, 1862-01-21

From the Norfolk Day Book. jan 81
To THE EDITOR: The Richmond Er1miatr
OF a recent date, and other prominent Conftd-
crate Journals. tccm with complaints of the
demornlizatioIl, rccklessness ana decline in
spirit Of the Confederate army. The demand
for substitutes, it is alleged, has become SO
great, from indisposition among good men to
remain longer in the service, that The most cx-
otbiant prices are required to procure thenl.
While many Of these complaints manifestly
spring from croaking spirits, and sayorstrong-
u Of the flesh pots Of Egypt, it is nevertheless
q fact that there is needless amount of dis
content and some manifestations Of reckless
ness III the Southern army.
II more becomes patriotic governments, if
these evils exist, to inquire into their causes
and suggest remedies for their cure, than to
herald for the comfort Of our enemies, and
modification Ct those gallant hearted Tolun-
tccrs, who have sacrificed all, and taken their
lives in their hands, to make a free offering
upon the altar Of their country.
A volunteer who responded to the first call
Of his State, and who has been in the service
Of the Confederaey for over eight months,
more than six hundred miles from his home
and business, asks small space in the Day
Book to point out few Of the causes which,
operating together, hare put the Southern ar-
my in a condition to be complained OF, and
publicly castigated before the eyes Of its enc
mics.
liz i'll 81 CsttsN tl uI&tUuLNut H41Cl uEEUuit5
observable in the Confederate army, arose from
4 license Of impuuity extended to officers,
while priyates, who ontranked many of them
in social status before leaving home, have been
degraded by arrests and imprisonment fo1
trivial ofcnscs. JUDGED, officers have too gen
era]ly deported themselves to their men, not
as superiors in office, but as supcrioTs in re-
a1ity-a concession which can never be made
in volunteer army without material degrade.
tioE. for by as much US the one receives less
pay than the other, and infinitely less priyi
1ege, 1t is more patriotic to volunteer as i pri
yatc than rs an officer. and SO much more III
ought TO be commended by a grateful peeplc
wiiuse liberties and rights have brought him
to arms.
Another cause of discomfort, and ono which
should be regarded in view ofncedcd re-enlist
nIentE, is the stringent restrictions made By the
War Department and Commanding Generals
in regard to fnrloughs. Regiments Of business
men from Georgia and other States, hastened
from their homes at i days notice in response
to the call Of the country, leaving wives ant
children hut Partially provided for, muel
| urgent and important business entircly unset
tied, and not even in condition to be admins
tered upon in ease Of death. Many Of thcm
have remained in a state Of stagnant inactivity
for eight months, during five months Of the
time with positive orders over t1em forbid
| ing all furloughs for any cause. If property i:
! going to waste it makes no difference
| II wives arc dying and children furnishing
! the ordtr is ineNorab1c, and the dishpartenct
! soldier has to Stand to his arms and yet bt
t BIZ condemned us demora1ized if be utter one
complaint. II, under these circumstances
our rulers expect to continue IN effective
army Of volunteers ia the field, it il tAt
opinion Of 4 humble soldier, who has render
| I'd willing service to his country for. cigh
months, that they oyerrate By far the patriot
ism Of the ehisa]rous South. It is hart
enough for the patriotic volunteer to Ic,v,
| his home and business and submit to the arn1
regulations provided for men whose yocatiot
is war But after placing themselves uude
privileges, and then to be forced to yield, IN
der tyranDieal "a posi- .taetas, even those, i
hard, indeed, and will have telling effect i,
| thinning the ranks Of the army, if 4 NOR
liberal policy is not speedily adopted.
| PLTNkET,