The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-04
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Veteran Reserves.
Rendezvous of Distribution, Va,
lead Qtrs. l4th Reg. V. X. c., June 26, ls6i

Letter rom the veteran Reserves.
Rendezvous of Distribution, Va,
Head Qtrs l4th Reg. V. X. C., june 20, 1864.
TO the EditorQf the Press.
In pursuance OF a long cherished purpose,
will write, hoping to be duly psrdoned for my
delinquency.
But what shall write about ?-thats the
question. News from the battle field would be
OF no account with you, for that is flashed over
the magnetic wire and in print in your columns,
ready for the eager eyes of your Portland read
ers, before we, in this quiet vale, are saluted
by the sound OF 'Chroniclel Tribune! Herald'
with the usual hyperbolical statement in brief
of"another great battle near Richmondw Al
though we are only five miles from Washing
ton, we probably know no more, perhaps less,
than those a thousand miles away concerning
the movements upon the military chess-board
So viii not essay to enlighten you upon the
"cruel war"
Neither viii it interest your numerous pat
rons for me 10 write Of the barrenness, the des-
olaton of the "Old Dominion" .be millions
upon millions OF acres OF what was before the
war, but a succession Of cultivated fields and
grand old forests beautiful for their stateiiness,
and welcome for their generous shade; Of the
ruin and devastation everywhere visible in
town and country for leagues around, remind
ing one that the Angel of Destruction grim
visaged,' relentless War, has passed over this
fair portion of our land, and smtten with
wrathful bosom the heritage Of the proudest
descendants of the ancient aristocracy. No
person can visit this section, and look upon
the immense and powerful fortihcations, plant
ed on every commanding eminence, the line of
lesser esrth-works erected at = distance Of q
few hundred yards from each other, all the
way from the Potomac at Chain Bridge around
through the entire circuit OF the "Defences OF
Washingson"-rife pits thrown up across
splendid farms, running in various directions
through fine orchards and what were once
thriving fields, without q sad realization OF the
fearful havoc this un-civil war is making
wherever it becomes necessary to keep large
bodies Of troops, or create adeqate defences a
gainst the invasion OF the enemy.
Washington is safe. do not mean that IL
is safe, merely because there is no imminent
danger OF its being assaulted by the rebel ar
my. / mean that with the Defences, that is,
the Forts around Washington sufficiently gar
risoned with troops. it could be defended sue
cessfully against all the armies OF the Confed-
eracy.
These defensive works which have been cre-
ated almost as II BY magic, from whose ram
parts frown innumerable cannon, whose mag
aznes are well stored with the proper muni-
tions Of war, and whose strongest guaranty of
safety Is the patriotism within the hosts of
the thousands OF citizen soldiers now occupy
ing them-these defences are q wonder, mar
vel TO all who behold them. They are garri-
soned at present, by detachmenis of"hundred
days men," from Ohio and other States. with
small detachment in each fort, OF heavy artl
lery mostly from the unattached companies re-
Gently stationed at the forts in Boston harbor.
heard a gentleman declare the other day
man OF intelligence and good engineer
that Fort Corcoran, near Aquaduct Bridge, is
a stronger defensive work than was the cele-
before Sebatapol several months labor and
fighting. That is no stronger than many 9TH
ers in this chain OF forts.
But writing OF forts is not my forte. What
that is, however, shall not say. l have no
ticed. while on a late visit to the North, se-
rious lack OF Information regarding many Of
the operations being carried on by govern
ment for replenishing the army. The Rem
devious OF Distribution is one. 1t was for
merly called Convaescent Camp" Many
will recognize ii by that name.
Previous TO January last, this camp was
used as a rendezvous for convalescent sol
diers from tho various military hospitals
There was a camp of distribution connected
with the camp from the beginning, but that
Is discontinued, and the whole establishment
Is now rendezvous for all soldiers en- route
to the army, such as men returning from fur
Tough, paroled prisoners who have been ex-
changed, recruits for old regiments in the
field, conscripts and deserters. OF these sew
eral classes of soldiers, not less than 1900
have been forwarded TO the army since the
first OF May. About 10000 Of ,hese men
were armed and equipped thoroughly here,
WDere lnere IS Always on manu- AL ample sup
ply OF ordnance stores aud small arms.
The Quartermaster and Commissary De-
partments are very extensive, aud capable OF
subsistence and camp equipage for not less
than $1,000 men. The Government bakers
here can turn 10000 rations of bread per day.
There are commodious barracks for 5000 in
the main camp, and barracks for one regiment
little outside, now occupied by the " X. c.,
which does the guard duty for the camp, de-
failing about $50 men daily for the regular
guard.
You must not suppose we are without the
proper accessories Of civilization becduse we
are in the country vulgarly called "Dixie."
BY no means. And this thought leads me TO
speak OF the numerous institutions for the
benefit of the temporary sojourner.
First-a suffers store. or course. Who
ever knew a military camp or post without
one? 1t is about as indispensable as whis
key shop TO billiard saloon.
The sutler is first mentioned because 1t pre-
ceded the other public establishments, and
was in operation a short time before the chap
el was erected. No liquor is allowed to be
so1d tn soldiers and infoxication "a very rare-