Year: 1862

New Orleans, Aug. 11th, 1862.


Editors Portland Press Thinking some
ofyour readers would like to hear from the
Maine Regiments, in this part of the South, 1
have assumed the responsibility of writing you,
though cannot help wishing it had been as
sumed by an abler pen than mine.


We are the farthest from old Maine of any
Of her troops, yet our hearts go back to our
"dear old native home," often, can assure
you, and while we are living in sight of the
Father Of River, fancy carries us often to the
noble Androscoggin, and the clear and silvery
waters of 1t and kindred Rivers of the Dirigo
State. From boyhood have read of the filthy
waters Of the Mississippi, but / must confess
had no idea it, till saw it before me. l
hardly know what to compare it to. The nearest
thing can think of is the waters of the Rag
ing Canawl that connects Sebago Pond with
Portland Harbor. Look at the water of the
canal just after Canal boat has passed, and
you can form some faint idea of the water of
the Mississippi every time we take drink of
1t, and you can imagine we compare IL with the
sparkling waters OF northern or as these people





fresh from the woods of Maine, one who has
never travelled, this city seems like city of
another land. l should say that all known and
some unknown languages, were spoken, for
such Babel as you will hear any day in the
French market, would craze some men. The
weather has been hot here this summer. |
think we can realize the full meaning of the
vnrd vub -
future.


In times of peace, this is one of the busiest
places on this side Of the ocean, but how are the
mighty fallen. There is now only just business
enough done to keep the people alive, and
from a currency unequalled, they are reduced
to shinplasters, Of a doubtful value, and Horse
Railroad tickets forsmall change; these minor
ills and the more startling one that at the time
the Federal army first took possession of the
the city, many Of the citizens were in a state
OF actual starvation, and there are many peo-
pie to-day who were it not for the U. S. Govt.
would actually starve, all these ills can be
traced to one single, simple cause-secession.
We know that people fighting to free them
selves from hated tyranny, will suffer much,
and long, but who of us believe that such suf-
ferings as these people have endured, have not
long ago convinced them of the folly of break
ing up this ''the best government the world
ever saw" Having had some chance to Judge
Of the feeling of the working class of the city,
l am constrained to say that they as a class
loved the constitution and love it still There
are undoubtedly men of influence who are en-
deavoring to stir up the people to revolt, but
we have General able to meet them at every
point Thecity is SO commanded by the leetbe-
fore it, that it could be leveled with the ground
in a few hours.


OF the health of the Maine Regiments, can
only speak of oRr own Regiment; we have but
few sick, and have lost but few since we have
been in New Orleans. think the health four
Regiment will compare favorably with any
Maine Regiment in any part of the Union ar
my.


OF our officers, / will only say we could not
pick better set of officers anywhere. Our
Regiment has met with severe loss in losing
our Major Hastings, who has returned home
on account of i'll health, but we console our
serves Dy nOplng tlat What was our loss, NAV
be the gain of some one of the new Maine Reg
iments.


Since the above was written, we have had
news of fight at Baton Rouge, the rebels out
numbered our force and had every advantage,
but were repulsed with severe loss. The 14th
Maine, were in the front of the fight, and nobly
sustained the honor of old Maine. General
Butler has ordered them to have the words
Baton Rouge upon their flag their loss was be-
tween seventy and eighty killed and wounded.
Brigadier General Williams, was killed in the
fight, his body brought to this city, funeral SER
vices held, and escorted to the steamer and
. sent North; he is mourned as brave and gall
liant officer. While the fight was going on up
on the land, the Rebel Ram Arkansas, was at
tackled by the Essex and totally destroyed. So
ends one ofthe great hopes of the rebels in this
city, may they all end likewise, as we are near
ly through the sickly season and as yet all is
well. We think our friends need not be so
anxious about us but remember we are Sin the
hands of him who doeth all things we'll"


With much respect, am yours,


j. A. d.