Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-08

purlieus of Washington. We speak but the
universal opinion when we cay that there
never has been in the City of Washington.
since the war began, proper military police.
Since the Monday after the defeat, these evils
of insu bordination and general drunkenness
and dissipation have reached their climax in
the Capital. For three days, without ar eff
fort to prevent. the public saw the remains of
some twenty regiments scattered about the
city, the men sleeping on door-steps, in
barns, cellars, restaurants and hotel base
ments, often begging charity and fed by pri-
vale citizens; without order, discipline, or
'restraint-the officers lounging and smoking
In bar-rooms, Indifferent to their own respon-
sibilities and the public dishOnor. Crimes of
every kind disgraced the Capital. A day did
not pass without murder, or rape, or quarrels,
or drunkenness. Even as late as Friday last
a lady was shot by an intoxicated soldier.
No effort was made to collect the men, or get
them into camps, or feed or house them.
Some absolutely suffered from hunger. No
one knew where the head quarters of his
regiment was, or what had become of his Of
6cers. The army was a mob. Wherever the
stranger went, over Georgetown, Arlington,
Al exandria and Washington, he met there
wandering soldiers in search of regiment
At length, after three days, an order came
from Gen. Mansfield, giving rendezvous for
each regiment, and threatening arrest if the
soldier was found struggling after the expi-
ration OF six hours from the date of the or
der. Then to cap the climax of stupid
miSmanagement no officers or men were de-
tailed at many of these different rendezvous.
to give information to the various camps,
and some poor fellows. after spending twelve
hours at these places, went away again hun
cry and disconsolate in search of their regi-
ments.
These three days were another defeat OF
our forces-as bad as the causeless rout of
Manassa. OF some of the regiments, it is
doubted if they can ever be collected and re-
organized. SO thoroughly disorganized have
they become. The crimes which have been
committed in Washington and its neighbor-
hood, the last week, would disgrace New Or
leans.
Many and many a family will trace the
ruin OF son and brother to the habits con-
tracted in this week of license, and defeat
has been suffered which thousands of new
levies can never retrieve. We suppose that
Gen. Mansfield is in fault for this disgraceful
period of crime and insubordination. If so,
he should at once be summoned before a
court-martial, and tried for such gross neg
lect or iIcompetency. Why, in Heavens
name. when he heard the first news of the de-
feat, did he not provide for the incoming
flight and disorder: have the men billetted,
fed, housed and cared for out of the streets
and hotels. somewhere in the neighborhood
of the city? If he was confused or frighten-
ed by the disaster he is unfit for his place.
The truth is, not single regiment ought to
be quartered in the city. 1t has become den
of liquor-shops and gambllng-hells for sol
diers; it is unhealthy as the season advances,
and is no suitable place for our troops