Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-06-20
The Soldiers Duty.

In these perilous times, when we are SC ready to scan the conduct of our leaders, il Is we'll enough to call attention to the du- ties, the hopes and the laudable aspiration of the soldier in the ranks. It is mis taken idea, which appears to have possessed many, that all the military glory is reaped by the officers, and that the private is de- prived alike of all distinction and all re- responsibilities. Never did more fatal CT TOT take possession of the mind. The aonor and the glory of an army is just as much in the keeping of the common soldier as in the hands of the highest officer. The beSto of commanders can do nothing with out efficient and obedent soldiers. On the other hand, the bravery, the efficiency and the herdsm of an army has often atoned for the defeiencies of commander, and snatehed tfa wreath of victory from the perilous edse' of defeat and disgrace
 Impressed tfen with the importance of the private solder, let us consider for moment his dutieAand his responsibilities. Supposing that he ias an able, prompt and energetic officers, hisfrst duty is obvious ly to sustain his comllqnder and to carry out his orders to the ful4st extent Bnt supposing that the soldier las not comp]ete confidence in his commande-what is he to do? To answer this queston we must take into consideration the objee of 4 mili- tary organization. The intentionof an or- ganized army is to give it UNITY OF lcr,ox
 Without this every army would b, de- moralized. In time of inaction it wold be disturbed by private bickerings, and \ the tempest of battle it would be " k and | inefficient. The aaea then of military organization Is UNITY OF ACTION. To se- cure this the commanding officer mua con- trol everything. A council of war should always lend it's wisdom to the commander ! in-chief, but the final decision must rest with the superior officer. Just as the pri- vate must obey his captain or his lieuten- ant, so the captain, the major or colonel must obey the final orders of his brigadier or major general Without this the com mander is useless and his interiors in rank worse than useless. It is, we think, the spirit of our government that every one capable of advising has the right of ad- wise, but the inexorablc logic of military tactics is that unity of action must be pre- served by obedience to the commander in chief We cite hundreds of instances where battles badly planned, eliminated in splendid victories, by the unity and eff ciency of the army. Cromwell deieate | Leslie and subiugated Scotland when the former was completely out generated and almost captured, simply because the latter had too many advisers, and the unity of his gallant army was destroyed by disobe dient interiors. But it is useless to cite examples or to elaborate arguments. Obe- dence is the first and the highest duty of every private and inferior officer. lnefi-' cient officers should be superseded promply this is the duty of some higher power in whose source the authority is vested.- The first duty of the soldier is obedience-- the next Jraoery. In a great cause, with the soldiers reward in view, few if any will ever be wanting in personal courage. They will go into battle, filled with the lyric in spiration of the bard:
 '' How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
 With all their country's wishes blest"
 They will not be wanting in courage, and if they gre obedient, and their officers are not negligent of drills and the requisite