The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-10-30
MATTERS ABOUT TOWN.


New ButtdtkS at lamp NIihcosHs
A good work is being done at Camp Lincoln
for the accommodation and comfort oil the
soldiers now at Mackie's Island--who will
soon be transferred-and those hereafter to
be sent into camp at this place. All the new
recruits raised under the last call will rendez-
vous at Camp Lincoln, and it is probable that
from three hundred to thousand men will be
in camp at that place during the winter. To
provide properly for their comfort and safety
it was necessary to thoroughly reiit the old
barracks-which were gotten up for warm
weather-and TO make radical improvements
throughout This work was entrusted by the
War Department to the direction and super
vision Of the U. S. Quartermaster for this Dis
trict, Lieut.. HENRY INMAN, at Fort Preblc,
and under his quick and careful eye 1t Is being
done most thoroughly. The wooden buildings
which were simply boarded and battened upon
the outside. are being ceiled up closely upon
the inside, so as to leave a dead air streak; the
floors are being doubled, brick chimneys to
receive stove tunnels are being carried up
through the roofs from the beams, hunks three
deep are set up ends to the walls, separated
by three feet spaces, with glass windows be-
tween the tiers,-each building containing
hunks for about eighty men. Then there is
long space for tables and benches, to be used
for reading and writing purposes, the whole
warmed by very large coal stoves Of the most
approved patterns. These rooms may be made
as comfortable as the most delicate may re-
quire.
Adjoining the rooms described, are the din
ing halls, well fitted up and well warmed
Then come the kitchens, each provided with
two large and new coal cooking stoves, and
each to be presided over by two colored cooks,
the cooks having their sleeping hunks in the
attic of the cook-rooms. A coal bunker, well
supplied with "black diamonds" completes
the arrangement.
Every bunk, in addition TO the usual allow
ance, will be furnished with a bed sack filled
with clean straw, which will be changed
monthly. The rations are to be of the best
quality, and as we shall be permitted to do so,
we propose to take a look at them after the
men are in camp, which will be in day or
two. The guard house and hospital-both
outside of the enclosure-are being fitting up
with special reference to their intended uses,
and no pains will be spared to make the sick
as comfortable as good nursing and good ac-
eommodations can render them. The use Of
one of the buildings has been granted to the
Sutler, who fits it up at his own expense and
is 20 vacate it when needed at twenty-four
hours notice.
close board fence-the boards standing
perpendicularly- square 600 feet
on side, t,cetee feet high surrounds the bar
racks, and with such fence small guard
will be sufficient to prevent desertions. Major
Hastings, an accomplished officer and gentle
man, commands the men at the post, and with
such man to look after the daily habits and
wants of the soldier, and faithful quarter
master to provide, and a humane and expert
enced commander of the post like Gen.
Rowley, to whom appeals can be made when
necessary, We feel confident the soldiers at
Camp Lincoln will not go uncared for.