The weekly Butte record., 1861-10-05
A CRYING Evil.

;ng in the Atlantic and Western States arising
from an evil to which the Pacific press has
time and again called the attention Of the
people. The history of the struggle during the
present crisis is but tissue Of defeats on the
side of the Federal troops arising from paucity
of numbers, unfortunate careless p selection of
position, such as not TO be able to get water
for two days siege, short sighted men who
have been appointed to command men, from
some political claim, rather than fitness and
qualification to command soldiers, and worst
of all, the criminal carelessness Of those 10 high
command, with plenty of men and munitions,
to reinforce those gallant bands of soldiers,
who stood their ground, with certain defeat
and perhaps annlhilation staring them in the
face, unless their timely call for assistance
should perchance be help almost against hope.
Two glaring instances Of this kind are Spring
field and Lexington, Missouri. The Govern
ment that can command all the men it wants
to aid in its support and maintenance in time
of its greatest need through sach crying evils
as these, and those referred to in the subjoined
ertract, cannot be subverted by the power of
man. The great American people who can,
and do appreciate the blessings of a good and
benefcient government, are, and ever will be
ready to lend all their support to ii; but those
at the head Of the government politically, must
not show such degree Of prodigality in its
use of the people as to insure loss, where vic
tory and safety ought to be the result. The
people are ever ready and willing to support
the government, but not the politics aud poll
ticians Of those who happen to be in power
The government in power should arise above
political favoritism in such crisis and while
it vndicates its honor and constitution, should
see that the valuable lives of its supporters are
not jeopardized by having grossly incompetent
leaders but to the extract:
We in common with other journalists have
referred in general way, on several occasion,
to the appointment Of incompetent persons to
high positions in the army, and denounced it
as tending to the final defeat of the Govern
ment in its attempt to put down this tormlda-
bic rebellion. Notwithstanding the lesson
Bull Run should have taught the appointing
powers, where but for incompetent officers the
Federal army might have gained a victory
instead of suffering defeat, the same course is
pursued and men are daily raised to the dignity
and responsibility of Colonels and Majors who
don't possess the ability to lead an attack on
poorly garrisoned hornets nest with success.
Can we expect anything but defeat in coping
with the well oficered battaians of the rebels
when such men as Sherwin, of Cincinnati, who
the Commercial says don't know a six-pounder
from ten-inch Columbiad, are made Colonels
of Artillery, and Ito come bearer home than
Cincinnati Majors are manufactured of such
material as that presented by w. X. Sherwin
of this city, and Geo. S. Mygatt? Personally
we have nothing 10 say against those gentle
men. We only speak of their utter unftness
in military sense for the responsible positions
to which they have been advanced, solely by
the influence of friends backed by party con-
sinerations. We heard but one expression
among our citizens, that of unqualified con-
demnation of such appointments and we feel it
our duty to give that expression voice.
1t is said that volunteering does not proceed
with the alacrity that ought to be expected at
a time like this, but If we lock for the causes
can we not find fruitful one in the appoint
ments of officers utterly incompetent and unfit
for their positions? Are the brave men who
fought the rebels in Western Virginia under
the gallant Colonel Bennett, and drove them
out, going to enlist under Major Sherwin,
feeble lawyer Of small practice and less ability !;
or will the noble fellows who were at Bull Run
and assisted in covering the retreat of panic
stricken army, place themselves under Major
Mygatt, whose knowledge Of military affairs
was principally obtained in the office of the
Adjutant General at Columbus? Not if they
understand themselves and it is their well
founded conviction that they do. Such ap-
pointments have done more to kill the volun-
teering spirit in this section than any other
influence, and all observing men know it and
cry out loudly against the imposition.
What claim has w. II. Gibson, of Tiffin,
who has recently been appointed Colonel of the
49th regiment to such position, except that
he is delaulting Republican Treasurer p
He never made any pretentions to knowledge
of military that we have ever heard of, and is
turned out full nedged Colonel, while Capt.
Hayward of this city, who has made the sci
ence of military his life study aud is every way
competent to take the head of regiment, is
rendered the position of Lieut.. Colonel, and
Barnett, who possesses military experience as
well as knowledge, is rendered no position at
all. The complaint is prevalent throughout
the North. Ircompetency is advanced to
prominence through political favoritism, while
the really efficient and worthy are overlooked
Our voice shall be raised against it, let who
will be offended.