The Fourth Regiment would not see any action for the next seven months. They were, like the rest of the U. S. forces, being drilled and trained under the command of General McClellan. The Regiment would be engaged in six campaigns: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill before the next surviving letter. A note accompanying two buttons sent home says “The S.C. is South Carolina. I cut it from the coat of that Col. Bretton of the 6th S.C. Vols. Whom I captured at the Battle of Fair oaks. The Virginia Button I got at Yorktown.“ The Ed Kent he mentions in the letter below is possibly Bangor resident and Supreme Court Judge Edward Kent. The Regiments often had well-known visitors from home.
Frederick H. Rogers to his mother, Hannah, Iowa, July 10th, 1862
Bangor Historical Society
Camp Kearney July10th /62
I sent a letter to you the 7th with Ed Kent but as I received one from you yesterday daited June 29th & 30th I thought best to answer it. We are encamped close to White Oak Swamp—or rather a pond which flows from it—it is stocked with Pike, Perch, Chubs, Eels and Turtle- of the later we might make a delicious Soup.
The banks of the Pond are almost covered with Roses- White and Red while the margin of the Pond for 6 or 8 Rods is white with Pond-Lillies. The woods about the camp are almost alive with Squirels, Hares, Phesants, with any quantity of Birds and some Snaix.
7th Maine Regiment encampment, Baltimore, 1861
The conical tents shown in this print of the 7th Maine Regiment are the Sibley tents that Fred hoped for. They were much larger than the crowded tents that buttoned together.Bangor Historical Society
Some of the Artilery and Cavilry have been furnished with new Sibly Tents---Tents large enough to accommodate 20 men---and such as we had for winter quarters, I and it is rumored that we are about to have them too, and if that is the case you may rest assured that the Grand army of the Potomac is to be recruited and filled up to its former strength, and that no hostile demonstrations will be made by it till the weather gets cooler.
I will tell you the sort of tents we live in now-they are of linnen, of the same thickness as cotton drilling and each man is furnished with A piece just 6 feet square on each edge there is A row of holes and another of Buttons. We button the edges of 2 togather and throw them over A pole supported by 2 cruches and then pin another piece up to the end and A tent is made for 3 men. We are Provided with Rubber cloths 6 x 2 feet, which we lay on at night-or throw over our sholders when it rains. So you can see that large new Tents would come a acceptable as will A few weeks of Rest. . .
Major General George McClellan
General George B. McClellan's organizational skills transformed the Army of the Potomac into a well-drilled military machine.Bangor Historical Society
Gen. McClellan has issued an order to stop the Rations of Bacon and give out Potatoes – Onions and Dried Apple instead. I wish you could see some of the Bacon it is such green stuff. They take A Hog and split him lenghways and shave the bristles off and smoke him and it comes here called Bacon.
Our Brigadier General has got A cow and out of 17 men about his headquarters, not one of them could milk and he had to get one of our company to milk her for him.
I have written to Willy, and shall write again this afternoon.
I have not got the Papers that you spoke of yet but shall expect them tonight. . . .
Give my love to the children and Grandfather and Grandmother.
I shall answer all letters as fast as possible while we remain here.
Yours forever
Fred
