New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-28
Punishmcnts in the United states Army.

n y. \.
SIR: never had any ambition to figure i'm newspaper
column, but your habit Of cng and exposing wrong
Of every description completely fills up the measure of
ryspproval that fairly constrained TO give YOU all the
s in my power therein allude particularly now TO the
recent inquiry you have made in relation punshments in
Gced upon soldiers in the United States army was con
ned with the army for three years. which period en-
bced part of that of the Florida War and as matter
o course have had. some little experience Cbrief ex
peence IN ITS government and control never saw the
buck and gag applied but almost every other suggestion
al refined cruelty that cruel and inhuman heart could
invent There need be nothing dsgustinely horrible
hsntyDg n man up by his thumbs wrists a tree or
most the arms being extended until the victim is almost
asnepded upon them, only touching the ground
~ then STRIPPED naked and i'm this helpess condition
xo bped brutes se 10 work acerae his person with
an instrument called onine tails The first exhibition
Al the kind ever saw. stood distance about eighty
,. from the scene, and clear the day sun saw
the PRINT of every successive stroke until natures fair
surface became so bloched and teening with blood that no
could be but the continuing violence of the exc
crnoper The shreks of the victims until relieved by
Epiing swoOning were indeed heart rending. This
Iipd OF punishment always took place Immediately after
bs reyele morning call which is after the break
~ day The whole garrison such occasions are com
reled be present and witnesses of it. have thought
hat done at that early hour in order that no strag
cling citizens might catch glimpse. &c. The other pun
bments have seen generally inflicted privately
and their name legion. What have related above as
having seen myself took place at Camp Wasbin ton about
oue mile of Trenton NcwJersey in the summer of $780,
Tx the time and place that if any is disposed to
eoptrsdc my statement he may not plead surprise if
mke him dizzy with the proof could give the names of
some and perhaps nearly al Of the commissioned officers
u and there present, but such would be unfair
:, il would place the burden of the upon their shoulders
yhch should be borne equally by all in the service
Iii true that there sometimes bad enlisted
Who provoke their officers resentment and they de-
,und employ the superior placed in their hands
70 weak their petty malice upon such; and is always
low and vulgar, if not always cruel
There is thing however, not alluded to by the Eng
IbAmerican soldier, not noticed by The TriJuae,
which paramount to that nstanced though with the in
experienced it may be far from appearing upon
kion ! aude to the debaSng and enervating influence
he service All the duties and requirements Of the sol
ders have direct and may say, intentional ION the part
the Ocer tendency debase him and rob him of the
a remnant OF his selfeseem sefrespec Before he is
ngy oft perhaps he has sunk to the level of soul
he's machine from which it is next to impossible that he
ever will rise fmy advice worth anything, would
ay all young of any pretensOns to average de-
eency-avoid the Army any rank in below Colonel
q YOU would cut off the of many subsequent
pws | would not be understood saying aught against
The Volunteer service in time Of the contrary with
such in time of need am always willing to stand should
Or 70 shoulder Yours, NV. c.
Cha,lson Toc1 Apil7 1855
The book from which the extract alluded to was taken
has been republished in this City, and review with
sopous extracts thereom, will be found in this sheet
led