Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-17

/ have had occasion several times since the
battle of Sunday TO a.lude TO the disgTaceful
hun. that night after the spoils. Il began, in
deed, early in the afternoon for it was not lateT
shan five o'clock certainly, when l heard com
p siut made of il 70 Gen. Beauregayd 1t that
rime citizens VINO lad cowaT5ly followed mp the
victorious army, seem to have been the pTinci-
pal Achans. They we're plundering the tents
out of which the enemy had been driven, in all
directions, and loading themselves down with
spoi.s
"And what shall be done with tbem'' was
asked.
''Shoot them down on the spot when taken in
the act, +" replied the general
Later in tine evening, and, indeed all through
the night and next morning., the same Disgrace
lul hunt after the sPoiis was continued. Pun
dgring citizens, pluniering soldiers if I am cor
Tealy informed, wela 10 be seen everywhere. Il
was the same at Manassas, and I suppose is the
same IN all victorious armies. l have seen and
heard and read SO much Of ii, that / take it for
grated From the 5touing Of Acban down, it
has always been SO, nor has the intervening time
at all lessened the evils Of the practice
And now, when / see a man with a valuable
horse, taken in the field aud never accounted for
TO the authorities, L cannot but call him an
Acaan of the arurv.
When I see a man wearing ab9Gt a valuable
ovarcoat, taken from the fed ald never ac-
counted for l cannot but call him an Achau Of
the army.
N hen see a man bearing or a valuable gun,
picked up on the field, but UnaccOUutcd for,
think Liia an Achau of the army.
And when, in the midst of pursuit OF after,
I see q man sneaking through captured camps
20 see what may be spoiled, call him an Achan
Of the army.
Thou, az. "a, ", vr,-r, ssf,sae FLav, ono Tbav
create disorganizatiou in an army; they SO far
stand in the way Of 2 vigorous pursuit of the
enemy; the act, mUreOye-, demOIaliZeS the
spoilsr himself; it lets him down, at one step,
from az honorable soldier TO a plUudeElug
5rigaud 1t Will bring disgrace upon the holiest
or causes.
The spOils Of q victorious army should bo
carefully gathered up and preserved for the use
Of the army itself Especially should this be
tAc case with all the guns, ammunition, proYis-
IONS clothing, and medical stores They are
the just possession Of the conqUeroT, are tIe-
guentiy Of great value, and should not be lost or
carried off where they can be Of sny use. At
Manassas, it is believed, at least 10000 valuable
arms We're picked up on the iead ana never ac-
counted for and pistols, sa5Tes. clothing etc, in
proportion. They are scattered from Manassas
70 New Orleans, and have never been OF any
use to the service. They are kept as "rehes ="
at the very time when We are suffering most for
want Of arms.
BJ this Is not the worst. When man is in
pursuit Of spoils he is not in pursuit of the en-
eHlv. Especially was this the case on Monday
at Shiloh "ou the east side Of Bethel Had
If not been ior the "accursed thing" hid away
and carried away the night before; the enemy
would again on Monday have been driven, routed
back TO fhe river.
And, now, iu The name of our common coun-
Try, and of cur common cause, say, let this
thing stop If necessary, let a general and Sc
we're order be issued on the sUsject Il may be
IL keeping with the character Of our invaders,
whose programe is tRat Of plgnde-, but it is not
in keeping with the character of a people fight
ing for thair national independence, and for the
preservation Of their hOme5-C0T. y D. Pica-
.LHG.