The Portland daily press., 1863-05-21
Letter from the State Capital.
AUGUSTA. MAY 20. 1863,


To the Editor Of the Press:
The Board of Enrolment for the Third Con.
gressional District will hold its first meeting
at its headquarters in Williams Block in this
city on Friday next. Copies of the enrol.
ments for the District have been furnished the
Board and it is about ready to commence its
duties.
The following copy of a letter from General
Howard to Adjutant General Hodson, may be
OF interest at this time of mourning for the
gallant Berry, as indeed everything must be
which gives new light or brings out more
prominently any trait in the character of our
distinguished cheftain who has so lately been
removed from us.
HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH Corps,
Near Brooks Station, Va, May IA, 1863.
DEAR SIR: My relations with the lament
ed General Berry have been such as to induce
me to give some public testimonial to his
merits as patriot and solder.
At the first battle of Bull Run he was in
command of the 4th Maine regiment which
was in my brigade While under nv COM
mand he showed himself to be an energetic
and efficient officer. He was always gentle
manly in his bearing and ready to cooperate
heartily in any measure for the good of his
regiment or the advantage of the service.
Upon the Peninsula he commanded a brig
ade in Kearneys Division. l remember that
met him with Gen. Kearney soon after the
battle of Williamsburg and that Gen. Kearney
spoke in the highest terms of his bravery and
said that his own success was owing in great
measure to Gen. Berry's skilful and vigorous
cooperation.
Attempting no enumeration of bis distin-
guished services, desire to record one more
instance of personal contact with General
Berry. Imet him close by his line of battle
on Saturday evening, May I'd, near the plank
road south of Charlottesville. He had drawn
up his division of veteran troops, perpendicu-
lar to and upon both sides of the road to cover
the retreat of the eleventh, corps and check
any further advance of the enemy in that d.
rectlon. He met me with great cordially,
consulted as to where the line would be hard
est pressed, and in answer to my suggestion
that the chief difficulty would be upon his
right, said, "Well, General, if you will take
care of the left here Twill 90 to the right" and
he went in that direction. l afterwards saw
him during the night at General Hooker's
headquarters.
He fell in tie morning when his line was
attacked with great fury, and died hero and
soldier at the post of duty. As brother Of
ficer l most heartily deplore his death. He
has met me of late with the most frank de-
meanor and cordiality, and l could not help
remarking after we had parted Saturday night,
How noble was the bearing of General
Berry,
May God bless and comfort his family, and
enable the rest of us, soldiers of Maine, to do
our duty as well unto the end.
Very truly yours,
30. HOWARD, Major General
To GEN. HoDsoN, Augusta, Me.
Notice of the following designations and
discharges of officers of Maine regiments has
recently been received from the War Depart
ment:
Resigned-Capt. Isaac w. Comery. Co. A,
2lst regiment; Capt. Randall Libby I'd, Co. A,
18th regiment.
Honorabty discharged for incompetency-
Capt. Black Hawk Putnam, Co. L, LIST cavalry
Discharged on eramindtion-Capt James
G. SWEET, Sd battery.
So much of the special order of the War
as discharged Col. Rufus P. Tap
ley, 9th Maine regiment has been revoked,
and he having rendered his resignation has
been honorably discharged the service of the
United States. Yours truly
HELIos.