Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-04-18
CrOlnWelE's Army.

The army winch now lO4 II became Su-
preme in the state" says Thomas Blbington
Macauley in his eloquent History Of England
"was an army very different from any that
has since been seen among us. II was
raised for ho ne service. The ranks were
composed of persons superior in STATEN ard
education 10 the multitude. These persons
sober, moral, diligent, and accustomed 10
reflect, had been induced To take up arms,
not by the pressure oi want not by the 10y c
Of novelty and license, nor by the arts of re-
crtIiting officers, hut by religious and poliIi-
cal zeal. The boast OF The soldiers, as We
find ii recorded in their solemn resolutions,
was, that they were freebora Eusishmen,
who had, of their own accord, put their lives
in jeopardy for the liberties aud religion Ut
England, and whose right and dury il was 10
watch over the welfare of the nation which
they had saved.
"A force thus composed might. without
injury to its efficiency, be indulged in some
liberties winch, if allowed to any other troops
would have proved subversive Of all discip-
line. In general, soldiers who should form
themselves into political clubs, elect dele
gales, and pass resolutions on high questions
of state, would soon break loose from all
control, would cease TO form an army and
would become the worst and most dangerous
of mobs. Nor would il be safe, in our time
to tolerate in any regiment religious meet
ings, at which corporal versed IN Scripture
should lead the devo'ions Of his less-glttrd
colonel, and admonish back sliding major.
But such was the intelligence, the gravity,
aud the selt-command of the warriors whom
Cromwell had trained, that in their camp n
political organization and Il religious organ.
izalion could exist without destroying mIii-
tary organization. The same men, who, of
duty, were noted MS demagogues and field
preachers, were distinguished by steadiness
by the spirit of order, and by pronpt obed
ience on watch, Oh drill, and ON the field OF
battle.
g In war this strange force was irresisti-
bic. The stubborn courage characteristic ol
I the English people was, by the system uI
1 Cromwell, al once regulated and stimulated
4 Other leaders have maintained order as sirici;
other leaders have inspired their followers
with zeal as ardent bui IN his camp alone
the most rigid discipline was tonnd III COM
/ pany with the hercest enthusiasm. rom
7 the time when the army WIS renoueHed 7"
the time when il was disbaDded, It never
found, either in the British Islands or on the
Continent. an enemy who couid stand its on
Sci. In EhSidihh, Seo''' ' -
ders. the Puritan warriors, often surrounded
! ~ difficulties. sometimes contendiug against
threefold odds, not only never failed To con
ouer. but never failed 10 destroy and break
10 pieces whatever force was opposed 10
them. They at length came to regard the
day Of battle day OF certain triumph.
" But that which chiefly distinguished the
army Of Cromwell from other armies wus
the austere morality and the fear OF God
which prevailed all ranks. Il is acknow-
lodged by the most Jealous Royalists, that in
that singular camp no oath was heard, no
drunkenness or gambling was seer, and that
during the long dominion Of the soldiery the
property Of the peaceable citizen and the
honor of woman were held sacred. II out
RACES were committed, they were ouirages
of very different kind from those of whIcl
a victorious army is generally guilty. Nc