Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-27

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RICHMOND, Des. Is.
I retntnsd 70 Richmond NO days ago.
The city Is fan of people. even TO overflow
lag. The hotels, boarding houses aud iodg-
lag establishments. "a well rs the streets,
are crowded to sp6oestion. Every tr2iu,
whether from the East, the South or the
West, brings fresh contribution Of ztrsn-
gers aud of sick and disabled soldiers seek
iog hospital accommodations; and each re-
turning train takes back large numbers Of
men whose iurloughs have expired, and Of
volunteers whom she hospital surgeons have
pronounced az for duty. This alternate SD
bling and flowing OF the tide Of humanity
through ths streets and hotels. and over the
railways, give TO Richmond the appearances
Of . thrifty, busy and growing city, and adds
greatly TO the demand upon every depart
ment Of the Government for subsistence and
transportation.
What huge machine sres: army Ia
What vast amount OF labor and money it
requires 10 move, 10 subsisa and to ciothe it.
What immense stores Of provisions and for
age-wbat uurrber!ess wheels and muscles
what coneFs of goodwin wonderful sop
plies of patience, knowledge, OF energy aud
Intellect-E;is. Weil-springs OF courage aud
patriotism. asny good people imsgine
when . large array OF men have been
brought together, aud srrs put iuto their
hands and ammunition into their cartridge
boxes, that all is done that need to be done.
Y hat mistake! You would scarcely be-
lieve IL, bat shoes are more important than
arms. Men may fight With Clubs, with bows,
with stones, with their hands; but they cans
fight and march without shoes. So with the
transportation necessary 10 move "a army,
and the food TO suh5ist il. Both ara indi,-
peusabie, and withous them bus little can he
accomplished.
Bet has tho Government done ix dpsy il
providing the requisite energy and skill In
the various departments of the army. Il
has not. This Is said Ia no spirit Of fault
nnding, bat for the purpose Of pointing out
defects Ia the administration Of the army
with . view 10 sheir correction by those in
authority.
And 6rss, il regard 80 the Quarter Masters
department Il il The duty Of this depart
ment 50 provids transportation, fuel and
quarters for she msn, and forsge for tbe
teams aud the star snd cavalry horses. The
rule adopted ia the Army Of the PotoInse--
aud the same is true, / presume, eisewhere-
ns5 Dteu I'D sn1pTSSs BQc tshdSpOIt5GH1
and forage 10 the counties adjacent TO Msnas-
sas. Where the owners were willing TO part
with their teams or proyender, they received
pay for them otherwise, they were seized
and the owners turned over to the Govern
meut for remuneration. There cannot be less
than SOC to 5000 wagons, and 5000 to g.
600 horses, il ,hs service of the Quarter
Masters department for that division OF the
army. This does not include the horses in
the service of field officers and the cavalry
regiments, all Of which have TO be suhssted
| by the Quarter. Master.
! The result Of the system adopted, .. yOr
| will perceive, has been, not only 10 "trip the
! people Of their supplies OF corn and bay
aud OF their wagons and teams. but to de.
| privs them of the means OF making anothe,
| crop. They have neither wagons 20 do tht
| work of the farm nor horses to draw sheH
| nor feed for such saddle horses and cattle al
may have been left them. they have no
| even bread left for their families. Theil
fences have been destroyed, and their bee
] cattle killed and consumed. Under these
circumstances, Ii will be necessary next yesl
| for the army 30 look TO other sources for It'll
supplies. The error has been in not procur
| ing the means OF transportation from distsn
| poinss snd leaving the transportation Of Ia:
| surrounding country iatacs TO b used in al
emergency. II this had been done, tAE
| lsesla l1se 6een no Scck q nHazas 10 Dsooe IL
! dS7Ry Sss,s after The 5aalc Of AaEossas. III,
| people within reach could have Furnished i
| in f0rsy-eight hours. As il 10, IL q great ne
cessity should arise to move the army r.
| pidiy and promptly, it could not possibly b
done, nnleu the Quarter Master had ALREADY
on hand sufficient numter of wagons
which be has nos. The same remark will az
ply TO ihe forage necessary for the suppor
Of the teams, and especially to the best, up
on which tbs army is Hsinly subsis.ed. ca,
j tie can bs driven /; and thus the amount O
| transportation may be diminished. Heresi
ter, however, il will be necessary, ia til
even. of forward movement, co haul 81
our commiesayy stores, after having obtaine
them from distant points, since there will
ne cattle lefs 10 drive. This error 10 charges
biSso the ConmissaFy department.. The pre
sent means ara insufficient to transport ID
baggage and Quartsf.A Masters sioTes. Ia ID
future il will be necessary, also, TO transpoE
our supplies Of bsef after IL has been slaugt
tered elsewhere. This will require ,hir
more transportation
] At frss, drivers were Impressed With Ii
wagons. Now, they are detailed from tn
RANKS of the army-young men who hiv
had 20 experiences in driving, and who com
plain that they did not enlist TO driv
wagons. They are required 20 alternate, AN
thus every day or two these 10 new drive
who 10 ignorant both Of tho ability and tiii
position of :he horses, and who soon sesche
them bad habits. He takes bat little car
, Of the teams. never groases the harness an
wagon, and frequently loses the one al
turns over and breaks the other. Sometime,
, | owing TO the irreguiarity Of supply. th