The Portland daily press., 1864-05-12


To the Editor Of the Press;
A month ago the city began to be alive with
the hustle of great preparations. Every morn
ing numbers of soldiers were to be seen at the
depot, or along the line of the raroad-arrlv-
ed during the highland the marching OF
whole regiments soon became daily, and
sometimes an hourly occurrence. Trains load
ed with soldiers, who crowded the doors OF the
box. or clustered like swarms of bees upon
the platform ears, passed through the city,
too frequently to be counted. Squadrons
of cavalry succeeded each other with clatter
of horse hoofs. and CLINT and CLEAN of trap
pings and sabres, and clank of scabbards, and
futter OF flags and pennons. Supply wagons
and batteries OF artillery filed the streets with
their roar, and shook the pavements with their
heavy jar. The faces of all we're toward the
enehRy, and we could but think with sad
foreboding, TO how many of the brave fellows
the crossing OF the river would be like the pas
sage OF that other stream, without return.
Then came the army of Burnside from An
napolis. 1t was expected on Sunday, the oath
of April, but it encamped at night a few miles
from the city. About the middle of the fore
noon of Monday, the head of the column ap-
peared in view from the Capitol. advancing
upon the Bladensburg turnpike, the same
route by which hostile army once marched
to the capture ofthe city. Following II street
10 Its intersection with l4th street, the column
turned down the latter, proceeding south
ward till it reached Maryland Avenue, and
then marching westward again, crossed the
river by the Long Bridge. At the corner Of
14th street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the ar
my was received by the President who stood
In one of the balconies of Wizards Hotel, for
the purpose. At the Presidents right was
Gen. Burnside, with face half concealed by his
slouched hat, and behind him several military
officers and civilians. Hour after hour passes
while the great column tolls on, and the Pres
ident stands hat In hand acknowledging cour
teously, II not with the most accomplished
grace, the enthusiastic cheers OF the soldiers.
Several thousand colored soldiers pass beneath
his eye. marching through these streets where
some OF them may in days past, have been
hunted as bondmen through these streets,
where their parents, brothers and sisters have
walked In the chain-gang, on their way to the
Southern market, through these crowds which
would oEce have beheld them so scornfully,
marching to the support of the Union aud the
deliveranee of their race, with soldierly mien
and bearing and military precision that must
Justify In the Presidents mind his policy of
making them soldiers. They are generally
remarked to be fresher than the white troops,
and to march quite as WELL Remember"
cries loud voice, not far from the President,
Remember Fort Pillow and take no priso-
ners." No prisoners, no prisoners ~ is the
general and grim response from the dusky col
umn. Long trains Of artillery rumble slowly
by, the caissons high piled with blankets, over
coats aud knapsacks. Regiments and Brig
AIDES march by with steady face, save when
the press at the bridge, mile away, compels
transient halt; and as we look up l4ih street
towards H., the long ranks still come wheel
ing around the corner, and advancing towards
the sun, ill the broad way with the flash and
CLEAN of their arms. Some Of the banners are
the veriest rags, upon which you can hardly
spell out the names of those desperate and glo-
rious fields wherein they were thus rent and
riddled, and others though fair and stainless,
fresh nom the hands and consecrated by the
prayers of mothers and sisters, are covered
with inscriptions that win shine forever in let
ters OF gold, through our brightest annals
Oh, but this is glorious sight and grand
above all telling. These men are upon no
holiday parade, but in the flush of their youth
full beauty and in the glory of their manly
prime are marching TO the awful sacrifice of
battle. Nor does itrequlrc much discernment
TO predict Of these men what Monmouth said
Of the "Buf1s" and "Blues," before the battle
ofSeymour, 81 kaor those men-they tciu
fight" At length regiment of cavalry, their
small French caps, set jauntily on their heads
and their hooded capes buttoned back over
their shoulders, exposing their orange Innings
and the orange braid upon the breast of their
jackets, closes the long and cleaning array.
And these stragglers, overcome with the
unusual heat and the long march dragging
themselves wcarily forward or limping slowly
along, on lame or blistered feet, evidently un-
able to keep their places in the column-these
poor fellows are sad sight. Here is one who
looks ready to drop.
you are having hard time, my good tel
low" "Yes, | am," and the tremor of his
hands, and indeed of his whole frame. attests
how truly be speaks. He raises his trowsers
leg little and shows a foot and ankle fearful
iy swelled, from which he has been compelled
70 draw the boot,a upon which he can hard
lystep. He has been wounded in the ankle,
got well enough TO do guard duty, but this
: march has been too much for him. His regi-
ment, the Sth Michigan, is on the extreme
right, and may now be half way down to Al
exandria. Half against his will, for he does
not like to lag, he is persuaded to sit down
upon . door step and rest. He would face the
enemy without fear or finching, were they
this moment before him, as have no doubt,
bot just-now comes an attack for which he is
not prepared. A few kind words of tender,
womanly sympathy, and pity, spoken as his
own wife might have spoken them, for these
he Is not ready He is fairly surprised, his
pickets are driven in, his defences are carried.
resistance is vain, and so, why should it not be
written, out comes his handkerchief and down
goes the visor Of his cap to hide the emotion
he does not need TO conceal.
Are you hungry"
have bread enough In my hayersack, but
] haven't felt like eating much since yesterday
morning.
In another moment his questioners are off
And now sweet little child comes to the sol,