The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-10
The Militia.

Editors Dispa;cb being Il close reader of
yo"r eNceitent paper, and observing the zeai
aDa patriotism which have characterizsd
your dnceasing eadeavors to advance the in
tefPstS OF our infant Cont ederaey and at the
same Tune promote the comfort of our bra ye
soldiers, / nope that you will not consider
unworthy "f Il small space in your columns ?,
few remarks addressed 10 the militi, nj our
State. Last spring, Lincnln's call upoYl yif-
ginla TOR few thousand men IN cru.I, uut
repeiloh IN the southern Sta tes, WIS m
sWcred by not less than tfty thous,nd of a :
brave and resolute soldiers as The world evar
saw, who, within one mouth of the tyraut's
proclamation, stood upon our froutierS ready
and anxious for the approach of The Nortn.
ern mercenarless Nowhere it,on the parn of
history Is recorded such burning ia triotisrn
such universal devotion to the cause of f-ea
uoff. never can We sufficiently praise their
heroiSm ana courage, aud thank them for tia
gallant manner in which they checked tho
onward march to RieafaUgsan-~marrL Of
the thieyish Hessians on the nlelnor.,hI,,
2lst
Bat in our Enthusiasm let us not forge.
that that army enlisted for only twelve
months, and, Judging from present appear
ances, their term Will haze expired long be
loIe thls HeHdish attempt at oppression
ceases; ana Il is but right and inst that tEev
De allowed to returi. to their homes and :f-
Iord the in-incible militia the opportuoitv
a3a a., me privilege Of striking for ''God and
theif country But, in order that they may
become effective soldiers before they are re-
qnirsd on the field, and thus prevent any dis
crimlnauon III the efficacy of our arms il
seems TO he an established fact that unless
thPy volunteer en- MRsse previous TO that tim
= draft Will ba issued by the Executive about
the last OF February, giving them two mon tbs
70 become thoroughly drilled, and accustomed
70 hahaiinE the guns. Now, my object is 10
ADVISE TINS strong arm of our country to be.rju
Immediately % make their preparatiors 10
leave home, and rally to the defence of The
great Temple of Liberty, determined 10 driy.
back oar ruthless ard fanatical invaders or
tSI n.rt ti.zsp.
need be 40 fears about the result when 0ui
utStlhy Is conHded 10 the trust of such men.
But II appears 10 me, diter carefully watch
ing with PAINFUL Solicitlde the progress Of
the various diseases prevalent during the
summer months throughout our camps t;tat
every effort should bc maGe 10 prevent a rp-af,-
pearance Of ali these fevers the .:lsuin- sum
Mer. vi course, Whare there are so many II! en-
congreg2teu together, there must necessarily Y
De some sickness; out it c;tnnot De denied
thal There has been an unusual amount Of IT
among Cur troops, and also III a very inaIiy-
naat iorln owing in Avery great degree to
The fact that our soldiers were called upon TO
ielFe their homes IN the spring of tho year.
season more vn favorable than any other iJl.
ludklhS Stlcn an eltiEe change in Our II odr Of
living, ana IN all our habits because then
/ thc naturally relaxed state Of the system
makes 1t nCr@ susceptible OF disease than at
any other tiae, even when surrounded bv all
the comforts and C1nvenienc.S OF bone aud
Of course the danger OF con ntracting dis., ,,. be
| comes greater in proportion to the exposures
ana HafdsliiiS winch The recruit, entirely VA
accustomed TO, Is subjected to in camn life -
! AT least such Is the opiaion Of the most sxifl
tui ana intelligent surgeons with whom [
! nave cohNerSeti on the subject. And certain
| ~ the opinion seems to be amply sustained i.
| we compare the sickness among our voluu-
| teers with that of the regulars during the past
Summer. / iat Latter heiug accustomed 10 th:t
| mode OF living, escaped with coInparutiyelv
| little sickness, whilst II distressing nuln Der
OF me 1pfiner was s%Ppta away by the destroy
| er- Then the conclusion forces Itself upon m
| mind that tne most certain way OF escarng
pneumonia, typhoid, and numberltss other
levers, is for the men to volunteer this fail -
lney would serve Just n same lea 9Th of time
! y tney would volunteer now, and become
| hardened To camp life during the healthy
months OF WIN ter, rs they would If they defer
| 1t till spring. Then, let each and all reinel,
| berinS that the preservation o. their health is
| duty they owe lheir coun try, as well ie
| thetnst Ives, brayely come forward now, and
| take their positions on the side of right and
! justice, and in defence of political and reii-
| SlOuS freedom. SurTH