Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-03
THE ONE THING NEEDPrJ

Every general officer who has had occaSi IN
TO make representations to the Government
with reference to the future prosecution of the
war, has urged the vital necessity for promptly
filling up the old regiments, being the ono
thing needful to secrre speedy and decisive
victory for the good cause OF the restoration of
the Union. There has been no exception 10 this
general rule. In response, the Government.
here have taken some measures to that end,
which, however, have proved almost abortiye'
because mp 70 this time the policy on which
they are founded has been carried out in but 4
single observation-disclosures there but par
tally. We here refer To- dra fling, without which
all hope OF filling mp the old regiments in due
time must surely fail. The rrbcl authorities
keep their experienced regiments full by con-
scripting at the point of the bayonat; knowing
well that green soldier becomes Saryiceable in
month when serving in a regiment OF expe-
rienced men; whereas no new regiment ever
got together has become reliable a. il should
b under six months or years actual service
In the field and in the face of the enemy 1t is
stated that In the recent battles in Maryland
our new troops did admirably; for which they
certainly deserve great credit. But the truth
is, but two or three such regiments Were ven.
tured under ere; and those, only after the battles
IL which they were engaged had been subs,an.
TALLY Won by their veteran companions in
arms; and there was more or less falterinc on
the part Of some OF them il is well known
While the components of our new reri-
ments are almost universally OF the very
best description 10 make capital solderS-are
perhaps better material than those OF the
old regiments were originally-without As
long preliminary training as the latter had.
they cannot possibly become rs reliable
and serviceab.e As they should be- when
opposed tie experienced troops so sternIy and
effectively disciplined as is the army of the
rrbei Lee. There is not a single army officer or
civil functionary having connection direct or
indirect with the prosecution of the war, who
does not know this to be- positively and unde-
niably true While the former are begging and
praying TO have the old regiments quickly filed
mp, as the only possible means of bringing the
war 70 4 speedy succrss ful end. the latter seem
to have far greater dread Of the effect of the
alleged unpopularity of a draft upon their own
prospects In the approaching elections, than of
the cost IN loyal blood and treasure, and ulti-
mate consequences, of another year of unsuc-
cessfnl war. The late convocatiou of Gov
errors might have done some good if instead
of intriguing to displacc this and that general
omcer for political ends, they had resolved
instantly and rigidly to enforce the DRAFT in
'heir respective States long since ordered by
The President; a. one thousand men infused by
the hundred In ten experienced regiments, must
Tor the hrst year OF thrir service, b. more
reliably effective than five Thousand new men
with inexperienced officers at their head w.
can look for no substantial change in the cur
rent Of the war As IL has run since the rebels
have been conscripting and since we stopped
recruiting by direction OF Congress, until the
EARNEST ADVICE IN This connection of all our
general officers In tn" field shall BE- energeti-
Cally carried out