Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-29

II had sooner S2llk LOT SuCu hiii'' $500
with any of the Catalines of the day.
Respectfully, yours,
THOMAS Chiffon.
-saseaaae -
INTEAJpER ANCE IN THE ARMY.
Erfrocf of n letter from Lieutenant Joseph y.
Gallagher, dated Bangor, Na'ne' september
81, 1929. :,
..it would be difficult to trace up certain evils
which EXIST the army, that are known to result
from ntemperance, directly to the issue OF ardent
spirits as part of the daily ratlons.
..To know how far the whiskey issued tothe
troops is the occasion of these evils, we MUST
know how fa~it causes intemperance With
out entering into any discussion OF this question,
do not hesitate to affirm, that the direct ten
dency of administering to sober man IN the ar
N.Y. in time of peace, gill OF ardent spirits DIAL
w. for year, would be to make him drunkard
provided, there was always, as at present, an "a
bundant supply to be found with the sutler, to
satisfy the demands of his increasing appetite
elf am correct, the government allowance
under the existing arrangements Tor sutiery, Is
sufficient to produce the very state OF lntemPer-
ance which exists. How far Withholding this al.
lowance, either with or without Punishment OF
shirts from the suffers store, would change this
state. experiment alone will determine.
81 said there were evils in the army, which
are known to result from intemperance Were
this vice banished, question if one-third OF the
assertions which now take place, or one-hfth OF
the lesser crimes, for which men are brought be-
fore Courts Martial, would occur.
eighteen months ago, marched company
of the Second Infantry from Sackett's Harbor to
the vicinity of Houlton, Maine we were six
weeks on the march. during which time, after
the first day, they had no means OF obtaining ar
dent spirits, and scarcely an instance of drunk
enness occurred.
.sNot man deserted. and hardly crime was
committed. which came to my knowledge, tor
which in garrison would have brought man to
trial and though much exposed to rains, but
very few -ases Of sickness occurred. Within
six weeks after the arrival Of the company at
Houlton, where ardent spirits could be had IN a
bundance, not less than four or five desertlons
took place, and petty crimes were committed
without number.
81 have served extensively as the recorder
of Regimental Courts Martial and do not hes
itate to say, that five out OF SIX cases OF ne
crimes which are proved before these courts, have
resulted from intemperance; and nine years exPe-
rience in the army has convinced me, that no IN
considerable proportion of desertions occur In
the deserters themselves. or others l say 9TH
theirs because bad treatment from petty officers,
while under the influence of ardent spirits, has
caused many to become disguised with the SER
vice, and finally, to desert.
81 have known cases like the following, and
think them not uncommon A non-cOmmssion-
ed officer. either enebriated or not, Expresses
young soldier, who complains to his commander;
the subject is investigated by him; the witnesses,
upon whom the complainant relied to sustain
his charge, either from fear of the displeasure OF
their non-commissloned officer, or from being
bribed to hold their peace by whiskey, kraop
| nothing
1.-The petty officer produces his witnesses,
bought with spirits. to exculpate himself, and
perhaps cast blame upon the complainant. The
accused thus cleared, is prompted by revenge
to render the situation of the soldier as irksome
as possible, who desparing Of redress, deserts.
| ..There are other circumstances, perhaps,
still more frequently connected with assertions.
ga soldier becomes intoxicated, and absents
himself from roll-call is confined and after
nights lodging in the guardhouse, tortured with
thirst, and all the nameless agonies which sue
coed debauch, heis set at liberty, and perhaps
detailed for duty He resorts to the bottle to
! free himself from what he justly calls the hor-
rors. and is found .'drunk on duty" He is a.
gain confined tried, and perhaps sentenced
to forfeiture of pay when, disheartened, vex-
ed with himself, and all around him, ne flies
again to the bottle for relief, and anticipating
further punishment, deserts.
':I have frequently conyersed with APP
pretended deserters. and feel safe in saying that
the foregoing cases are not uncommon.
81 have before me the roll of a company, las
1t stood more than year ago. with the character
of every individual of which feel perfectly &C
quainted. 1t contains thirty-fve men; concern
ing twenty -nine of them, do not hesitate to say
they were drunkards Of the remaining six, five
drank daily, and may become incorporate before
many years: and one was in i'll health. There
were eight of the twenty nine who might possibly
be reclaimed by Withholding the whiskey part of
the ration, for they were once persuaded to dis
pence with ardent spirits for short time; but the
daily profer of the gill, atlength Overcame their
resolutions.
6 IntempeRance is social vice; and few con-
hrmed drunkards may corrupt company. Some
thing must be done to raise the tone of moral feel