. And very
soon the drafted men will be along, and the
brave 10Th will present as good line when on
parade as in days past. The health of the
18th Is much better than formerly, but very
few sick. KENToN.