Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-10-08
Southern News.

Southern News.
DissENTloNs IN THE CAMP CT THE ENEMY.
A copy Of the Richmond (Va.) Wig Of Sep.
temoer II, which has reached this city, con
tiins the following among other articles OF a
similar tenor, going to show the state of feeling
pervadlng the councils OF the Confederates
we have no disposition to detract from the
merits OF the late Secretary of War, Mr.. Walk.
er. While we believe he was not the right mai
10 the right place. for the two sufficient reasons
that he was not prompt and decisive enough,
delaying from day 10 day what should be done
at once, and deVotng too much of his time to
petty matters to the neglect Of great ones; we
are glad TO state that no taint OF suspicion rests
on his integrity, and that be was filled with
noble zeal for the Southern cause. But, when
his friends claim for him all the honor of or
ganizing the armies Of the Confederate States,
Injustice is done not only to individuals, but to
our Confederate system. The Stats and the
Governors and the people are they who created
our Immense armies upon the instant and out OF
nothing, and to them is due the glory. The
Confederate War Department may at times
have aided, though we suspect, in very many
cases, II acted rather as damper on the patriot.
ism of the States. Very certain we are, that
the military operations in Virginia were not
conducted with more energy and efficiency after
the advent Of the Coniederacy than they were
before. We suspect that the sane remark Ia
equally true Of the other States.
But that which we the more particularly OBJ.
ject to, in the lavishlng all the honors upon
Confederate department to the disparag ement of
and the guoriDg the States is, that it assmilates
US to the old Yankee system. There, all honor
for everything is habiIualIy awarded to the Fed
eral head; the States are nothing and of no con-
sideration. We have been 80 long under the
baneful Influence OF the Yankee Upas, that we
insensibly repeat the folles that do not peitlin
properly to our system. 1t is time we had
adapted our language and our acts to our alter
ed condition. Ours is no longer a consolidated
government-at least we hope 60. The States
are the true sovereigns in our system. We are
aware that while an immense IOwer and patron
age is centered 10 and welded by the Confede.
rate authorities, the tendency is constant aud
almost irresistible TO make us q second and
worse edition of the old Yankee Government,
To counteract that tendency should every true
southern patriot labor. There will not be want.
ing those who, looking to self, will adulate Sec
retaries, and seek by every means to augment
the patronage by which they hope to profit
Already we have here goody number who
graduated at Washington, and who are
thoroughly qualified to put our Government, at
the very start, on the same corrupt system as
prevails in the Federal metropolis.
TERRIBLE RAvAeEs by DISEASE IN THE REsgL
ARMY ON THE POTOMAC,
Manassas Correspondence Of the Savannah Republican,
Auguit2e.
regret to say there is a great deal of sick.
ness In the army. This is not healthy country
at this season OF the year. The remark applies
TO all the counties bordering on the Potomac
from tue Great Falls down. The Presidents of
the United States have found 1t necessary for
several years past to retire from Washington
during the months of August aud September,
on account OF the insalubrity of the climate.
There are other reasons, however, for the I'm.
healthiness OF the army, and chief among them
is the want OF proper police regulations in the
camps 10 plain English, the camps are not
kept clean. This know from personal obser-
vation. In many Of the regimental camps the
masses are In the habit of throwing refuse bread,
scraps and parings Of meat and pieces OF bones,
watermelon rinds, green corn cObs, and all the
greasy remains Of the cooking department, Just
outside OF their tents, and where, uuder the
constlnt alterations Of sunshine and rain,
they are sure to become an early source of pes
thence and death. Tho men seldom sweep
their tents or air their blankets, while many OF
the camps are never swept at all, The result
Of all this negligence and inaiteDtion is O heavy
list of sick.
When / eek the oliicera about it, they excuse
themselves by saying it ia impossible to enforce
the necessary hygienio discipline among volua.
teers. Neither the company officers nor the
men, they cay, will submit to those sanitary
regulations, without which 1t is impossible to
ac h. MI
plea, to my certain knowledge, IL not well found
ed There is the First Regiment Georgia Reg.
ulars, Colonel Williams, and the Fifteenth Reg.
iment Georgia Volunteers, Colonel Thomas,
where the most rigid rules are enforced and
cheerfully obeyed by all the officers and men,
The camps are swept daily, and all refuse mat
ter of every description is carried beyond the
lines and burnt. The result is these regiments
enjoy almost q complete exemption from all
kinds OF disease, except those Of an infectious
character, which cannot we'll be guarded against
In camp, and such as are incident to change
Of water. Col. Thomas's Regiment Is fresh in
the service, and has to run the gauntlet of the
measles, colds, and bo vel affections; but beyond
such disorders, 1t Is exceedingly healthy. Col
Williams's, which served three months on Ty-
bee leland, and has become Injured to camp life,
Ia singularly healthy In certain Mississippi
Regiment, on the contrary, where every man is
permitted to do as he likes too. thirds Of The an,
tire command is on the sick list ,phiic the death,
hare reached as high as nine in one day. You
will not be surprised to hear that the Colonel
Of the regiment is now under arrest. sa
From the Charleston Mercury, August es.1
The terrible sanitary condition of our army
upon the Potomac is matter of painful interest
to the whole people of the Confederate States.
There are few in the Confederate States who
have not near relatives at Manassas or on the
Mississippi. And those who have not should be
there themselves The frghtful condition OF
the camp Ia subject of universal interest and
alarm. Ia the spirit Of Spartan foititude we
are willing that our troops should be sacrificed,
If need be, In the cause Of the country. But
that they should fall victims to the mismanage-
ment Of an inefficient department Is utterly IN.
endurable. 1t is not our business to depose and
reform. But It is our duty to expose that inefii
cheney which 10 disastrous to the public welfare.
Ten thousand lives are now 10 jeopardy through
r.ft .~RA 49, ~ 4