New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-30

Correspondence of The n. Y. Tribune.

W l.
BROAD Rus, Manassas Junction June a. 1862
Too much cannot be said ia praise ofour solder.and
officers who have, voluntarily, and to the eacrifcc Of
peraonal interests, entered tie army, end marched to
the battlefield in the defense of our country; but
while we indulge in laudations, and sound the
praises of heroes it 10 due to the of humanity
intelligence and our sacred religion to the moral
status Of the people, on which must rect the pefpe.
tuity Of our political fabric, that abuses in the army
and immortality u high places should be made public,
for experience teaches that the people alone have
the fortitude to demand the eaccual correction of
evils.
IL is a notorious fact that many Of the officers 10
all divisions of the army indu in the excessive use
of profane language, attempting to make "orders "
more emphatic by the appendage of loud-moutbed,
vulgar oaths; and that officers when about TO as.
sumo important commands, lead them into engage.
ments make themselves besstly drunk. Imagine
the effect produced the conscences Of yodng men,
under the command of Brigadier-General formerly
their Colonel, who before having left Ills home was
known by every man in his old regiment TO have
been a Deacon in the Church, a Sunday School
Superintendent, and temperance lecturer, when he
will appropriate barrels Of whisky, sent 10 his
msnd, to his own use, aud appear before them 80
drunk that lie can hardly sit upon his horse, and
harangue them in the mos. profane and Indecent
manner using language TOO vulgar to be repeated
even in barroom jest, referring to hls vile IN the
most indecent manner, and IN such indicate
terms az even to make the toughest soldier blush;
aud then turn to his officers, calling them by name
in the presence of u regiment on " dress parade,
and say that they unit 10 eommand-tbat they
are patrons of gambling houses and brothes-and IN
the next breath boast of his own fests Of shame and
ignominy.
Or, imagine the effect produced by the spectacle
of a Chaplain cead drunk.
The above is no over-drawn picture. IL does not
with sufficient strength aud defniteness express the
facts, for want OF terms appropriate 20 the pubhc
ear. l know of quartermssters VINO encourage
soldiers TO steal horses aud turn them over and they
then sell to officer and army stragglers, and
hsnCers-on who follow different divisions dIsburs-
ing counterfeit money and swindng citizens and
soldiers. Donations sent TO soldiers have been sold
by suters and commssafies. Molasses, vinegar,
salt coffee. sugar. aud various other articles, are
often issued at less than regulation quantities, and
the surplus sold for private benefit. Army contract
ors follow brgades with droves Of cattle that rather
increase in numbers they advance, and receive
uay from Government for every pound Issued there.
6y increasing the sigma that too truthfuy 90
US of being thieves and spoilers. Almost every tent,
and guard-hOuse, aud snade-tree IN the vicinity Of
camp Is gambling resort tor few DAYS after pay.
day, and the most lOath-0me vices praciieed ~
the very men vino occupied respectable positions
before enterit tne army.
What will tho Offices o ,isty when 700, 900
discharged FROM the army, TO return 10 their
homes, without occupation, many OF them reckese
in the most emphatic of the term
When appointments are made, Let choracter and
intelligence be considered, as well bulldog
courage, and family connections, and political infu.
ences. Yours WITNESS.