The Portland daily press., 1865-03-16
Letter from Virginia.
NORFOLK, Va, March II, 1856

TO the KditorGf the Press;
There were many people, especially OF the
copperhead persuasion, who were pleased at
the withdrawal OF Gen. Butler from the De-
partment of Virgins and North Carolina
They were pleased because they knew that he
was friend to the colored people, aud par
ticularly OF such as had been slaves. When
Gen. Ord took Gen. Buffers place the most
natural thing for him to do was. to overhaul
in the most careful and searching manner the
"contraband" business in this entire depart
ment, the presumption being that extrava.
gsnce and corruption would be found some
where in the management of so complicated
and difficult q business as the caring for Of
thousands of these Ignorant and oppressed
blacks. The act of displacing Gen. Butler
was an untriendly one, and it was natural that
the investigation should be made in the same
spirit. But it is largely to the credit of Gen.
Buffers executive ability that Gen. Ord found
nothing to censure. OF course Gen. Ord car
ries out the leading parts of his administra-
ton with his own friends and hence it became
necessary to supersede Gen. Shepley, who has
discharged his duties with great ability and
industry.
The friends of the freed people will be glad
to know that various benevolent organiza-
tons are at work among the people who have
lately come out of the house of bondage, pre-
pairing them by education and these Industrial
schools, to support themselves aid those de-
pendent upon them. These schools were or
ganzed under the patronage of Gen. Butler,
who, besides furnishing from confscated pro.
peTtY school rooms and dwellings for the
teachers, gave soldiers ration to each teach
er.
Prior to last autumn there was no system
in the school enterprise, each organization
forming school where it could. During the
summer vacation census was taken, and in
the autumn the schools came under govern.
ment Superintendent, and were properly
graded, as in New England cities. At another
time may speak more particularly of these
colored schools. I may add that the public
school system of New England was introduce
ed by Gen. Butler for whites as we'll as blacks
and teachers have been brought here from
Massachusetts,.
Our front along here and down into North
Carolina is guarded by the 18th New YorE
Heavy Artillery, commanded by Col. VIM. A
Howard, native of Maine, and whom man,
of your readers will remember as an office
in the navy, and afterward in command Of
revenue cutter on your coast. The Colone
makes as fine an appearance in the saddle a
he used to on the quarter deck. His friend
will not be surprised to hear that his head
quarters in the field are in a gem OF cottage
which he has extemporized in belt of pint
| woods; and that all his surroundings and thu
routine OF duty are Gin ship-shape and Bristo
fashion," . Qait
In returning to Norfolk from Col. Howard
quarters, we pass, in the outskirts of Ports
mouth, graveyard, in which some of on
Maine soldiers are buried. mention this be
cause know how anxious friends are that tn,
graves OF those who have given their live
for their country should be projected. 1t wa
only last summer that this graveyard wa
opened, all the hospitals for the army here
abouts being in Portsmouth. The yard is ell
closed with a very strong fence, and will a
ways remain devoted to its present use. TIL
following Maine men are buried in that yard
Otis Willy, Co. K, S0th regiment; Corp. A
81. S. Garcelon, Co. A, do; Albert Dunnels
CO. H, do; Lorenzo L. Stevens, Co. C, do
Geo. o. Reed, Co. @, 18th; James E. Coch
rane, Co. G, Sth; T. A. McGrath, Co. d. do
George Sweat, Co. c. 18th; Charles Fl. OF
cult, Co. G. sth; Archibald Taggard, Co. c
18th; Alden Lander, Co. B, 3Oth
The LIST District Columbia Cavalry wa
made up in part of Maine men, and add tw,
names from that regiment as possibly from
our State: Augustus Fl. Starkey, Co. 1, and
Daniel S. Boon, Co. E.
In the Naval Cemetery, also in Portsmouth
are the graves of two Maine soldiers, who dice
in June, 1862, to wit: r. M. Bryant. Co. Fl
Sd and r. Hyde, Co. B, do. In the same
grounds is the grave of a sailor from Gray
Maine, who died on board the frigate Colum
bia, Oct, 1S47. fiH ~
Among the persons who have died from
wounds received at the capture at Fort Fish
er, N. c., and are buried in the Naval Cemete
ny, is Robert P. Harlow, a native, I believe, 0
Walboboro.'
Then significant war intelligence W.
have hereabouts is the constant arrival O
soldiers deserving from Lees army. They
say they have. no hope of the success of the
Confederaey, and can't see the use of holding
out any longer. J. s., of MAINE.