Year: 1862

CAMP OF 20th MAINE REGIMENT.


Near Fredericksburg Va, Nov. 22. 1862


GEORGE r. DAVIS, ESQ. Dear Sir: 1t Is
almost useless for me TO write as have no
particular subject as the burden OF my theme,
only "that there is an onward move" and once
more, @on TO Richmoad' is the word. You no
doubt have been apprised of the move long
ago, and in fact know more of what is going
on with us than we do ourselves. Since |
wrote you last l have done some marching as
it is termed among the regiments. l Joined
the 10th regiment at Warrenton early last
Monday morning as they passed through, at
which place arrived late in the afternoon of
the previous day. / found that all the sick
had been removed from that place and it was
to be abandoned. When early morn came the
rafting of the long train of wagons was heard
resembling the Gathering sound that so oft
heard on the Peninsula. After the long train
Of wagons had passed, presently the sturdy
soldiers came up, and as regiment after regi-
ment passed by thought t, myself, is there to
be any turning back" and the northern ar
my" driven back again TO the bank of the Po-
tomac, and the cause of our country hopeless
ly lost? As the grand van moved on in one un-
broken phalanx, and the men seemed clothed
with the panoply of success, it led me to in
quire whose corps" ?" and the ready response
came. g lighting Joe Hooker's." In the eyes of
these men / saw determination to do or die.
and became fully persuaded that there would
not be any turning back" but onward, right
onward to Richmond was the goal of the am
bilious soldiers who were merry as lark in early
summer morn. gazed intently on the regts.,
as they passed. saw the gallant boys of N.
York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, vending
their way towards the new base of operations
Soon came our brave and heroic ID who have
done SO much toward building up the 'reputa-
tion of the Maine soldiers, and have SO oft ex-
emplifed the fighng qualities of the sons of
the Pine Tree State. This regiment was led
by 1t. Col. Varney, who is well known as a
soldier and it would be useless for my pen to
speak forth praise of SO gallant commander
Next came the Massachusetts, boys who have
also been the pride of the old Bay State; pres
emily the 10th Maine came to our view, led by
the young and gallant Ames, who has already
earned high reputation; as a soldier, there
fore, comment is useless. Beside him rode the
1t. Col. who was formerly grave Prof. in our
renowned Bowdoin,-let me predict, that ere
this war closes, he will earn for himself as high
reputation as a soldier as he has as a teacher
Near these two rode our young townsman.
Young as he may be, he is Drowned and is
ready for service such as his country demands
l., L ...f-
fcient Adjutant.


As the regiment moved forward, could not
resist the temptation to feel proud of it was
and had within a short time travelled over two
hundred miles, and been put into an old fight
ing Corps. Foremost in the ranks, in his
proper place, was their Major, who knows full
well his duties and does them with will: he
had, previous to his connection with this regi-
ment, proved a gallant. consistent, and prompt
officer; the umpire of peace. l do not hesi-
tate to say that might well feel proud of this,
the 10th regiment of our State. And well we
might feel proud of such regiment and such
officers as command it. This regiment will earn
reputation like our Maine regiments. will
not mention the sanitary condition of the two
regiments mentioned in this letter, but will de-
fer the subject until l become more conver-
SAINT with it. l assure you, however, that the
medical department of these two regiments is
well established by able and efficient surgeons.


l cannot close without saying something
relative to the Chaplains Of these two regi-
ments-and it will be enough, and | cannot
say more than that they are Chaplains indeed.


The lateness of the hour prevents the fur
thur extension of my letter, and will only
add that we are now within nine miles of
Fredericksburg, and that we move forward for
that place in the morning. / will close by
promising you more anon.


Respectfully Yours, c. C. HAYES