Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-05-13
To the Field.

! "CarlctOn' OF the Boston J0UrRIl gives
the following graceful account of the in
crease of the army of the Potomac by the
arrival of veterans from other quarters
Notice the part abiding to the reception
of the colored troops by Honest Old Abe,
and You will observe that the colored mel,
appreciate the blessings of liberty, and
that the United States knows no difference
III men who are fighting the battles OF
their country, let their color he what il
may.
"From the window of the Journal Room
J here in Washington, | look out upon
columns Of men marching down Fourteenth
street on their way to the theatre of wal
in the Old Dominion. Sit with me here
and behold the scene, platoons, battalions
companies, regiments. brigades, divisions
The men are bronzcd by the rays of the
Southern sun, and by the wild March
winds. Some of them have been at New
bern Roanoke. Antietam, Fredericksburg,
Knoxville, Gettysburg, and q dozen Other
fields. They are old soldiers. They know
all about hardship, suiierings privation
want You can tell them nothing about
iron hail and leaden rain. They have
stood like walls of adamant against the
shocks of rebel columns at Malvern Hill
and Ccmetary Ridge, and they have swep,
like tornadoes upon the foe at the bridge
at Antietam, and on the wooded heights Of
Gettysburg.
The bright sunshine CLEANS from thcii
bavonets. Above them wave their stand
ards, tattcred by the winds, torn by can
non ball and rifle shot, stained by the blood
of dying heroes. They are priceless
trcasurcs-more beloved than houses OF
lands, riches, honors, ease, comfort, or
wife or children. Ask the battle SCARED
soldier what he loves best Oh earth, and he
will have but one answer" The Flag
The dear old flag ~ 1t is their pillar OF
! fire by night and cloud by dar-tlc sym-
bol of everything worth living tor-worth
dying for.
! read upon those banners as they fut-
ter in the breeze" Bull Run, Bulls 5
Bluff, Roanoke, Ncwbcrn, GAINESVILLE,
Mechancsvillc. seven Pines, Savage Sta
ton, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chan
cellorsvile. Amtictan, South Mountain,
Knoxville, Eicksburg, Port Hudson, Get
tvsburg' all those names are there in
letters of gold, and others, so torn and de-
faced that | cannot read them.
There is an advancing crowd. The
streets are lined with men, women and
children. The grave Senators have left
their chamber and the members of the
House of Representatives have taken a
recess to gaze upon the defenders of their
country, once more, as they pass through
the city-many of them, alas never to re-
tarn. There is the steady tramping of the
thousands, the deep heavy jar OF the gun
carriages on the paveincnts, the Gathering
of hoots, the cliGking of sabrcs, the drum
beat. the bugc call and the music oi the
military bands. Pavement. sidewalks,
windows and roofs are occupied by the
people. Ipon the balcony of the hotel
is their corps commander, General Burn
side, and BY his side the President OF the
/ uited states, pale, care worn, returning
4 lhe salutcs of the officers and aelnow-
Id ifg the hearty cheers OF the soldiers.
/ \ division of veterans pass. And now
+ with fall ranks, platoons extending from
sidewalk to sidewalk, are brigadcs which
have never been in battle but now, at
the call OF their country, they are going
forth to crush the rebellion. THEIR
COUNTRY. They never had country till
the tail man on the balcony, so pale and
Worl, give them one.
For the first time they behold their ben
cf8ctor They are darker hued than vet
cran eomrads who have gone before, but
thav can cheer as heattly as they. ''lIurr-
al for Uncle Abe llurrah for Massa
Linkum Three cheers for the President
IIarrah Ilurrah. llurrah :" There is a
swinging of caps, and a clapping of hands,
a waving of handkcfchiefs and banners.
There are no cheers more lusty than those
givcn by the redeemed sens of Africa
there are no responses more hearty then
those in return from the admiring multi
tudc. Regiment after regiment OF stalwart
mcn-slayes once, but freenlen now, with
steady step, closed up the file aud even rank
pass down the street; moving ON to Old
Virginia to certain victory or certain death
for While | write, there comes the news oil
the surrender of Plymouth, and fresh from
the telegraph and the Press are the sick
cninn details of the massacre at Fort PHI
low,
Such is the scene. They have gone
The crowd has dispersed, but tho event OF
the day remains. For the first time the
President of the United States has review
ed a division Of corps d'Afrique.
1t is a fact in history to remain for
ever. lie gave them freedom, he recogni-
zes them as soldiers. VIII he protect them!
The question comes up i'll way which de-
mands an immediate answer. The Prcsi-
dent must answer it or the soldier will
Their law will be blood for blood, life for
life 10 prisoners. As the troops halt
bv the roadside and read the account OF
the nassacres at Fort Pillow and Plym-
outh, YOU can see the clinched teeth, you
here the oaths-but altogether profane-
that they will be avenged. Not only a
mong the citizens you see and hear the de-
termination to have retaliation. The gov
ernmrnt must take immediate action or
our future battlcfeids y ill be terrible scenes
of carnage.
Secretary Chase was presented with a