The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-13
CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP OF THE i7ru Me-. REG'T, }
Near Catlett's Station. Va,

Jay, hoping tilht you VIII hhu Nv '"''s ""h "'s
sketch. for | have no ink, and cannot get any
very readily. There is such n scarcity of art-
Gle, not exactly The ncccssarics of life, but the
essentials, that VIC arc subjects to many incon-
ycnienccs Other articles not really essential
are wanting, among which is tobacco, and,
though not a believer in the use OF the peed,-
can but pity the boys when l hear them try
Ing TO get little to satisfy the cravings OF their
appetites. Our rations of hard bread and pork
hardly hold out "eight days" while soft bread.
potatoes, onions beans &c, non stunt turenfd,
save when the soldiers make RAIDS through
rebels fields and gardens, or purchase them at
houses where provost guards arc stationed 10
protect private property. -,
We care enjoying very pleasant weathcr-mild,
warm days with little rain--though our nights
are cold and frosty. The rainy season has not
set in, but VIC arc expecting 1t in few weeks
before we 20 into winfr Quarters-and when
Il does come. there will be n fine opportunity to
drag our cloggcd feet through mud and water,
and, in all probability to rcposc our limbs
weary with marching under the burden OF
heavy knapsacks, in n soft bed. such things
as camping right down in mud have occurred,
and why not again amid the various yicissitudes
of war; Nature has changed her garment OF
green for that vcsture of variegated hues, with
which she decks herself in Autumn. AS far rs
nv observation has gone she has not adorned
herself with so brilliant colors rs you now see
In our northern forests, owing probably to the
scarcity of those trees that furnish our north
ern scenery with its most beautiful tents. Ma
ple and beech are scarce, while chestnut, OAK,
pine, walnut, red cedar, and persimmon hour
ish i'm this section. Occasionally we get lew
chestnuts, and pcrsimmons, but the latter are
good only when fully ripe. Then they are
sweet and nice, but when unripe they are very
nnnleasant to the taste. The common express
sion, "they pucker the mouth all up, will best
convey to you how they tast have been
pleased with several fine pieces OF young growth
that have noticed particularly, during some
orr marches. But as have before intimated
in another letter, the country generally through
which both armies have passed is desolate.-
We mass over fields Astounding in garlic, the
odor of which has reminded me oil the garden
of the Shakers ut Alfred in the season OF onions.
pennyroyal is very abundant 1t grows 10y
m, nero" In some sections wild carrot, L
should call il, grows profusely;
Our cnmp is more pleasantly situated than
any we have had. We are about two miles
from Catlett's Station, written Catlett also)
ON a slight ridge in the edge of q piece OF woods,
with water good and convenient, anu wooa
near by. In our front. just out OF the woods Is
n small hill, beyond which stretches out quite
an extensive plain. Two or three miles Instant
- a small settlement called the "Jersey settle
mcnt. !" because the inhabitants were colonists
from New Jersey, understand. This is consid-
cred BIZ military men as q good position
should the enemy attempt to attack US they
would he obliged to cross the plain, which
,yould give ms n fine chance to rake them with
sbot and she'll. We were ordered out here to
the left flank last Monday night in hurry,
Tonight an order was read on dress parade,
forbiidng gambling and obscenity in camp
This is step in the right direction, anu ono
not taken any two soon. These vices nave oceh
of them will be hailed with JOY by good and
honorable men, in the army rs well rs OUT Oh
IL. II was done by command OF our new Col,
West. formerly Major, who understands what
is necessary for the well being OF the soiaiers'
and for the interest OF the army. lie IL Grave
and efficient commander, q thorough disciple
marian. and in fact strictly military man.
lie has had considerable experience, having
served rs captain in the 10Th Maine' anu ma
Tor in this regiment since its formation. DANG
Rumor. of whom you remember to have reau
so vivid and faithful description in Virgil, fol.
lowed us hither and stalked among us in broad
daylight to-day, sowing various reports. OF
which the one most gladly received was, that
We are going into tUintcr quarters here or III
some other good place. But she has proved
faithlcss heretofore, her word is ilattcring, ana
we dare not trust her, 50 we live in doubtful
hope till new orders come, anu VIC sec Whe'her
or not, Madame Rumor is true
The bugle, drum corps, anu regimehtai oanus
furnish us with music enough, TO say nothing
of the cannonaling and musketry we OCCASION
ally hear at a distance. The bugle to the SOL
dicrs is what the chapel bell used to be to us
during those halcyon days of our college lie.
When il sounds the reyeille, attention, pack
up, pack up" land you have no conception OF
the distinctness with which 1t sounds these
words,) il is oftentimcs no more agreeable 10
our ears than the sound OF the bell was when IL
called us To morning prayers, especially II we
had been out late the night before, or to our
rectations when poorly prepared, and did not
wish 10 take n "dead," or '.fssie." Several
fine bands are connected with regiments near
us that discourse excellent music, among which
mention might be male Of the 0Sth Penn. Dand,
and that of Coils Zouayes. few evenings
ago when on guard listened to the latter while
playing during the beautiful moonlight even
inc. Though no musician, felt competent to
judge what music fell pleasantly on my car, rs
it foated through the trees on inc clear eooi
air of evening. One piece which was en-
corcd, was splendid. l cannot recall its name
though have heard it recently. "llail Column
bia'' and "lhc Star Spangled Banner" stir
our soul, and increase the fire OF patriotism al
ways aglow in our breast:
We arc clad that the President has issued q
proclamation calling for SOC, 900 moro men to
I'M up old regiments. They arc needed to crush
our this rebellion, and the sooner they come
the sooner will this war be over. We wish the
men of Maine, in fact the whole North-would
volunteer. But IL they do not, let another
draft come. And let it bring men, not money
and crempts. | am ashamed, almost angry
sometimes, when think how men shrunk from
their duty, and what means were used 10 pro-
cnre exemption, would not answer for their
sins for all the money il would have cost to
have maid their communication. And then was
surprised TO learn that ours is a weak, siokly,
puny race Orwell, some OF them arc greater
towards, fear, than myself. may not be so
courageous, SO daring. so reckless Us many,
hut I thank God had courage enough to bring
me into this army. think the Anglo-Saxons
were robust aud hardy, and now believe that
their descendants still boast somewhat OF their
iron nerve and will, though Mt present many OF
them arc too exceedingly modest about having
n known. Come out here some OF you, modest
youths and you will soon acquire lit'ic chee6,
or brass, to use cant vulgar phrase, express
siyc however, and well understood by all.
A few words in regard to the badges used in
the army may be of interest To the curious
MANY wish TO know what those rcd, white or
blue matches are for. They distinguish the
corns and division to which soldiers belong
Tho list corps is distinguished by u circular
badge of flannel, the ID by u clover leaf, the
81 6y a lozcugc, or diamond, the 9Th bya Mai
tcsc cross, the 9th by common cross, the ilth
by n crescent, or new moon, and tue eth by
star. The colors red. white and blue designate
the list, ID, and Sd, divisions respectively, in
every corps. Corps. divisions and brigadcs
are distinguished in the field by the shape and
color of the flags. This method generally used,
believe, in European armies, was adopted by
the gallant Kcarney in his division, but more