The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-08-13
Liquor blinking In the Army.


Ter have found out one prominent cause Of
tho decentralization Of the army, so much
talked about and so generally seen. Tho or
dcrs of the former officer in this connection,
on assuming command at Washington, have
already been noticed. We learn that the
same evil attracted he attention of Gen. But
Ter at Fort Monroe and has led to prompt and
thorough measures on his part for its eorrcc.
ton. The circumstances under which the
condition Of things became known To Gen.
Butler are giyo1 by letter dated Aug. 2nd,
fro" that pos, to the New York TriJure.
1t having become apparent that the sale and
use of liquors within the lines was alar minglv
n the increase, GGn. Butler within the last
f'w days, determined to pluck the evil up by
tho roots. He ascertained that what was
Irofessedy the Suffers store of on, of the
regiments, was bur groggery. This he Wis
tied, and stove in the eads of some half doz
en- barrels and spilled all the liquor of every
sort TO be found. He found book in which
the account with single regiment hid been
kept. which disclosed state Of things truly
startling. Scarcely an officer Of the regiment
but had an open account, footing up for the
single month amounts ranging from $40 to
81 900. The items charged and the space
Of time within which the liquor was obtained,
and, Of course, consumed, was truly astonish.
ing and proved the depth Of the demoraza.
ton to which the officers, and fear the en-
tire regiment, had become. Withhold the
name of the regiment, because the steps that
have been taken and the determination with
which the war on liquors in the camp will lie
followed up, afford ground of hope that the
regiment NAV be restored. | purpo>elv sup
press narrative Of the scenes Of dehauchery
and violence in the camp at Newport News
whore the regiment has lately been removed,
a few evenings since, resulting in the shooting
if not the death, of soldier, fred on by an
officer, while both were intoxicated.
The result of this development is stated 10y
the letter as iollows:
Gen. Butler having possessed himself Of the
book in question, went 10 Newport News
yesterday afternoon, having previously sum-
mone1 all the commissioned officers Of the
regiment to meet him alone on the boat on
his arrival. They came as summoned. Sen.
Butler told them frankly and pontedlv what
was the Object Of the meeting; exhibited to
them the evidence that was in bis hands of
he astonishing amounts of liquor which they
as officers had purchased; pointed them TO
/ the consequences as seen in the dcmoralizod
conditi, n Of the reg mont; the late scenes Of
violence, the waste Of money. the injustice Of
such conduct towards New York State after
n liberal outfit, and, with a princcly libcmlity,
was supporting many Of the families Of sol
ders and others; and, more than all, the de-
plorable consequences that must ensue to the
cause for such indulgence Gen. Butler sail
there must and should be stop prt TO it.
He said he himself was not total abstinence
an, but he pledged to the officers he ad.
dressed his wcrd of honor as an officer and a
man that, SO long as he remained in tlis De-
partmcnt, intoxicating drinks should be ban
ished from lis quarters, and that tie would
not use them except when medically prescrib-
cd, and he wanted the officers present to give
him their pledge that hencefor,h this should
be the rule of their conduct. AS he had de.
termined to tell no man to 90 when he could
not say come, so, in this matter, he required
no officer to do that which he would not first
DO himself. Gen. Butler enforced his view,
and the grounds of tho determination he haj
formed feclin1ly and fo'ciby, and the alllrm1
tive re-pono o was unanimous. with only on,
Exception, he being captain, whose resgra
lion Col. Phelps announced was then in hi
hands, aud which Gen. Butler instantly &c
copied.
This interview over, Gen. Butler directed
Capt. Davis, the Provost Marshal, and tn
deputy, w. Ii. Weigel, TO proceed to searcl
every place known to sell liquor. or susp'cte,
to bc engaged in the traffic, and to destro,
he same. Within one hour between twent,
and thirty barrels Of whiskey, brandy, anc
. other concoctions we've empiied on the grounC
amid the cheers of the soldiers. The proceed
| ing elected the warmest appreciation of tn
, whole camp, and especially Of the men, who
e as patrons of the suffers, had been swinde
. by them. The suffers themselves and a
. others guilty Of having contributed to donor
t alizc the troops, were taken into custody, an
brough, to the fortress, and will be sent hence
The evil is by no means confined TO tn
? particular regiment in question. Previous
5 going to Newport News yesterday, Gen. But
). Ter had in hanl another regiment at Cam
d Hamilton, the Major of which, whose resigns
4 tim was some time since rendered be gay
IS le,ve to go by Il g evening boat. The liqu,
+ accounts Of tho officers scored high, aud ii
% inference is probably not forced one tbs