The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-23
IN ADVANCE
N u NJ B Err 90.

less must be chosen. Could | have foro-
seen what | have experienced, and am
likely to experience, no consideration up-
op earth should have induced me to ac-
cept this command. A regiment or any
subordinate department would have been
accompanied by ten times the satisfaction
and perhaps the honor"
This was whilst the enemy had possess
sion Of their capital, and large number
encamped in full view of the American
army.
could read many similar extracts. |
have resusitated these most unwiiinplr.
In letter to General Schuyler. dated
December 5, 1875, General WASHINGTON
says:
81 know that your complaints are TOO
well founded ; but would willingly hope
that nothing will induce you TO quit the
service; and that, in time, order and sub
ordination will take the place of confusion
and command be rendered more agree
able"
General Schuyler, in the letter to which
this was reply, had said:
Nothing can surpass the impatience
Of the troops from the New England col
onies TO get to their firesides Near three
hundred Of them arrived few days ago
unable to do any duty but as soon as |
administered that grand specific-a dis
charge, they instantly acquired health;
and rather than be detained few DAYS
to cross Lake George, they undertook a
march from here Of two hundred miles
with the greatest alacrity."
L should be sorry to have any man snn-
pose that these facts are brought forward
as evidence of what Massachusetts, or the
men Of Massachusetts,, were willing to do.
Sir, there never was a nobler set of men
on Garth than those who led the destinies
OF this country in Massachusetts, South
Carolina, Virginia, and every other State
ut that time. But it was impossible that
the leading men Of the country-those
who bring about revolutons-could con-
troll all, or supply the army with the ne
cessary numbers. What ] have read
shows that, as the the Senator from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Wilson said the other dav
here were some mean Yankees then; and
they were, unhappily, too numerous.
There is some other facts of some conse-
quencc in this connection, which have
derived from The American Archives
Among the officers first appointed by
Congress was General Gates as adiutant
general. In his return of The army on the
18th Of August, l775-only little more
than month after General Washington
arrived-there we're thirty eight regiments
amounting to nineteen thousand and six
ty men there had been enlisted on hun
dred and seventy; deserted one hundred
and ftty.three sick, three thousand two
hundred and twenty -four. This was
while the enemy was in possession of Bos-
ton. Whether this was real sickness. or
the home sickness of which General
Schuyler spoke, | do not know. On the
23d OF September, 1875, about a month
afterwards, we find another return. Then
there were, regiments, thirty eight men.
nineteen thousand three hundred and six
ty-tive enlisted, one; deserted, forty -four:
sick, two thousand two hundred and sew
enteen.
1t should be stated, in this connection.
that on the day before General Washing.
ton was elected commander-in chief an
order was issued for raising a regiment Of
rIfiemen. -Four companies were assigned
to Pennsylvania two to Maryland; two
to Virginia. On the 9th of July, Daniel
Morgan arrived at Cambridge with full
company enlisted in Frederick county.
Virginia and before the 18th Of August
the entire regiment was enlisted in Penn.
syivania and Maryland, and was before
Boston. 1t is true, they remained there
but short time; for another expedition
was got up, IL which their services were
needed in the invasion of Canada.
think have said enough about Mas
sachusetts, but am sure ha, said moth.
ing of her in an invidious or unkind spirit
L have an extract before me which | will
not read. 1t is return of men who were
enlisted in Massachusetts, to supply part
OF the grand army, and were rejected
about a hundred of them-for various
reasons. Some were boys who could not
carry musket; some were old; many
were halt and lame. | do not think it
necessary, however, to bring that into this
discussion. / suppose that he who enlis.
ted them, like Falstaff, had possibly pock-
eted the money but according TO Baron
Steuben's account Of them, Falsiaff's com
pany was Roman legion when compar
ed to these soldiers of Massachusetts,.
A further evidence that Massachusetts
furnished no more than her due propor-
tion Of the army is to be found in the TACT.
that at the end Of this war she had only
her due proportion Of officers entitled to
the communication and Of the officers who
were killed in battle, she had only thir-
ty-nine, whilst Virginia had forty nine,
and Pennsylvania tbirty-nine.
Now, MIR. President, | come 10 what
would willingly avoid, but it seems to be
necessary. 1t appears to have been con-
sidered that honor was TO be acquired in
abusing aud traducing the military servi-
ces Of the State Of South Carolina. The