The national Republican., 1862-08-04
Communicated.


to refer through your columns to the doubtful
prospect Of raising the four regiments Of vol
unteers called for by Governor Bradford in
this State and TO say word on the subject Of
the injustice done TO General Cooper by i'm.
putting to him lack Of energy In recruiting
the four regiments raised by him for the gen.
eral volunteer service Of the United States.
II we may Judge from the public prints and
the gauntness Of the skeletons Of the fourth
and sixth regiments, now being recruited under
the superintendence Of Colonel Schley, the
patriotic ardor of the young men Of Maryland
has not been greatly stimulated by oil the in
ventions and appliances used to call Il forth.
After two months Of effort on the part Of Col.
Schley, said to be man Of great perseverance
and energy, aided by the influence Of the State
Executive, public meetings got up in the most
imposing manner, county executive commit
tees, the appeals Of the press, promises Of large
bounies, together with provision for the fami-
lies Of the recruits, less than three hundred
mea have been brought TO. respond to the call
of the executive magistrates Of the State and
nation.
We complain Of nobody nor any Of these
efforts to raise men. On the contrary, we ap.
prove and commend them. But we resent,
with feeling little short Of indignation, the
more than studied silence Of the Baltimore and
other presses OF the State In regard TO General
Cooper's efforts to raise Maryland brigade q
year ago. Not one approving or encouraging
word was uttered to stimulate, either the off,
Ger engaged In recruiting or the young men
Of the State to join the patriotic standard
which Gen. Cooper had unfurled. Not only
did bis efforts meet with no encouraging 70
cognition from the press, but on the contrary
whispers, loud enough to reach the public, Of
want Of energy, accompanied by that kind
of doubtful praise which damns, were uttered
by more than one Of the Baltimore editors, and
these were afterwards caught up and echoed
by others envious OF his position. When pub
lie mention was made Of the subject, IL was Ia
detract from the only man who has raised I
regiment originally designed for the general
, volunteer service, and to bestow praise on par
ties whose object was, sooner or later, not &C
much 10 put men In the field as money In theiI
pockets. II is true, and to their great praist
be It spoken, that the regiments Of Colonel
Sohley and Leonard are now In the field doing
service, where they are 30 much needed, bu
they were raised originally a. Home Guards
: and under the influence Of the inducementi
, held out 70 that class Of troops.
But time and events az Is generally the case
have vindicated merit and 1t Is now apparent
whether It shall ever be recognised or not
/ that nothing but rare combination Of perse
: enabled General Cooper To organize the com
mand which be has brought into the field. Al
we have stated, be received no encouragement
or countenance from any source within thl
! limits Of bis own State. Nobody bade hin
God speed None but himself appealed Il
: Maryland patriotism, and the glory achieved
: by the "old Maryland line," on 80 many battle
fields of the Revolution, Us an incentive to The
living generation Of her sons TO emulate th.
courage and devotion Of the generation passed
away. No bounty, no provision for the fami
' lies Of the soldiers was promised; no encour-
, sgement In deeds, or even words, was Offered
to men to enlist. Patriotism stood dumb, ii
. hands folded, its head nodding, II not disap-
. proval, at least doubt, Of the propriety Of wha
3 was being done. He had not even the advan
u tage of field officers to aid him ir bis enter
prize. He raised regiments, and bestotoed them
ready for the field, on the officers who com
# mand them.
| In the North and West the overlooking pa
. trotlsm Of the whole population made recruit
9 Ing easy. Every man and woman was ready
with tongue and hands TO help. There wer'
. no secessionists, % was the case In Maryland
y to sneer at the patriotic impulse which i'm
: PEELED men to enliat none to remind then
that in their absence the gaunt Image Of star
II walton would take their place by their unkin
!. died hsarths and scanty boards.
h But over oil these difficulties Gen. Coope
v triumphed, and succeeded In placing four regi
lments at the disposal Of the Federal Executive
. We say four regiments, for although the pre-
: sent Third regiment was organized out Of part
Of several fragments Of regiments, raised, Il
some extent, by other parties, several compa
nies recruited by bis authority were. we ar
informed, attached to other commands. Th'
st energy which prevailed over 30 many discour
D. sgements and difficulties ought, one woul'
70 think, to III him for command and for SOM
n time he did command division, with entlr
Q, acceptance, a. we understand, In the army Q
II Gen. Banks. Why is 1t that he Ia now Idle Q
10 Frederick? II can hardly be his fault Ii
l. to be imputed to old or new whlsperiugs Of
lack of energy, or perhaps, az we have hear'
2 intimatsd, to a newly discovered disquali6ca
l. ton namely, that Of "failing health ~ A
:, answer from the Administration would oblige
o MARYLAND VOLUNTEER.