The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-11-22
Stragglers and Deserters.

army. But few, not connected with the army, are
aware how numerous and frequens they are. In
the army of the Potomac they are numbered by
thousands Regiments have been reduced from
full quota of men to mere skeletons of companies,
more BY desertions than by sickness and casualties
on the fed in many instances we do nothesitateto to
say that fully onehaf of the loss may be ascrbed to
this cause arising from lack of proper discipline.
Our attention has been drawn to this subject by a
short article which appeared in the New York
Times of the 21st ult., from its Washington cor
respondent, which is forcible that We regret we
have not the space to give 1t entire. He says:-
"In every one of ourrecent battles, full fourth,
and many say full third, of the men brought on
the field fell out Of the ranks, and skunk away to the
rear before the work of war had grown warm, and
not an officer ip our army has yet taken the respon
sbility of shooting down these sstragglers in the
act In the rebel army this is not so. Every man
brought upon the field upon their side understands
that certain and instant death, areertain dshonor
lie to the rear while forward there is certainty
of honor and the usual chances W escaping un-
hurt. AS to the struggling which tskes place from
regiments in camp and on the march, the statistics
would terrify and astound the country, if printed"
From personal observation we are convinced that
there is no exaggeraon in this sstment, startling
though II be- In the army. 81 the Potomac it
has become serious evil, which. demands the
scrutiny and interference Of the proper mill
tary authorities and the strict enforcement of the
rules and regulations laid down for the govern
ment and discipline of the army which as yet have
never been fully carried out.
The writer of the article above quoted ascribes
this laxity to fatal desire of many Generals to
secure popularity with their commands The re-
suit of this is to give opportunity to towards to
straggle and skulk to the rear, while their brave
comrades do the fighting, of which they will share
the glory. Common justice then to those brave
men who are willing to do their duty, would de-
mand that this be remedied The straggler should
receive even less mercy than the deserter from the
camp-for, in the former instance, the man is fed
and clothed at the expense of the government, on
certain conditions, and for certain services to be
rendered He receives his clothing and food upon
these conditions and in the hour of need, when call
ed upon for the fulllment of his duty, ne skuks to
the rear, and not only renders service, but sets
bad example to others-an example which creates
dlStruSt ana fear.
Were these straggers or skulkers few, the evil
would seem slight and demand but passing atten-
ton, but they amount to s'full fourth and many
say full third of tho men brought on the feld:'
Under these circumstances no General can possibly
estimate his strengths for whenshe imagines that
he is twenty thousand strong he may be far from
the truth and have only ffteen thousand effective
| fighting men.
In conclusion, the writer, above quoted, says =
.eCannot the President realize that mercy to the
towards and idlers who disgrace our serviceis the
worst cruelty and injustice to the gallantfellows
who remain and do their dutya In the British and
French services, mounted non-commissioned Off
GERS arc stationed in the rear of every line OF bat