The Portland daily press., 1864-03-12
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Army.
NEAR BRANDY STATION, VA.


TO the Editor Of the Press:
You need not suppose | have swung round
TO Dixie because l am as near the rebels as
citizens are allowed to co. My visit here is
the result OF the successful organization of the
field and the forces at Harpers Ferry, so that
/ can as well be spared TO visit this depart
ment now as hereafter. found the field of
which Harper's Ferry is the natural centre,
having about 10000 soldiers, with some 5000
horses and men TO care for them among
whom there were but three chaplains with
their requiremeuts-withb but one clerical del
egate of the Christian Commission, and one
lay brother, who was only waiting for some
one TO relieve him that he might visit his home
in Philadelphia. You may well suppose |
could not rest in such state of affairs, espe-
cially'as onr men are scattered over an area of
~ or IA miles by four or five. Ii could not be
otherwise than that large portions of the men
were almost entirely without supplies of read
ing and spiritual instruction, and this, too,
while in winter quarters, with abundance of
leisure. i was not backward in calling for
newspapers and books and men to help distrib-
ute them. Soldiers and officers in many cases
were ready TO volunteer as distributors, and as
fast as We could get books, We fastened to
supply the primary demand. | distributed
with my own hands six bushels in as many
days, beside the work OF preaching nearly ev-
cry night, visiting the sick and wounded in our
hospital, and securing, cleaning out and fitting
up an old church for meetings and q govern
ment building for offices and depository. In
three weeks, with the help of the number
had here and such cid as we could get from
the soldiers and colored people, we had the
old Presbyterian church on Shenandoah street
so as TO hold three services on the sabbath and
our depository arranged conveniently and with
my two blankets and two boards on two DO xes
4 had slept very well for four nights, and when
1 left on Monday for Washington and the front
1 left four men in the field with ample materi-
ais to work with. So | am here for night
with the 18th Maine boys, and have the Chap
lain's warm tent and oak fire all to my COM
fort that is SO much comfort as is possible
with poor burning thumb that seems terri
bly, vindictiye just for a clip with the hammer
while fitting up our office. 1t is to this OBJ
stinate thumb you owe this midnight letter,
and this too, with all the soothing influence
of one of Mrs. Mayhew's charming poultces.
Well, it is worth wakeful night visit to
this glorious 18th. II was my privilege to
preach the first sermon TO them in camp at
Portland before they came out l then ad-
dressed them in Joab's battle-cry to Abishai:
"Be of good courage and let us play the
man for our people and the cities of our God;
and the Lord do with us as seemeth Him
good" And they have played the man. i
did not hesitate to tell them, SO last night as
they crowded the long chapel tent furnished
by our Christian Commission TO oyeriowing,
to hear me speak on the mission of our coun-
try, its crisis, its deliyerance and safety, no
lecturer could desire more appreciating au-
dience. They were in excellent spirits though
they had but recently returned from sudden
reconnaissance some Is miles out. This regi-
ment deserves the high character 1t has fairly
won. The officers were justly proud of their
men, as are the men of their officers, and both
believe they have one of the best chaplains to
be found They have beautiful location in
an oak grove little way beyond the home
stead of Hon. John Minor Bolts. They have
their Maine street with Central street at right
angles with it and the several companies on
the two sides of it with their head on Maine
street.
The foundation of camps is of the sacred
groveo of oaksj fiven out as Maine boys
learned how to do, and the intestnes plastered
with the "sacred soil.n Their side walks also
are of riven oak and kept with great neat
mess. They have also fine water springs and
seem to understand the way of preserving
health and physical force. Major Mattocks
camp and does not forget his college lessons.
How greatly we desired another day to ex-
tend acquaintance among the men. But we
must needs away and pay flying visit TO the
Third and Fourth Maine as the cars leave US
barely time to do.
HARPER's FERRY, March Z. - Returning
TO this point for the Sabbath labors it has
been impossible to finish this letter and now
we have no time to describe the varied scenes
OF interest grouped in the five days absence.
The interviews with officials at Washington
in reference to our Government buildings at
Harpers Ferry--visits to four of the general
hospitas--and brief words with our Maine
boys in them; Preaching in the soldiers
tent. Supplying with reading the invalid
corps at Cligham.
Barracks-Interview with large number
of delegates at the Washington headquarters,
some just entering on their labors, others
putting off the harness, and returning TO their
homes; hasty greetings with delegates at the
stations where our train stopped; going to and
returning from the front. All stations of
troops on the way having the white banner,
u. IS. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, indicating the
chapel tents. The coming in of delegates and
chaplains at Brandy Station Tor their several
regiment; supplies the whole week seems like
one moving panorama--the heralds of peace
forming the leaves of the tree of life to this
living stream as it hastens TO the whirlpool of
victory or death. l have no time nor you
space for description of our Sabbath scenes
yesterday, nor the changes occurring here to-
day. The long line of the lst n. Y. Veteran
Cavalry returning from their raid towards
Leesburg and towards Sunkerville - 20 of
their number pushing on beyond the others
till at Cross Roads twice their number of
rebels came pouring in on the four sides
,aaving but six of the 20 to eseape-fye killed
three, wounded, the others missing. But
4 must close or the mail will.