The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-04
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS

unknown. Buck was brought on to Washing
Ton, and sent across the East Branch to the
dismounted cavalry camp. Being a sensible
man, he made no disturbance wasted no.
words in applications to oyerbusied officers,
who might or more probably would not at
tend 10 his story, but addressed his complaint
directly to the State A Agent. Owing to the DIFF
ficulty of communicating with his former
commander. and in part also to some unfore-
seen technical objection to his discharge, it
was month before he was released. With
out the prompt assistance of the Agent how
ever, it might have been twelvemonth.
Another illustration of the kind of services
sometimes rendered by the Agents of the As
sociation, will be found in an incident which
occurred last springa sergeant in the Sd Maine
was killed at Chantilly, 10Th or30th Aug. 1862.
lie had been married not long before, and his
vile had set her heart upon the recovery of
his body. For time il was impossible to
learn where he was buried, and then the win
ter had set in. In March his brother came to
Washington, and after several fruitless at
tempts to get pass for himself and leave of
absence for one of the burying party, then at
Aqua Creek, returned discouraged. As a
last resort, the widow addressed an imploring
letter to her former schoolmate, Mrs. Sampson.
II seemed desperate undertaking, but the
appeal was irresistible. Learning that anoth-
er of the burying party was at Annapolis,
Mrs. Sampson made haste thither to see and
ascertain that he really knew where the body
lay. Thence she returned to Baltimore, saw
Gen. Schenck, would take no refusal and final
ly got four days leave for the man.
Alter coming to Washington and obtaining
a pass, she determined to leave nothing to
chance she went back TO Annapolis for her
man brought him with her to Washington and
TO Alexandria. In Alexandria she bought a
rough coffin, and with this the two started on
their melancholy journey, in an open wagon.
At Fairfax, she called upon the surgeon in
charge of the hospital for detail of eight or
nine men, and got them. The spot was reach
ed. Dry enough in August, it was now a
swamp. The day had been raw and gusty and
damp snow was beginning to fall, They
began TO dig, Mrs. Sampson standing at the
head of the trench holding in her hand de-
gucrrotype OF the face she sought. The hor-
rors of that pit were unspeakable. The smell
was pestilential, and from the bodies as they
turned them over, one after another, arms and
heads dropped of, foul and putrid. At last
they came 10 body, carefully wrapped ip a
rubber blanket Cautiously unrolling it they
found it still covered from head to foot with
the ordinary military blanket, and on lifting
this fit shroud-there lay the very face of the
miniature blanehed white as marble or snow
but perfectly preserved from the action of the
eieuiChbo ug 10 tWoioiu WiapplISs. luc DOuA
was brought TO Washington, tenderly laid in
a handsome coffin, flowers blushing beside the
poor, palid cheeks, and SO at last restored 10
the eyes that had wept for it for months
Poor woman. il was a long letter which told
her gratitude. Page alter page, it ran on, till it
seemed as if she could never sufficiently ex-
press her thankfulness.
1t Is plain TO see from these examples how
various are the offices imposed upon the
Agency in this city, how much of time and
toll may easily be consumed in a single case.
Since the Relief Association assumed the re-
sponsibility of attending to these duties, they
have more than doubled. The expenses have
been kept within the limits of the State appro-
priation hitherto, partly by the aid of contri-
buttons. Thug Gov Lowe, of California,
Maine man by birth, gave the Association
$780, last winter; the citizens of Damarscotta
sent on 5000, and smaller sums have been re-
ceiyed from many towns. Now however, when
the Agent is constantly called to advise on
questions Of military law, when his mere office
work is enough to occupy his full time, it is
little wonder II, as am told, the hospital re-
ports are sometimes neglected. There is need
of more help and more means. The Associa-
ton is still entirely solvent, but for the last
two months the necessary expenses have ex-
ceeded the receipts. The State will no doubt
be willing to do all that can be reasonably
asked.l A meeting of til , Association will
soon be called to consider these circumstanc-
es aud we may then expect a full and satsfac-
tory report OF its present needs.
HW.R.