The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-02-10
CORRESPONDENCE.
HEAD QuAsrras lsr ME. CAvALsY. !
Before Petersburg, Va. Jan 81, '65.


Before Petersburg, Va. Jan 81, '65.
FMrsp BurLzs:-Agreeable to my prom
ise. / will inform you and your readers of th'
whereabouts and condition Of the old ls
Maine Cavalry, which some say is defunct
but from whom beg leave to differ; although
It Is fact that when 90 many Of tho ole
men and officers went home we felt as II VI
should almost lose our identity, especially Of
ter the lst D. Y. was consolidated with Us
for by the extremely bad usage they had 70
oeivcd. they were sadly demoralised; but TIT
good treatment and discipline they have re-
ceived here has caused them to forget, OF
rather too cast Of their decentralization and
we of the old LIST Ne. ore rousing from oul
stupor and all together we ore marching
smoothly along.
We now have about six hundred present
for duty, and the most of them are 6t foi
duty too, only very few sick in camp. The
email pox was reported in the brigade. and
every man and officer, who needed 1t. have
been vaccinated and are doing finely. Dr.
Lothrop, our Assistant Surgeon and only one
with the regiment, is having most excellent
success in all cases. We are encamped on
the Jerusalem Plank road, about 6vo miles
from Petersburg, and have one of the best
camps, both for location and arrangement,
there is in the division. The mems quarters
are oil built of logs, or splits, and mudded
and covered with shelter tents; oil being oil
a size, eight by ten, and containing four mon
in each. with good, clean, wide streets. The
officers quarters are also built Of the same
material and of uniform size. We ore
now building sheds for tho horses, of pine
poles covered with splits, as We call them
here, which are long STAYS riven from the
large pine trees which grow in abundance
here. No other regiment of the division is
doing this for their horses; but good SOL
der loves to take good care of his horse, and
will work hard himself to do it, for no knows
he is well paid for il.
We have band, the only ono in the bri.
gade. and it is much admired, and they IRE
not afraid Of their wind, for they play in
front Of these headquarters every night; and
now US write they are playing at brigade
head quarters. Then VIC have Chaplain
real chaplain. and one who has completely
exploded the idea that chaplain Is like q
fifth wheel to coach for by his deeds OF
love and charity he has endeared himself to
oil. His name is s. II. Merrill. from Port.
land-not w. p. Merrill, Of fast horse motto
riety. but an older man. We have built him
chapel, of logs, 30 by GO feet, and We in
tend to dedicate II next S,bbnth. Tho next
curiosity we have is littls dog that desert.
er from the English army brought with him
from the Crimean war, and which follows
him wherever he goes. 1t is really amusing
to nee this little fellw rs he follows his mus.
ter on marches, swimming rivers, Jumping
fences, going on picket, &c., with all the reg.
ularity of veteran.
A Board was appointed the other day by
the General commanding division, to decide
what engagements each regiment was entitled
to wear on their banner. This regiment was
allowed thirty-tsn more than any other, and
they are us follows :-Middletown, Winches.
ter, Cedar Mountain, End Bull Run, South
Mountain. Antiotam, fredericksburg. Rap
pahaunock Station, Brandy Station, Aldio,
Middloburg, Upperville, Gettysburg, Shep.
pardstown, Sulphur Springs, Mine Run,
Richmond. (Kilpatrick's raid), Old CHURCH,
Todd's Tavern, Ground Squirrel Church,
Richmond ION Sheridan's raid), Halves Shop,
Cold Harbor, Trcvillian Station, st. Mary's
Church, Deep Bottom, Rcams' Station, Wy.
ats Farm, Hatclers Run, and Belfeld. This
is about as many as We can get on ono ban.
ner, but assure you these are not all the
battles we have participated in, but If the
stories are true that are IN circulation to.
night, we hope we shall not SOC many more
bloody battles, for it is said Vice President
Stephens came into our lines to-day to nego-
tiate for peace. But wo are but little moved
by peace rumors, believing We have got to
push them little harder yet; and Terry ~
them little more.
The weather is most delightful now,-can
sit in our tents with open doors, and have
every impression 1t is most spring; but to.
morrow storm may burst upon US with
such fury rs to food and almost sink US In
mud such is the weather and climate out
here.
Many boxes from home are continually
reaching us, and wish had language to
express the Joy they bring also. That 10 the
best way to make your donations to US in the
feld-direct to us instead Of through the
Sanitary bu, don't send articles that WON'T
keep good two weeks. Our duties now are
very light. 90 on picket once in twelve
days. and remain on three days. We picket
from the Jerusalem plank road east to the
old Norfolk Railroad.
More anon. Pc.
AUGUSTA. Feb. 7th, 1865.
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