The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-07
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the 23d Regiment.

OAMf of So ID, Ssf N h- hEGIMESI, I
Muddy Branch, on Potomac, Jan. 31as635
TotAe Editors Of the Press; NJ
The scarcity Of war news of late may, per
hap, be sufficient excuse for army cores
pondenss to Adry up'' for while, and wait for
something to happen. appears that the lit
tie affair which our venerable Uncle has on
hand with his rebelIous children down south,
hs not likely to be settled up at once and as
he has recently seen fit, in his wisdom, to pun
ish his "wayward" children by deprvng them
OF some of their ebony IDOLS and as few ra-
ther sympathizing individuals In the family.
who haven't fairly seeded yet, are sniveling
and in some cases getting quite rampant, 1t is
highly probable that some time will elapse be-
fore he changes his present attitude Of hostili-
tyito the mutineers, and permits the sunshine
OF peace to dawn upon u.s.
There is one item that may be of interest
to your readers. Itis said, on good authority,
that "all is quiet on the Potomac" No inter
rupton of our usual peaceful and orderly con-
dition has occurred of late, except what has
bean caused BY = noted outlaw who, through
the means of certain "sympathizers." has once
or twice obtained surreptitious entrance into
camp, and on each occasion has caused quite
. sensation. He is known hereabouts by the
name Of AOid Rye" but is well-known In eth
er localities under the euphonious cognonen
Of "Rot Gut" He has numerous relatives all
over the country, all of whom are notorious
dbr their influence in inciting riots and tn-
mults of various kinds. This same Old Rye,
many years ago, instgated rebellion in Penn
Sylvania, which Is considered a marked event
an American history; and some thoughtful
persons, who have good means of information,
have-with how much justice cannot say
attributed the present gigantic rebellion in
Nour country TO his demoralizing influence.
do think, however, that the influence of Old
Rye is not conducive TO that spirit of loyalty
and true manliness which should characterize
the American citizen and soldier, but the re-
verse.
With regard to the way we dispose of that
intruder will say that, in some cases, he is
elected by summary process, especially If the
matter is under the control OF officers with
Maine Law proclivities. When il is otherwise,
the miscreant Is sometimes taken to the bos-
oms Of those whose duty 1t is TO give him no
quarter.
have recently had my attention called TO a
lengthy epistle in the weakly Argus of Dec.
18th, wherein &C. X. S." of this regiment, ex-
pends large amount of ink and erudition in
the attempt to show that have misrepresent-
ed the opinions of the regiment on certain
points relative to the management of this ar
my by the Government am not conscious
of having stated anything concerning this
regiment, or any member OF it. as 4 fact, that
did not knor, or have the best Of reasons
for believing to be true, &C. K S." ct id ge-
NUS 0mne, to the contrary Notwithstanding
w1li net reply to the above mentioned let
ter, as the subject is so unimportant in the
main, that II would be but a meager satisfac-
ton to successfully refute the assertions which
my friend has labored so strenuousIy 10 estab-
lish aud In which he has fortified himself, as
he says, SO impregnably. The only matter for
wonder Is, that writer possessing the scho-
arshp and ability of &C. X. S.. could have
been induced to exhibit himself at such dis
advantage. Suffice it to say, that cannot
but be amused at the harmless haiiucinations
OF such hero-worshipper rs &C. II. s." and
all other McClelIan-smitten individuals.
We hare had severe snow storm this
week. Ii commenced Wednesday morning,
the 18th, and continued without cessation un-
Ill the next morning. Thursday was clear
and sunny, and the snow which was about
eight inches deep,melted considerably. During
the day, we improved the occasion to revive
our spirits by indulgence In some of our old
fashioned Yankee sports. Wrestling, run
ming and snow-baliing were the principal
amusements, and all went in for share. No
accident occurred to mar the universal enjoy
ment, excepting that two snow balls, from be-
ing rather too well aimed. hit two several Of
ficers in the eye, causing some apprehensions
OF serious injury; but it is gratifying to say
that to-day nearly all symptoms of injury have
disappeared
would like to give you some account of
public feeling hereabouts regarding the great
theme of newspaper comment and legislative
and popular dscussion-slavery and its pro-
spective abolition in the border States. Al
though my opportunities for obtaining infor-
nation on the subject have been limited to oc-
casionai accidental interviews with citizens,
and to such observations OF the effects of sla-
very upon the people of the South, as well as
upon the physical aspect of the country, as
one cannot help making, who keeps his eyes
and ears open, yet think have seen some
of the most vivid illustrations of the destruc-
tive character Of the "sum of all vilanies.n /
have certainly seen no feature of the system
which In the least relieves my mind of the
hatred and disgust have always felt towards
the inhuman wrongs and invariable Injustice
of American slavery.
The opposition to emancipation of the negro
from bondage, which pervades the minds of
many persons, is not SO much the sign or ef-
feet of lack of humane sentiment, as the re-
suit of superficial and unfounded prejudice.
say superficial, because 1t is prejudice
again. color, which is supposed to be
only skin deep; and unfounded, because it has
no proper ground, nor even sensible pretext
In the natural relations between the white and
the black man. A system of enforced servi-
tude is a system of continuous war, and the
subjugation of a negro-"or any other NAM
Is, on a small scale, an act similar to that