Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-30
To the Editors Of TIE Enquire.

To the Editors Of the Enquirer.
Believing you friend oil the army, take the
liberty OF acquaiu,ing YOU with some facts tina,
| have come under my notice in eight years ac :
quaintancc with the Western posts.-I have found
assertions more frequent than even during the
war, when the pay was worse anal the danger
greater. How TO account FOR this, has been nv
study; and have al last arrived at this conclusni,
that the violation by the officer OF the coutr.et he
tween the soldier and the governmen n, has been,
nine times out OF ten, the cause Of deseron: For
misunderstanding ana Furnishing a soldier for no;
agreeing TO work for the private benefit of an Of
fIcer, causes the soldier 10 be reckless OF his f,to
and his only relief is deserlion. The guard. house
OF single regiment OF infantry contains az this
time not less than so confined for doseriion, al.
though not more than years ago general deliv>
cry took place through Court Martial.
In France, subalterns OF the army are not az.
lowed 50 many, unless by permission from tho
King. In England, gentlemen OF the army arc
allowed 10 hire women 80 laundresses, &c. In tho
United States army, every Breyet lieutenant
viii marry lie finds tl,at lie can have
ion ten 10 hity men 10 wait on hin 10 build him
house, 10 make him gar,ien--in fine, 10 do ali
the service that party Of negroes could render.
he !ih Regiment affords striking exempliiic a.
ton oil The disadvantages the soldiers labor und er
IN order TO accommodate the married gcntlsme N
with spacious quarters, &c.--A subai,ern Is M;
content with less than two ioopis, kitchen smoke
house, rIvy, hen-houSe, pigeon house and 4 nea:
little piazza before his ,Oor--aud claims with per
unacity those things, simply because lac is mar
red. Two or three soldiers are kept making
shoes, clothing, Sc for the family, besides other
employed in painting, white washing, shooting
horses, running after the cows--anti, if am no.
mistaken egregiouvly, Mr. Owens system is n
perfce, baga,clls in comparison 10 Tie army as
ISOLATION 1t is, gentlemen, complete inenagefe
OF women, dogs, children, hogs, cattle, hofses
pets, bears, SC. To prevent descrtion, see no
remedy but to hire oF buy negroes To supply lhe
place OF the soldiers there being 10 difference be
tween The two cases at present but co!or-and
can safely aver, the law to the contrary nocwIl.
standing, that 10 negro in louisiana is tfcafel
with more severity than a soldier.
wish also. 10 call your attention 10 the forage
OF officers. 1t is gravely claimed by gentlemen,
that they have the right 10 draw forage for horse-
drawing hacks in Washington City, or employed
ON their plantation, claiming also half dozen
rooms, at $50 per month, never occupied unless
receipted for TO some father, mother, or some re-
ia,on, at whose house the said officer locates lis
family. The swarm Of drone Ulcers lurking
about in citizens clothes at Washington Citv, {
hope will meet with ycur oa:ly attention. Ier.
tain gentlemen OF the said bevy, have receives,
nearly $40 per day as clerl,s.--ls it not SO:
n Soldier II tie Last IIGr
Louisiana, yppe 3.