The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-24
commnnlsatlsns
For tho Nashville Unions


laNlieesA NAshvfrfE, Aug. y, 1862. Z
mn. EbTToR-- Dear siy Ills lament
able fact that our objects and eezsnon
soldiers do not work together as harmO-
niously as Che success OF ourarms imper-
atiyely demands. Many Of our officers
have become 50 o4srbesring and tyrahni-
oaIiibat they arc objects Of intense ha-
hcd, whose orders are only obeyed
through fear Of military punishment, and
50 far has this spirit infused itself into
our army that our soldiers seek all man
her Of pretexts 70 keep away from their
companies Many Of them feign diseas-
% and get discharged, others obtain
details that they may avoid returning to
their regiments. sdWhy Il this?t Why
do men exhaust their wits IA trying to
keep from their regiments, when the state
Of the country actually fequires every
man al his post q Isit because they lael,
the manly coutase 10 face the deadly
cannon? no, 4 cannot bea waht'of couq-
age, for many Of them have shown theia-
celYes brave ON the battle field, nor are
they sick Of The service, or displeased
with the conduct Of the GOVERNMENT, for
wen they know that their cause Is holy
one, and the Government has done every
thing TO encourage the private soldier.
Bat ths fault seems TO rest more In tie
officer than in his inferior. The Gov
erhment commissioned him to instruct
those coniided TO his charge as much by
example os precept. in teaching the.
principles ofmilitary discipline he is
expected 70 take a course which viii
make his soldiers love, respect and fight
Tor him, He is expected TO look after
their interests, 70 see that they get the
full rations provided them by the Cow
rrnment He is expectedto take proper
care Of his sick, and on sending them 70
hospitals to provide them with descriptive
lists, that they may draw their monthly
dues. In fact he is expected to be their
guardian and guide, and their happiness
or misery depends much upon the.c9nduct
of their officers. II they spend their
timein druhkness and debauGhery, their
soldiers will follow their examples. II
they neglect to discipline their men, and
tyrannize over them, the latter win surely
relax into state Of indifference and be :
come'9p easy prey TO theeHemg j. am
satisfied that this disssntion is wor king
detrimehtally to our cause; men seem TO
strive to get out OF the service, when they
should be proud Of bearing arms in de-
fence Of our country; but J hope this Sc
fious difficulty win soon be eradlcated.
Officers should remember that their sol |
diers are entitled TO respect; that many
Of them left lucrative positions and be- I
loved homes, not for commissions but 1
solely TO defend their endangered. instl. /
tutions; that they are theiteaials, in eve \
ny thing else except military rank, and
are not to be treated like dogs, or slaves,
but ike freemen engaged in great and
holy work worthy of-perfeot unanimiiy.
Then the soldier should learp, 10, love and
resfeeEbis sepeifors Ne should place
implicit confidence in his commander and
% his request be ready to walk up to The
lannon's mouth, and il needs be offer up
his'life on the altar Of his coVntry. :
A SoIDTFR