The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-05-15
Practical Hints for Volunteers.

As so large a number of our citizens are now
expected TO be in. the field, we propose to pre-.
sent them from time to time series of hints
upon subjects connected with the various mill
tary departments, not with any idea Of instruct
ing them, but TO bring to their remembrance
some matters which are sometimes forgotten or
overlooked. Having accesa TO works which are
not generally read by volunteers, from which
we will draw new items We think their articles
will bear preserving. .
We find some very excellent advice in letter
written by a father to his son, who is a volun.
teer in Mobile company now in Richmond:
You are now. my son, in position different
altogether, from any you have ever before occu.
pied, and it is my duty to give you all the infor-
nation and counsel which may be in my power
to enable you to understand your duties and ap.
preciate the responsibilities which are attached
to your position.
In the first place, then, my son, when a SOL
der shoulders his rife under the flag Of his
country, he must surrender to that country MS
will, his whms, tastes, fancies, and prcjudices
and the first, highest and most solemn duty he
owes to that country is the most implicit and
proNpt obedience TO the orders of his superior
officers: Disobedience, even IN matters of mi
nor gravity, frequently forfcits life. III order
is issued, that must be the end of inquiry The
success of battle or campaign may depend upt
on the concealment of the purposes Of the com
uiand and II may become necessary to punish
with death an omission to observe that which
may seem to be very unimportant order TO the
soldier who does not understand it.
Napoleon once issued an order that the lights
of the camp must be extinguishcd at 8 o'clock,
and on seeing light burning in the tent of an
officer after that hour had elapsed, he repaired
thither IN person, and entered the tent Just as
the officer had flushed writing his wife's name
on the back of letter he had written to her
lie told the Emperor he had unconscously yo.
lated the law only for one moment, and it was
done in the enthusiasm Of affection, with which
he had been overcome by thoughts Of home
"Unseal that letter." said the Emperor, ''and
write as | dictate" The officer obeyed and
wrote as follows "P: s. | die tomorrow morn.
ing at o'clock, for violating the laws of the
camp, by not extinguishing the light in my tent
at tho PRECISE time. was commanded to do il. >,
That decision ifay have seemed savage and
barbarous, but when your intellect shall have
matured to the comprehension Of how much de-
pends upon subordination and rigid adherence
to the laws Of the camp, you will see that Ma,
pOleon could only be just to the thousands of
lives under his care by assuming the appearance
of cruelty to this one delinquent.
Obedience is not servity il is duty II is,
therefore, not cowardly, but honorable. The
drawing room. ard sG!s,::ar. go proven bially
blunt therefore, do not imagine, If an officer
speaks sharply to you, that he wants to insult
you or brow-beat you and, my dear son, as
you value your happiness aud usefulness, do
not, | beg of you, listen TO the scandal of tat
tling go-betweens, or allow your feelings TO be-
come prcjudiccd, either against an officer or =
fellow-soi by anything that may be said
against them in their absoncc. That man is Il
foe 20 your country who attempts to SOW dis.
scnsion between brother soldiers, or shake the
confidence of the army in its officers and il he
is inconsdcrate and malignant enough to select
such holy spot as tie bivouac for such sa
crlegc, he must be too base to speak the truth
and you will only be melting out TO him his jus.
deserts to give in place of your respect and con-
fdence your derision and scorn.
Nothing can make me more happy; my dear
son. than to know that, young as YOU are. you
enjoy the esteem and confidence Of your brave
comrades in arms; and l. therefore, warn you
against the common fault Of the volunteer sol.
ders, to-wit murmUring. Never murmur, my
dear son, at anything. In the first place, it il
not manly in the second place, it wcans from
you those who else might love you and cleavo
to you in the third place. it demoralizes the
army, and makes mob Of grumblers out Of
men, who, but for this propensity, might have
been much happier themselves, and been the
source of happiness III the very ranks in which
their puerile complaints must breed discomfort,
Be cheerful my brave boy, and it will make
your officers love you. 1t is not pleasure ex-
cursion you arc on; and you must not expect
that luxuries will fall in showers along your
path The soldiers Washington led marched
barefooted over the frozen ground, with tho
blood pouring from the gashes in their feet
They bravcd the terrors of Northern winter,
only half Clad and won laures that must flour.
ish in perennial verdure, while the Goths and
Vandals, who invade ,us from the North, with
the exchequer of a mighty government to pro-
vide for their comfort, will have been, in chari
ty, forever forgotten