The Placer herald., 1861-11-16
Disciplined Troops.

derstood to be the infection of punishment
for the infraction of some rnle of tenents
thereof disciplined mind, is one that is
subjected to rules and regulations of thought
educated, directed, &c, &c. But discip
lined soldier, who can tell, how effected, OF
when completed 1t is not enough that q
hale, healthy, strong man, has temporarily
quit the walks and pursuits of civil life, has
learned the manuel of arms, carries his body
erect,-stands with his heels together and
his toes at an angle Of forty five degrees
therefron,--that when he marches he steps
his enty e',-that he wheels with pre-
cision, that he keeps his eyes given num-
Der of feet on the ground to the front, lives
in a tent wears eagle buttons on his coat,
&c, &c. He must be more than we'll drilled.
All these things, though essential, are but
the lowest rudiments The most stupid of
men, formed into an infantry corps, may be-
come passably proficient in the routine of
camp life, and in the drill, by three months
steady practice In other arms Of the serv-
ice, as light artillery and cavalry, even with
a more intelligent order of men, it will re
quire more time, because there are horses to
teach rs well as men, and the lesson to the
men is more extended and complete. When
you, however, have accomplished all this,
you lack the moral qualities, that really
makes the soldier "a quality which the voll
unteer seldom--if ever attains to. Patriot
ism, - though it be red hot,-miitarv ardor.
though 1t become quite int1amatory,
eral intelligence, -though it fit him for the
pulpit or any of the leaned professions, will
be no substitute for this ingredient. The
soldier must learn new ideas of his interests
in life, must acquire a rev sense of duty and
obligation, have new objects of ambi-
tion-in short his habits Of thought must
undergo a complete revolution The thor
ough soldier has bnt one interest in common
with the citizen, viz: love of country. In
all else, he is as completely severed from the
channels of thought Of the citizen. as if he
were of a different genus. Therefore to
pave the way FIR his discipline, he should
enter the ranks with the intention of making
it a lifetime business, and the camp his
home. He should establish and maintain a
character for courage and endurance. and
promotion should become the aim aud oh
ject of his life. The acme Of military dis
cipiine, is generally reached in the Russian
English, and Austrian service. by beastify
ing the man,--he is made, unfit for every
other class of society. re jected in all other
walks OF life. The French alone teach dis
cpline through the ambition and intelligence
of the man. The sold ers of the first Napoi
Icons famous "Old Guard" were as simple
of thought, and as frugal and temperate in
habit, as the most verdant countrvman, vet
to what state of discipline did that master
genius. work that corps. 1t was they that
moved to the charge, and knew no retreat
no surrender. Neither beat of drum nor
blast of trump, cheered them IN the hour of
trial: but a lofty sense of their character
as soldiers, predomnating ambition to be
worthy of tFeir corps, and of the praise OF
France and tn Emperor. In these objects
they had life estate,-they and their child
rem after them. But if this sense of du'v.
induced the grey bearded guard, us-lessl, to
sacrifice life, on the field Of Waterloo, the !
English squares stood equally firm on that
memorable day. With the soldier of the |
latter The motive was more matter of ne
cessily with no hope of promotion, the
army was made equally his home, by habits |
of dissipation, and the teachings of rutfian
ism, which forbid his ever stepping upon the |
of society, much less entering in
and seating himself in its quiet safe retreats.
He WAS already a banished man, why not
die then, rather than by retreat, secure life
made worthless to him, in his once home
II he were out Of the army, he would be
forced to re enlist,-it's his only resource
therefore in eight cases out Of ten, he and
his children after him are soldiers-ruf,
fans thieves. And this is the discipline of
armies generally,-a sad picture-but truth
full. 1t is not the way in which discipline
should come, but it is the way it generally
does come. The Romans had their best lie
gions under long enlistments, and beaslified
by terrible punishments. The Spartans com
menced this training process. in boyhood,
around tn public, tabes-peace was a bur
then Of drudgeres, war with its tolls and
dangers, was nevertheless "a relaxation. The
soldiers of Hannibal knew no turning back,
once they had crossed the A ps. The Athe
means ma lie good their retreat under Keno
phon, because their column, for the time be
ing, was their only home, hope, or ambition
But without multiplying illustrations it is
| apparent, that the perfect discipline of the
soldier, comes from years of experience, in
which he should be severed completely, in
interest, ambition and thought, from the cit,
zen, either through his pride or the necessi
ties of the case. Thus his muscles harden
by the toilsome march, he acquires skill in
the use of weapons, and habits of thought
suited to his calling.
We have now probably three hundred
thousand men in the field, not ten thousand