The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-08
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Twenty-seventh Maine.
HEADQUARTERS 9TH Me-,
mp Chantilly, Va, April 1, 1853.

HEADQUARTERS 9TH Me-,
Camp Chantilly, Va, April l, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press:
You have long ere this concluded, doubtless,
that my correspondence does not amount to
much any way. But my long silence must be
attributed both to lack of time and a lack of
news. / would not inflict long prosaic essays
upon YOU, as know well that you lacked not
for news. Well, TO come to business at once,
we have moved our quarters. We left Camp
Gen. Casey at O'Clock a. M the oath ut. We
had been encamped there since Dec. 3lst, '62,
making nearly three months. We abandoned
our picket line also, leaving 1t to garrison it.
sell. Doubtless 1t win be seen TO. We were
ordered in company with the 25th and other
regiments making up Casey's division, for
ward; for our destination rumor assigned Chan
tilly. We marched aboat Is miles the first
day, and carried our loads OF shelter tents,
blankets, knapsacks, &c, and bivouacked at
night, with shelter tents for a covering, in
driving rain storm, about two miles below
Fairfax Court House In a hard wood growth.
We slept as well as men could be expected to,
who lie In from two to four inches Of water
all night. The next morning at o'clock stiff
andjaded, we resumed our march, and finally
reached our present camp ground six miles
below Fairfax, and twenty-five from Wash
ington about mid day, thoroughly knocked up.
We had grown fat and lazy in camp, take 1t,
which made our burdens hard.
We are at present encamped in forest of
pines and hard wood growth, the 25th having
the right, and we the left of the encampment
forming brigade under the command of Col
Fessenden. Both regiments occupy the ex-
treme right of the division, and of course the
post Of danger. The 18th have shelter tents,
officers and men alike while we have the Sib-
leys we occupied at Camp Lincoln, making us
rather more comfortable quarters. Our shell
ter tents are for the present held in allegiance.
We could be quite comfortable here would
the weather allow, but the "sunny south" is a
sad misnomer. March has been an uncon-
monty stormy month; for "Down East" never
excelled in cold this month. The month COM
menced with a cold rain, and ended yesterday
as spitefully as possible with damp, sleety
snowstorm, some four inches of snow falling
and making the mud intolerable. There have
been, believe, seven rainstorms, as many of
snow, and some eight unpleasant, squally days
of snow and rain accompanied by thunder,
ETC., In this month, while the remainder were
windy and cold, not more than three pleasant
days in March. April opens the ball well, al
50. To-day Is cold, with clustering wind,
piercing TO ones bones. Shall we ever see
summer here?
Our camp is named from Chantilly farm, a
short distance below, fine tract OF 900 acres,
and boasting before the war a splendid house
and fertile grounds. The house is now burn
ed, and the land laid waste. The owner, a
widow Stuart and family are of course, se-
cesh. Centreville lies 3 miles to the south
west OF us, and is garrisoned by another Of
our brigades. Bull Run mountains are in full
view, 0 miles down, and farther down, the
peaks Of the Blue Ridge Bull Run battle
fields are eight miles below, and the location is
to be seen from "Chantiily House," Nearly
mile southwest of us is the battlefield of
La
Iamented Gems. Stevens and kearney fell.
'Stonewalr jackson marched force of 40
600 up TO within or miles of Fairfax, and
encamped hereabouts four days. and then
struck TO the north by the way Of Drainsyille
into Maryland. The field of Chantilly still
exhibits fierce evidences of the fray. Protru-
ding legs and arms Of Union soldiers are to be
seen, carelessly buried, while the 'rebs" are
buried deep, and headstones mark their graves,
proving they held the field. But trust Jack
son and his forty thousand have been here for
the last time. l am getting prolix, however.
Our regiment enjoys excellent health and
no new cases of sickness from late exposure
are reported, / believe. Both regiments are
assisting the cavalry as pickets mile or two
below. The ubiquitous Capt Mosely, Of DASH
ing memory, (the same who captured Gen
Stoughton,l and his squad, keep the men in
topics sufficiently exciting. We may proba-
bly, move farther down ere long. The men
are 10 the best of spirits, and grumble only
when the supply of pork and hard bread falls
short, or when obliged to carry their knapsacks
longer than they deem reasonable, and we
one and all, feel the utmost confidence in our
ultimate and speedy success. am glad to
know that you lack not for friends in the
course you are pursuing. Fear not. falter
not, though you expose yourself to libel
suit from both the "copperheadn sheets which
defame and befoul the Forest City.