Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-10
COMMUNICATION

! VI TIC QAAeSy VI
suggesting any of those simple remedies by which
the volunteers life in camp may be rendered com
Portable and many hardships be averted. In view
therefore, of this desideratum, propose to write
few articles, which may be found somewhat ser
vieaable, though not possessed of the merit which
such a work should have. Having experienced
some hard service in camp. observation has pointed
out number of aIneliOratiOns, which are submitted
for the guidance of those who may as yet be unni-
tiated. The writer does not confine himself to the
military duties alone but goes into other depart
ments of camp life, giving recommendation, advice
receipts wherever be thinks they can be of use
Making no pretensiou whatever to style, he ad
dresses himself to the volunteer in q familiar man
ner as in conversation he would give information to
] brother soldier. seHs
! THE DUTY or TIE SOLDIER. E.. --.r
Il is not necessary enter into the details of tao
tics Good officers will see that his educatiOn in
that respect is not neglected The first great duty
of the soldier and the with which it seems NEST
difficult TO ndoetrinate volunteers, is implicit
obedience to the orders of a superior Accustomed
to that freedom of will and action which character
ICES our people, they at first wrongfuly class obe>
dience with servility Ia some respects, the yolun
teer for the first month resembles unruy colt and
kicks up at every attempt to check him, or to
train him for the useful career upon which be
has embarked. no matter how hard the case may
| seem to be, the order, whatever it is, should be
obeyed promptly. Then, if the soldier has been ag
grieved or imposed upon, he has his remedy there
after, and can reach any officer, however high his
| rank may be- by complaint Of usurpstioa Of power,
| laid before the proper authorities. : nd here 1t
| may be said that it is the duty Of every offer
promptly to for ard such complaints But the Fri
vate soldier should never make one which has not
just foundation, and should always weigh carefully
the facts before acting upon them In the volunteer
/ system there is much to bear, many grievances,
| which should be cheerfully submitted to for the
good of the service, and the motto among officers
| and men should be ~bear and forbear." The maxim
| of the French army is good ONE Dams PGrE1ss
on ne TaisOnns pGs'-"ln the army we don't ques-
! ton orders" .....
When entering the service the volunteer should
understand that this great principle underles the
whole system and should b. prepared to give cheer
full obedience and willingness to learn his whole
duty. And it is mistake which too many of the
officers fall INTO, that rigid enforcement of the
regulations Will class them as Martnets. It's their
sloorn duff to conform in all respects to them, and
though it may be at first Onerous upon their it
viii ensure much greater respect among them to-
wards their officers. Though kind hearted COM
msnder makes himself popular IN the beginning, he
finally loses the confidence Of his men, by failure
to enforce military discipline. Too often the re
mark is heard, "Oh we are volunteers, you can't
expect the rigid rule to be enforced against Us.
This is fatal mistake which if INDUCED in FAUST
gives his services for certain specified time but IN
all other respects, should conform to the standard
of the regular soldier sndl hC nsih:r expect
askfor any deviation from the rules The writer has
seen much trouble resulting from unfortunate |
axity upon this subject, that it has impressed it
self upon his mind as one, which cannot too often |
be urged upon the soldier. Each company or bat /
talon is great family The ind V dusi members |
Of which should use every eHJrt to promote harmc-
ny and good feeling. The commanding officers are |
in The light Of fathers, exercising strict snd yet
kindly parental authority. Courtesy should always
characterize the conduct of superior and inferior,
and brotherly feeling pervade the ranks. No fac |
tons or bitter feuds should divide, and impair the
usefulness Ofthe body In all cares whers ferences
arise they should at once be referred TO mutual \
friends and be reconeiled. Every soldier should /
consider himself committee self appointed to |
wait upon and reconcile any members of his COMP
n.y. who may have misunderstanding. No false
pride should prevent any soldier from sPologising
at once for an action which disinterested parties
tell him was wrong. 1t is in the truest, sense of
the word, test quality and good breeding to ac
knowledge an error and repair wrong. The vol
unteer should never grumble at being worked han
eht in constant dri H. fatigue parties the trench
es Itis good for mind and body to be kept actively
employed, and when the fatigues Ct the day are
over, with good conscience, the soldier seeks his
honest couch for the pleasures awaiting him there, I
a sound rest and pleasant dreams. 1t for his own
benefit that he should be employed, for it not only
developes the muscles and gives rudy health, but
Uy keeping the luuS UCCuplSu anu lehCuluB 1
all the essentials of thoroughly drilled soldier, it
enables him to serve his country well and keeps him
ont OF mis- Chtg. The deUa neuer approaches man,
J0hen he is hard at cork.
A very prevalent but mistaken notion is, that all
the soldier has to do is TO fight That is of the
least of his duties. mere mob of men may be
possessed of extraordinary fighting qualities, but
yet viii never make an army, unless properly
drilled and disciplined. The first requisite, as
have said is cheerful and implicit obedience. The
appOnd il strict attention military drill The |
third, attention to health. Great objections are
made generally by volunteers to any hard labor, {
except that of the drills Men may have been dGin
tily nurtured and never have blistered their hands
by out door work. u i0M not hurt GtSR to learn IT,
nor triH Il detrdc IN The slightest degree from their dig
lldL When military necessity requires entreneh> |
ments to be thrown up, trenches to be dug, or |
camping grounds to be cleared off the details should
step forward with alaerity and shoulder their i'm
pements as eheerfuIy and willingly as they would !
their muskets. 1t is noble sight to young men,
whose fathers and themselves count their fortunes
by millions, working 10 the trenches, as the writer
has seen them do in Virginia, with the sweat
running from every pore, and not murmur OF
to be heard IN any quarter. Such |
conduct is worthy of emulation
Upon entering the service, our raw n eruits are
prone be very careless of their health by not at
tending to the simplest rules Thousands of lives
lost by this inatenuon and more especially if the Off
GERS in immediate command do not perform their
duty of strict inspection and careful wstchfulness
over the health OF their men. The writer dWells |
upon the health Of the men, as perhaps the first
great requisite, and witout which all the other du
les are of no avail
The recruit should therefore apparel himself in
light, but warm clothing, which will protect him /
from sudden changes of heat and cold in all seasons
from the effect of drenchng rains, the effects Of
excitement in summer. From observation the wri-
er assert positively that the greatest prevents
We of disease in the way of clothing, is red fam
le shirt worn winter and summer. The cause I
hereof is attributed, by many medical prof.
;ients, to the healthy irritation produced by 4
he cochineal. Its use therefore should be uni !
7ersally recommended. As the uniform Is not !
trictly prescribed account Of the present diff
,ulty in procuring uniformity in DRESS the CON- r
nander, who will consult the comfort of his men, /
will prescribe the common brown SLOUGH hat in a
tead of a cap and it will be found most conducive
o health. The rays Of the sum- which pour down q
lpon the little jsunty caps in mid summer, end I
produce diseases alEaOst invariably fatal seem to 4
ose their effect upon those who wear tins style of
lat 1t is warm also in winter and can be made Il
ute stylish in appearance by the addition If loops
nd buttons, with which TO fasten up the sides. c
As cleanliness is hegrest promotiVeo health, the
ecruit should attend carefully and scrupulOusly to
he neatness of his person. No extraneOus bagla
an be carried but he should be particular to have
xo pairs of good canton flannel drawers two under
hrts (of red flannel, if possible,) four pair Of I
OOlen socks extra pair Of pants and pairs of