Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-15
suncrIngs or the Rebel Army.
hmm the Richmond Mhir.l


A few days IA ago scene was witnessed
in our streets which at last aroused the
people to . lively sense of the real cOndi-
tion of our soldiers. Anumber of regiments
marched down Ninth street, passing the
very door OF the War Department. Citizens
standing near-there were no officials pre-
| senti they never are on such occasions-saW
With THAR own eyes what the papers have
long and yaiuly tried TO make them believe.
They saw numbers of soldiers marching
barefoot through the melting snow. Nor
was this all. They saw them thinly clad
in ragged and vermont clothes; some of
them without blankets and without hats.
THIS was spectacle TO cir the pulses even
ola spectator.
But there were some whOtook good care
not to witness SO disgraceful a sight. At
the verylmomentthis barefooted procession
WAS passing the War Department, the Pre-.
sident of the Confederate States, his Seere-
tary of War, all the Cabinet officers. the
QuartermAster-G General, and some thousand
of able-bodied young clerks, were sitting
by rousing fires, toasting their wells hod
feetiaud thinking of anything but the SOL
diers. 1t is not to be expected that stout
young fellows, who sink into government
drudges in order to get out of the army,
| should care much for anybody but them
selves. tits not to be expected that an
administration, NO member of which was
ever known to put his foot inside of a hos
pital, or TO bestow 50 much rs a plate of
| soup on a sick private, or to send one of
their gorgeous vehicles to bring in the
wouuded-it is not TO be expected that
such an administration should care yery
much for anything but the snubbing Of
men like Price aud Beauregard. Our po-
litieal system makes them secure in their
places for six years. and it is a matter of
profound indifference to them what hap
pens, so long as they can draw their sala.
ries and reward their faVorites with the
honors and bounties of Government.
But the cold blooded inhumanity of the
government does not absolVe our citizens
from the religious duty of Immediately sup.
plying the wants of the army. The soldier
who offers his life as sacrifice for his
Countrywide endures the perils of battle.
the still greater perils of the hospital, in
charge Of drunken aud conceited boy.sur-
geons, the filth of camp and the fatigue of
marches-should have every want cared
for. There Is nothing that people can do
for the soldier which ought to be left un-
done. While the soldier lives he should
be well fed aud we'll clothed, and SO long
as he is in the service his family should be
attended to. The people who allow their
soldiers to go naked in the emitting winds
Of winter, while they stay warm a. home.
do not deserve liberty. God will not pros
per the cause Of such a people.
We of Richmond have been remiss. We
have been slow to wake up to sense Of
the horrible destitution of our army. Ills
not altogether our fault From the begin
Ming We desired earnestly to cooperate
with the government, TO be on good terms
with its members, to share lie trials, and
promote as far as in US lay its success aud
its glory. But the government has per-
sistently held aloof from us aud flouted Us.
Every attempt to partake of It's responsible
has been seotnfully rejected as irnpertinent
tpterterenee With matters which did NOT
concern US, and which We we're incapable
Of compFehending. IT, in defiance Of OH
eial inhnenee, we endeayored to do our
duty in q pressing emergeney-as when /
the channel Of James river waste be closed
I've were hampeted and thWatted with the |
idioey and sloth Of official routine, Vel