The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-06-09
Mtstellarleoas.
CORRESPONDENTS.
HID. QRs. AxB. CORPS, 2D BRIc., !
NJ 0l ~ ~.

ders. Unlike those former days when II oc'
cupied these hills and threw up the strong
line of eartl,-works encircllng our Capital
are these days of rest after the wearisome
narchings and turmoil of war. Then, the
way to peace was doubtful, and dependency
filed many loyal heart. Now. peace lies
before, purchased by costly sacrifice, even
blood and life; and thousands Of hearts thrill
with delight, that the long.sought.for prize
is won. These four years past. and the deeds
done therein, are too well known, too sadly
impressed upon many minds, to be recount
ed, even in this hour of victory. We look
forward. rather. to the time not far distant,
when tho fruits Of peace shall spring up
bountilully, and prosperity once more tri.
umph throughout our borders.
The question of reconstruction does not
trouble our soldiers. who are anxious to re
turn home. Nor do they ask, "What shal
be done with the negroesW But they ask
to be sent home, now they have accomplish.
cd the object for which they enlisted. There
is more discomfort, more dissatisfaction, mors
grumbling, to-day, than | ever knew in time
Of an active campaign, or in hours of dan.
ger. Soldiers then worked more willingly,
however unwilling they were, than they do
to day. The majority nre looking forward
for the day to come when they can live in
peaceful homes among their friends and kin.
dred. They ask, also, that traitors bc pun.
ished, whether they have taken up arms
against our Government, or have acted in the
councils of open and defiant traitors, or have
aided the rebels by purse, word, or action.
Northern traitors are despised rs much rs
Southern rebels are hated. And well they
may be for all have worked together to pro
long the war. to murder our friends, to do
stroy our Government, and to bring anarchy
and confusion over the land. God be praised,
that lie has brought the councils of the trai
tors to naught, and confounded the ungodly !!
All sorts of rumors are current in refer
ence to mastering out our Maine regiments.
In this corps there are three regiments whose
term Of service expires in August. These
will probably be mustered out within two
weeks, us they have had orders to make out
the muster.Out rolls of all men whose term
of service expires before October lst. The
only question is what will be done with the
veterans and recruits therein. They will
either be consolidated to form single organ
ization, or be transferred to veteran rcgi.
nents from Maine. In the former case they
would remain in this division, while in the
latter they would have to be transferred to
some other corps, or army. If the services
of the men are demanded, it seems to me
that consolidation is desirable.
The grand review of the past week has
been noticed by all our papers, and various
comments made on the appearance Of the ar-
mics, and comparisons made in reference to
the superiority of one over the other. One
thing is conceded by all, I believe, the men
of the Western Army are larger than those
Of the Army of the Potomac. That army
has done the greatest marching, while ours
has done the most and seyerest fighting, hav:
ing the ablest General and best army Of the
Copicdcracy to contend against. We claim,
too, that our men made better appearance
on Tuesday than did Sherman's army on the
day following. Be that rs 1t may, the
review was splendid, the arrangements for it
perfect, the weather beautiful. And every
one who looked up the Avenue and saw that
thoroughhre crowded with heroic men march
ing in solid column with sodicrly bearing,
their muskcts glittering in tho sun, their
torn and tattcrcd banners Auttering in the
breeze, must have thought II no wonder that
the boasted chivalry Of the South was con-
quered by that army: must have felt proud to
be an American citizen, or to live under the
protection of our aag; must have rcjoiced
to welcome within our capital so many loyal
sons Of America. There was Shcridan's cav
airy, that came down from the Valley alter
performing heroic deeds there. to help hank
the rebels out oi their strongholds, and was
cause Of terror to the enemy. There was
Burnsdc's old corps, the 9th, honored for
the part il has taken in this struggle, east,
west, and south. Then came Warren's old
corps, the 5th, whose work and fighting on
the Weldon road only increased the glory il
had gained from the Wilderness to the James
Then came our glorious ID corps, Hancock's
old corps. whose charge at spottsylvania on
the 10th of May, 1864, rendered il immor-
tal. On the day following came the 18th,
18th. Goth and l4th corps, whose deeds ut
Chattanooga, whose struggle above the clouds
on Lookout Mountain, whose valor and cour-
age and fighting before Atlanta, whose
marching through Georgia and the South.
have rendered Sherman and his army renown.
ed and houored throughout the world. Such
struggle, such victory, such triumphal
march. render us the most wonderful nation
Of the earth. u. 4, -, i,,,4.,l
Since I last wrote you, our army has
marched from Burkesville Tho march was
long and tiresome, but was accumulated Ia