New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-02
Complaints Of Common Soldiers, by High
Private in tho Rear Rank.

1t would be well for soldiers, when writing letters
for the press TO remember the commands 20 familiar
20 their Make ready; aim; cover both sight
fire." The chief complaint of our SOLDIERS Is tie
quantity and quality Of food. As far ss ! am
able to Judge, their complaints grouniless and
unjust. What would they hayel Would they ex-
pect to be supplied with new potatoes, green peas
soft bread and butter sweet for their coffee
The great majority Of our soldiers are men who
were well fed and cared for at home-men sick Of
the dull routine Of life at home--nlen who seemed
fairly spoiling for want of a fght-who wiened 70
Get out into tie world 10 see something -men who,
like Byron at home, began 10 feel the funeas OF pa
tety. Such men, when they JON regiment, do MT
know what 10 expect, and, as Dr. johnson said, the
expectatiOus Of ignorance indefinite. When such
men VINO have hitherto enjoyed all the clean, well
cooked palatable food and all the comforts OF home,
AM who have lived hitherto almost without re-
rfraint become soldiers, they then begin 70 aplTe-
eiste the personal comforts they ''iooshly lett be-
hind. They become hOInesick, querulous, ana often
defiant. They ICa'he the Ilsln, healthy food
which bOuniiu Government supplies soldiers, and
its cfamping rules soon become a. Old hing. Ibey
become sck Of the whole sairsick OF spending Tie
half OF their earnings he trash which greedy sut
lers and hut ksters bTug into camp and sell at twice
lie value Sick Of the march and afraid Of the battle
field thew coon begin 70 walk about like cattle ia
The mud cO1d, rainy winter uay. iHc| az
tackled by tie most understandable naladIer. Ihey
become deaf. Their joints become rheumatic.
have even known a powerful Methodist ezhorter
successfully try q new dodge. He became insane.
We have since learned from letters received IRON hi-
vicinity that he II clothed and IN his night mind
Tney resort 70 every stratages 10 evade Their duly
TO get The hospital and Il possible get dltcharge.
About half Of our army have deserted; counterfeit
sickness, or sIck, or have died, or been dls'
charged The deseTtere OF those discharged falsed
Il t.s I., af "a
life; bu, the sympathetic audience VIII not fan 10
observe that with the the great cause III which we
are engaged is only subordinate object. Their
main complaints are about food and the privations
Incidental to all campaigns, all OF which be bar
gained for ard more also, when be enlisted IL II
not shame and disgrace for those who call them
selves men, 10 III jure our cause b0th here ana at
home by showing the cowardly and halfdIsaiiected
how we are abused-hOw are treated, and fed
"worse than dogs" Wei may the South reproaoh
US for our sordid, Overeacing, nercenary, peddhng
natures. II we enlisted with 10 higher motives
than 10 howl about the "salt horse, &" Pay, pay
why III hi DO Mt the Government pay Us ~ we
had better give up the contest at once.
Another cause Of complaint IL the unreasonable
ness tho dishonesty, and utter ineftcency Of our
oficers. Here we have Just cause OF complaint.
They afe dishonest. Tie Colonel, QuarerInaster,
and Suffer- either relatives, old frien0s or other
wise understand another too well. In short,
Il is universally believed, with too much show Of
reason, that " They go in snucks" la our regi-
ment, Tor instance, brother Franks sutler goods
hauled by u. s. steamers, or by u. s. cars Not
only that, but whether they are BY U. S. steamer
Of u. 5. wagons, or Transported by the cars, in nine
eases out Of ten, it rather oddly happens that the
Snters red herring, preserved oysters, crackers,
cheese, &c, on the ground OF our new encamp-
ment one or two sometimes three days before our
pilot bread, salt junk, and beaos ovcrtake u.s. How
or WHY does this happen 30 oitenl What can be
the object? How does IL happen that Il email |
dOucear TO the engineer conductor 40 invariably |
secures front car for the Sutler's goods Verify |
there is something rotten ia other States than Den
mark.
Another complaint is that officers generally |
Of desperate fortunes, whore patriotisin the
breaking out OF the war; sudd,ny becoming rabid, |
strained every nerve 10 get up companies. Every |
man that could walk aud breeches room passed
the Doctor Their companies and regiments organ
.Aed then " Iio for the spols." Captains who
a:e alo ned tour rations, and Lieutenants who arc
allowed respectively three ana Two per diem, draw
the money for their own raions, and live for the
x,ost part out Of the rations drawn for the company
When they make ont the requisition for, and draw
sugar. tea, ham, fresh beef, vegetables, &c, they
siy!y lay IN supply for themselves out of that
Which was drawn for the company. Our Captain,