The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-14
Letter from the State Capital.

AUGUSTA January 10, 1854,
To the Editor Of the Press
Colonel Dyer Of the 18th regiment has sent
rebel battle flag, captured at Mustang Island,
Texas, on the 18th of November by the 18th
and 18th Maine regiments, to Ex-Governor
Cobnrn, and he has handed it over to the
present state authorities. The flag was
wrapped up in three sheets Of Confederate
States" military blanks, which were printed
upon coarse, brittle, brown paper somewhat
resembling that with which our grocers do
up bundles Of tea and other necessaries. These
blanks prove the utter strait to which the
rebel authorities have been reduced in Sta
tionery line, to say nothing of any other.
The three veteran regiments in camp here,
two of infantry and one of cavalry have re-
ceiyed orders from Washington to report, as
soon as practicable to Major General Banks
commanding the Department of the Gulf, and
the veteran Battery is ordered to report to
General Barry at Washington. The regiments
will leave as soon as arrangements can be
completed and will probably be assigned to
General Banks Texan expedition. The bat
terry will probably be put into the camp of in
struction at Camp Barry, d. C. Wherever
they may go or to what duty be assigned,
am sure but express the opinion of all who
have seen them, they will prove an honor alike
to themselves and the "Pine Tree State They
are composed of very superior class of both
officers and men and cannot, therefore, fail to
=, ~,
the service.
Your able and amiable correspondent
"Spurwink" Whose acquaintance have not
yet had the pleasure of making) does Augusta
and the State authorities Of last year, injus-
tice in his letter published in your issue of
yesterday. can assure him as we'll as your
readers generally, that 1.-THE benefit of Kenne-
bee farmers, wood-haulers, spectators, rail-
roads and hotels" was no part of the plan in
having the veteran regiments rendezvous
here. The ''powers" Of last year we're not one
of them residents of Augusta or even Of Ken
nebec county, and cannot therefore with any
fairness, be accused Of favoring Augusta to
the detrimeit of Portland. Let us see if
Portland, even during the past year, has not
had her full share of military patronage.
Where was the rendezvous of the 5000 men
raised under the draft but in Portland? Where
did and still do the recruits for old regiments
rendezvous but in Portland? Yet Portland,
not content with these, wants the veteran reg
iments there too, ia addition. Is Portland all
the place there is in the State, that she should
claim to have everything there? Can she not
see that she has her part, because she does not
have the whole? There is no complaint from
Penobseot county (which ever since the COM
mencement of the war has raised more troops
in proportion to her population than any other
county in the STATED because Bangor is not
counted in at all In this matter The truth is
the veteran regiments were quartered here
because all the military authorities OF the
State and general government were here, with
whom intercourse was absolutely necessary
several times every day, and. also because
Portland had all she was entitled to without
them. The expense of telegraphng and off
cial travel back and forth from here to Port
land, had these regiments been rendezvoused
there, would have vastly exceeded that of the
soldiers travel from here, which has been
necessary either in fact or imagination. 1t is
the interest of the service which ought to be
and has been consulted in this matter in pref
erence 10 the desires or whims OF any set of
officers or men or the demands of any locality.
Yours truly, HELIos.