, 1861-11-15

Sill an'oTg his friends. Matters have Z
brighter look in Tennessee.
1nPED1uMNTA. |
Tnis military term has an alarming look
Tn PAPER, and We have come to believe
Lat some dread appertains to it in quar-
itrs where it should not, and that to the
ctgree of weakening the appreciation in
which The large class Of whatever is ordi-
na1ily set down under this head, de-
strves TO be held. Nobody loves to be i'm
I:cded, certainly not military officer
burning to distinguish himself Tobe in
Ieded suggests hindrance, delay, certainly
undesirable.
Let US ILLUSTRATE our point by what we !
could wish were entirely hypothetical /
casts, Anight movement is proposed a
bldr Of troops are to be thrown forward. |
& prudent Brigade surgeon asks Of his
superior officer permission to secure the |
attendance Of ambulances, and the COM
mon appliances for the field service Of the |
E rmy Surgeon. But the commander re- |
plies, I4riA hare no tn,pediments"
Tho night march has not proceeded !
sLree hours, when the whole column find
themselves huddlcd into field, awaiting
lie dawn, to see the enemy erom whom
they have received larm. On oil sides
ere wounded men, and for the comfort and
attention they need, only a single small |
7socke,-case, with neither ambulance, litter |
Or l,sndage roll, save as the latter are |
hastily improvised. We do not need to
lcr1cw from Imagination, to finish the
point We desire to make, with the actual
Instance Of femoral artery tied, by the
Light of friction matches, burned over The
wounded man.
Nhnt was saved to humanity, or the re-
quirements Of the service, by scouting Tim
r.iiments {" We do not need to press
tie question.
Or again, another military expedition is
hastily ordered march Of two days into
IN encmy's country. The officer upon
whom is de4olved the care for the comfort
and subsistence Of the troops, is 80 bright
u aglow with zeal to press forward that he
scorns "impediments." A question asked
hin as to ratlons for tie march, and p1o-
visions for the future camps, he meets with
nn expression intended to convey arebuke
10 the intcrrogator, II neither know nor
care as to these, our duty is only tor
carry out the end Of the expedition. There
must be no impediments.
Tie companion picture is again furnish
cd in weary and half famished column
Of exhausted troops, their efficiency des'
troyed and their spirits demo1alized by ply
steal suffering. What was saved by cast
iug aside impediments? Would not a
similar prudence belong to the engineer
Who relieves his train by throwing of lis
lender, saving certainly the transport O.
wood aud water, but is destined to enlighten
1ucnt when bis engine comes to & hopeles:
Nand-stin at distance from both7
Among the teachings Of The campaigl
there should have been stored up few Q
.he too many expensive lessons as to tn
value and place Of these various imped'
7..ents among military necessities. Ever
experienced officer understands them, an
l.is Lest fitted to lead troops and conduc
ea1apaigus who will hold last 10 then
ttme what will.
II may be humiliatiag, but be the heal
of the warrior never so stout, it will n1
t.o for him to forget that he has stonac
ltlow it. There is a close connection b
Tween brilliant charge Of bayone1s, and
careful foresight as to camp kettles. Tn
car;riGge box has near companionshi
With the haversack- Bu]'cvs and bea1
and bacon are alike munitions Of war, an
70 are bllnkets.
The chilled and famished soldier is q
impeachment We wish some Of our Office
stood in greater dread Of Any Of the recoI
nized and ordinary means for comfort
the camp, and ease on the march, are nj
i,npedimeuts. though Ee can REGAL insta'
ccs Where they seem to have been success
fully guarded against as such There VT
Dnce march Of our Illinois troops fro1
lronton to Cape Girardeau when this su
cess was complete, not to claim it as
advantage. How much worse the horrib
night march from Upton. There are OF
cr instances Of regiments moving and len
ing impediments behind them They We
The lighter, but what is gained if at Il
writing they are suffering the vicissitud
of November, teut1ess and exposed.
The real progress in the experience a
training Of our volunteer officers, must
in This direction, and their diligence in
acquisition will be humane as well
soldie1ly. We have had already plen
OF suffering under this head, and it ia Ii,
that our volunteers should in bitter ex,
1ience have purchased exemption for ,
futrrP