Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-10
C0ANUYICATIOK
rhe puly o. 1he ss1dler.-No. :


The Duty OF IHe SsIdier.-No. 8
A very important point and one which often /,
ost sight Of, is the election of competent
company officers. A Colonel may be almost
perfection itself, and yet his regiment will cut
very sorry figure indeed, il the subaltsrns are in
Icompetent or efficient in capacity Volunteers
should nos always vote in the election Of oeers foI
cleverest fellows unless there should also be
power Of command in his character, and either a
knowledge Of military matters or q great readiness
and aptness for learning. Il would be almost case
Of the bliod leading the blind With CORD captains
and orderly sarge ants companies can be soon well
Orgsnzsd, but it is utterly impossible to be SO if
either Of these positions is badly filed Intelligent
men can soon qualify themselves to FL the position
by receiving instructions regularly fr IN Competent
teachers, and the sehOo. of the officers is of vast
benefit in this respect as it enables the commanding
officer to rectify many defects which might exist
from the want Of opportunity on the part Of subal
terms to learn what their duty was. ----r
/ The winter has now set in and the soldier win
! begin TO experience bardships little dresmpt Of
unless the officers are careful of the eomfort
the men and nee to it, that they shall understand
hOw TO protect themselves. Rainy and cold raw
dsys will take the place of the late genial weather
I
be rendered to the volunteers than Iha of teaching
them how to promote their comfort and preserve
their health. - . ~. ~. .-e1 81
If wet TO the skin be careful to keep in motion
until your clothes dry upon you. even il there be
large fire before you. OF course whenever il is
possible TO change wet cloths for dFv ones do so
but keep in motion all the time to prevent taking
cold Always avoid lying upon the bare ground
lace anything you can pr. cure beneath you rs
rather than do 30. Unless sent upon sn
expedition hurFiedly gotten up 1t is presum II
ed that 10 winter quarters the tents viii al
ways shelre them, but it may become necessary
to bivouse, when upOn the march In our thickly |
wooded country IT is an easy meter 70 find forest
aud procure boughs of trees and leaves for bs1 !
By building good fire in the centre and living !
round it in aircle with feet towards it and plac
ing sentnrl to feed the fire. good rest will pre-
pare the soldier for the stirring scenes of the NOR
row. Abundant sleep is essential to bodily efcien
cy and to that activity of ind, which is al impor-
tant in au engsgemnt Therefore great pains sh uld
be taken by company commanders to secure this I
requisite for their whether in camp or bivOuac
After long or Wearisome march volunteers should
be careful not to eat hearty meal for suoDer
as it will efectuslly prevent sound rest /
When encsmped would suggest the following
pan to soldiers for rendering their tents eofarta
BILE: Dig hole in the centre of the tent two feet
deep aud ore in diameter, wall it with stones laid in
soft clay and cover the top, with exception of hole
six inches in diameter through which to introduce
fuel. Make close fitting cover for this SO "a to
open and close it at pleasure. 4
Dig trench from one side of the tent to the bot
tom Of the pit, and cover it with wood and earth
that the cDd air may be convey ed freely to the
subterrsnean fire place. FrOm the top Of the pit
lay another trench across the opposite side of the
tent and carefully it with stone and EARTH sol
that the smoke and surplus heat may thus be car
ried cf. IL will requere only few hours work
from four men to make It. and being entirely under
ground it takes up none of the room in small
tent It's utility will soon be perceived. 1t dries
and warns the earth within ard even beyond the
entire circuit Of the tent and thus prevents those
damp, cold and unhealthy exhslstOns from the
Earth which are probably the chief cause of Ill :
health among the troops. TIE heat can be gradu
ated according to circumstances and moist and =
genial atmosphere be furnished to meet the ex-
gencies OF the codest season The thin canvas of
ne tents is so readily penetrated bv cold or mols-
ure, that the atmosphere within follows rapidly !
he changes without Without some similar con :
rivsnce there is very little d.9rencs between liv-
n in tent or in the open air. A very little /,
roubit in thus arranging your stove wilsave many
gallant ieew the pains of intermittent typhoid I
md bilious feyers from which numbers will now I
bff-r aGd perhsps die.
1t is singular that little effort is made to per-
sct volunteers in the duties OF sentinel In our
sTge mpmeuts II falls 10 the lot Of individuals
% serve in thst capacity perhaps only once month
I'D when his second tour comes he hiss probably E
1rgOtts all that he had previously picked up. U
q sst b. remembered that the safety Of the army II
eDe ds upon ts s-ntinels who watch whilst ! the y
thers in conscious security take their needfui re-
Ose. Instructions to Ia il duty should be given
y the Cfhaer Of the day and guard in the most /.
tringent ugnrer, and for fear that these officers
themselves aay be green. the field officer Of the day
hOud particularly eDjom upon them the necessity !,
f DrOp-rly instrGeting the sentinels, and should !
mselt when on bis rounds, verify them In an \
nemy's country, sentinels should be douby vigi- >
ant and yet take great care TO give false alarms
which by rousiDg the entire army. would destroy y
Or that night the rest which the soldiers ought to
ave. The best method for an off ser to pursues y
7hen going the rounds to impress his duties upon
he sentinel L. TO ask him questions as what he $
7oud do in certain This directs his attention y
many points, and fires it, where Otherwise he ~ ~
right forget IT. if merely told his duties general
ray. The simplest rule for sentinel TO be gov ~
rned by. Is always TO halt any approaching his "
ne within distance Of twenty feet and to keep "
m # the length # The masked lohist giving the e0H ~
rsiga z a.
This will prevent surprise Il is common - -
ractce with sentines to allow borsemen 20 come ue
pht M alonge side of them without dismOanting. ~
should nsUsr be permitted but in all instances he n
,oud be compelled to dsmount and give the coun oV
rsiQn on foot. Otherwise the enemy might easily =
Ike Of the head of careless picket at night by p
le swoop of bis swerd. Csrelessness on the part ,
sentinels at important posts is sometimes lsUgha
N contras;eo by the rigid discipline Of mp dr'
lards in day light. General officers are ordered IN
Eay from their lines and refused permission 70 o-d
,osa them deRDite Of all remoustraRces. They | 1