The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-11-07
The Crue! Abuses OF Our Army.
THEIR EFFECT UPON THE SOLDIERS.


The needless deprivations and hardships OF
this war-the shoddy thrust upon our men
for clothing-the tainted meat and maggoty
bread on which they are obliged to feed or
starve-are the highest crimes against the
they are crimes which should arouse the peo-
pie to demand that Justice should be melted
ing more glazing every day instead of inn
proving they are rapidly growing worse. We
often hear of soldiers who are entirely desti-
tu,e of shoes, and who go about with their
bare feet or done up in old rags. Very man.
have no overcoats or blankets TO protect
themselves these cold nights. What wonder
is it that the hospitals are kept full to over
flowing that the army is decimated that
the soldiers are dying by thousands? 1t is
estimated that of the 100000 men called
into the field but 100000 can now be found
available. Where are the other 100000?
A very forcible letter is written by lieu
tenant Tor captain) in the Massachusetts, lIth
to the Springfield Republican. He is the au-
thor Of an article published last week, enti
tied "Sunday OH picket duty"
1--WE came Out here to fight and not to
chop wood" was the disguised remark of One
OF my hoys as he held up to HE his blistered
hands after a combat of about an hour and
a half with huge sycamore by the brook
side, in which he had succeeded in encrcling
the old monarch's body with girde of bare
ly perceptible sears, "we came out here to
fight and not TO chop wood" And this sets
me off to thinking again in spite of my reso-
luton not to moralize. We don't object to
chopping wood for once in while as occa-
sion may serve, or doing any other little ex-
ira work that Uncle Samuel may require.
But re came here TO fght We expected and
wanted to fight weeks ago. We haven't been
permitted to fight. the weather in which
We can fight comfortably is well nigh past
for the season. And the soldiers are treated
in such a way that they are fast losing their
disposition to fight. Our brigade and others
, so far as can Judge are not in any respect
in so good fighting condition as they were
three or four weeks since Nothing pains
me so much rs to hear the expression OF lie
men on every side OF Encouragement and
complaint, OF regret for having enlisted, and
wishes that they were home again, and curses
on the government and on the generals, &c
: -ad ntinitum. The few wto came from
mere sense of patriotic Christian duty stand
their ground and bear everything withou,
much murmurug, and doubtless half the
grumbiers don't mean all they say, and would
come up to the mark in battle mantuly
5 But should do in justice to my honest be
lief if said otherwise than that the spirit O
the army is going down and backward ever,
day. TIE men feel that they are treated like
dogs. and are out of patience with il. AnC
there is too much ground for it. as | say t,
: sou, and wish | could say to the governors o
= all the states and To the resident CT IT.,
| ritcd States. Their wants are not attended
to- their feelings are not regarded. They al
neglected wnen they are sick. and are let
TO die with little care or sympathy NANTES ST
! cd in their behalf. tell YOU again. as
, have told YOU before the knaiIsacks of th
- men and the baggage OF the officers of thu
and at least one other adjoining regimen
L still lie in Storehouse at Washington. 81
miles from here. with railway trains rnnuin;
three Of four times each way every DAY. nov
tomorrow five weeks since We came TO liar
ners Ferry. and al. Inconsistencies We hav
: sent IN. ell ti!r messengers W. have dispatch
J. ed and orders and trirgr'iIS with which "
, have burtienrd TIE wires. hav" failed to obta
that which MAS Indispensable TO our comf1r,
l. Men have died not one but many. to m
r knowledge, from no other apparent cauS
: than the exposure of sleeping night attc
: night and week after WEEK on the sroun,:
wthou, o.ercoat or blanket and sometime
{ without any Kind of ten, shelter these cos
J October nights. on these bare exposed nights
And vet, when We sent in t. our division
. or corps commander, tor PERMISSION 10 on
! of cur officers to go To- Washington to q
: these things. the permission has been con
= stantIy refused and wh-n Ne have writer
" or telegraph"d Tor them, or sent ,pecia! (cit
=, lZen1 messengers In bring them, the anSwe
J.. has heen returned that they would only b,
/ given up to one OF our commissioned off
;, GERS. SO have We been beaten about from
. Suff,rinss con;emptuouslv disregarded ali,
/ our lives needles>y Imperfect.
Our hospital arrangements are very lttl'
. letter. Little rooms and crowded with IT,.
, patients: Scarcely any pleasant deicac!e ssucl
:. as the sick receive at home: physicians whc
are tired and oycr-crowded with cares till the
y manner is harsh and stern, and their pill
and potions become doubly bitter to the poo
, fellows who receive them. And " hen dealt
: comes. as it does oh how frequently then
: brief funeral service, a rough coffin, a shallow
!, grave ard wooden headboard are for tht
? worn out soldier of the Union. laid down Il
j his last rest. true hero perhaps. vino ha
. come forth with the exalted motives Of
o Hampton or a Washing ton to lay his life
y sacrifice On the altar of his country: true
4 Christian perhaps, in whose behalf the judy:
. shall say on the great, final day, to many nov
! high in civil or military position "Ina>muc!
: as We did it not unto the least of these, We
4 did it not unto me- | speak seriously be
( cause speak from the side Of fexIly-opcn
. ed grores, and death makes as sober an,
g houghtiW Int speak nsidehc truth whe,
I sag thof tie needless l,irations and lard
t snaps ana losses ~ ms NUf are yIc0ef dRt
: more numerous Man The necessary oaes-
1 And now if We must expect a continuance o
the same incompetency, waste, needless cru
f city and general mis.nanagement which hav.
characterized the conduct of this war hith
. erto,may we not a least tringia strong press
. ure upon those that guide our affairs, through
0 the voice Of an outraged people who hav,
furnished men and treasure enough tc
e have crushed this rebellion dozen time.
: over, to hurry up the final struggle and lie
our soldiers die if need he in \ m,rful haiti,