Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-09
BEHAVIOR OF OUR VOLUNTEERS

We are struck with admiration al the peace
able and orderly manner in which our returned
volunteers conduct themselves. During the
last two months, over five thousand soldiers,
fresh from the perils and excitements of des-
perate and bloody war, have arrived in this
city. The presumption would be supposable,
that some of these men, subjected as they have
been to rigorous duty, and menaced on every
side by death and danger, would, on their ar
lival in populous City like New Orleans, give
a free rein to their passions and appetites, and
thereby bring disgrace and misery upon them
selves and their friends. Not so, however,
with our gallant returned volunteers They
have deported themselves in The most correct
and manly manner: they have neither insult
ted our citizens, nor engaged in affIays of any
description, but, on the contrary, have been
uniformly respectful and obedient to the
laws. 1t is indeed remarkable fact, and re-
fleets the highest compliment on the discipline
to which the volunteers have been subjected,
that out of the thousands who have arrived
here from the seat of war, during the last two
months, but one person has been brought be-
fore police courts for criminal offence of any
kind. About dozen have been arrested for
having been intoxicated, but with these ex-
ceptlons the conduct OF the volunteers has been
invariably proper and correct 1t is rare
occurrence that we find men Just arrived from
any scene fraught with danger and peril, but
more particularly from the sanguinary horrors
of war, thus laying down the sword so calm
ly and gracefully, and apparently forgetting
the dreadful trials through which they passed
few short months ago.
The conduct of our returned volunteers,
is commentary on the American character.
When the trumpet sounded the first alarum OF
war, thousands of our COMMUNICATIVE grey
haired and the young, of every trade and pro.
fession-left their homes, and the tenderest
ties that bind the heart to earth, to do battle
| for their country's honor. At first undiscip-
| lined to certain extent, they were not prepa.
red for the prlvations and tolls that necessari.
ly follow the footsteps of an invading army
but time made them accustomed with danger
and hardships of every kind were softeDec
and alleviated by the knowledge that their in
durance constituted part of their country's
honor These brave men, after having breas
ted the tiercest storms of battle that ever rage(
on this continent-after having planted tn
banner of the Stars and Stripes on every felc
and mountaln-top where the enemy has daret
to throw the gauntlet--are returning peaceful
ly to their homes. They present no bragga
docla appearance, but, on the contrary, seen
entirely unconscious of having performed thos
almost superhuman feats of valor, that are a
once the wonder and the admiration of tn
world. They wear silent triumph, though
upon their open, sunburnt features; which tell
more eloquentIy than language could describe
how elated they are with the proud conscious
ness of having done their duty nobly
Their courage on the battle field is onlyequaI
led by the strict propriety of their deportmen
after having thrown aside the soldiers garb
and changed, as it were, the "sword into tn
reaping- hook" IN. o. Delta.