, 1862-08-30

mAR4CDING.
TIE mischief Of guarding rebel property
is TWO fold. While it encourages the en-
emy and disririts and degrades our own
soldiers, it tends to spread the opinion
through the army, that whatever property
is not fenced around with bayonets is law
tul plunder. Thus it is easy to see how
cne-half Of division might be employed
in protecting and the other half in plumber
ing the plantations Of an enemy's |
country. General Mcdowell once
issued an order requiring one Of
his subordinate officers to station
8 soldier, if necessary, over "eTe1y PANEL
OF e rebels fence. A regiment might easily |
have been disposed Of in this way, and it is
quite clear, from the language of the order,
that large portion Of his army were en-
gagged in plunderiDg the mans properly. |
How long it would take to put down the
rebellion with this. kind Of discipline pre-
xailipg in our ranks, it is not easy to say.
Probably several centuries.
There seems to be some mistaken and ab-
su1d notions afloat in the army, as to the
privileges that soldiers have to suppl all
tlen wants, and even indulge passion and
appetite, in making free use Of anything
they come across that belongs to the rebels.
The idea, however, is altogether wrong,
and all conduct prompted by it, should be
1ebuked and punished, as a wanton OUT
rage, and greatly injurious to the efficiency
of the army. All robbing, stealing, and
Iuarsuding are fully as reprehensible and
2s deserving Of condign punishment
though carried on in the country Of an
eLeny, as when done at home The
fact that u people are in arms against us,
aid that they arc rebels and traitors Of
The most a1rocious dye, and have levied
the most wanton aud wicked war against
us, docs not Justify any violation Of the
usagcs Of civilized warfare on our part,
and still less does it excuse any appropri-
atips 10 their own use Of the private pro-
pery Of rebels by our own soldicry: To
nolest, or seize, or destroy the goods OF
property Of rebels. save when it is done
urder proper military authority and order,
is to violate the laws Of war, and is just as
criminal and atroci"us as to steal, burn OF
rob in time Of 1a:.ce. To break through
enclosures, carry eff hogs and cat
tic, burn fences, clean out hen-1oosts,
sicze horses and mules, take away
Sheets and blankets, or appropriate in
any way to lis own use the private prop
er'y IF A rebel, is as truly an outrage and q
crime SIS i the sa1ue act were perpetrated
whcre it would be followed up by the
criminal code and the jail. Some soldiers,
we far, partly from mistaken notion as
TO the extent Of their privileges, and more
troma spirit Of iceuse and feeling oi
IMMUNITY, have perpe1rated deeds Of lar,
ceny, robbery aud violence, that have
made Them justly liable to segere punish
mcnt; and have both largely demoralizet
and deeply disgraced the army.
tits absolutely essential to the disciplln
and efficiency Of the Amy that all maraud
ing should be strictly prohibited and sternl
punished. Squads and bands Of rccklez
soldiery sweeping out from the ranks G
camps and seizing, consuming or destro,
lrg, whatever may seem good to their al
petites and lusts, or promise to CRAFTY
spirit Of insolcnce or malice, render q
army dcsolating and destroying scourg
Such conduct is also fatal to all order ct
discipline, and the army in which the Of
Gers hare not the wisdom or the nerve
prevent it, becomes in time utterly demo
allied and inefficient. We think vast
too much force and time have been list
and pains taken to guard rebel propert
We trust that the worst of this is orc
and that hereafter OUT so1diers will !
lut earnestly about the work tht
were sent to do; which was and is
crush this rebellion, and not to qua
rebel property. But to refuse to spe,
time in guarding rebel property, is not
same thing as to seize and destroy it 8
And tie soldier Is strangely stupid
wicked who thinks because he is not
dcred to guard rebel property, he is the
fore allowed to take and use it as he pleas
The truth is, the one course is quite
much opposed TO our success as the 9th
and both are to be condemned. For I
army to be guarding rebel property is
way to crush the rebellion; NEITHER sh
VIC ever end the war if our soldiers spe
most Of their time in marauding.
Soldiers must look to lae government
their supplies, and have no right to
seeking them in rebel houses or fel
Whatever supplies are needed for
army, it is the right and duty Of tue pro
military authority to seize aud appropri
from the rebel possessions near them.
think further, that whenever these S
Plies arc within reach, the proper ofat
should zee that their men are fully :.
abundantly furnished with them. 7
having been done SO generously that
man can complain Of being pinched
starved, then the law against msraud
should be unsparingly enforced. We do
send our soldiers into an cnemy's cou1
to have them suffer or star7e, 50 |
as what they need can be appropriated
obtained from the rebel region near Il
II Is 8 gccss and cuipahle neglect nc
have all their wants abundantly SUPP
If it te possible, but the soldier is boun
]ook to the proper department for al
supplies. He eapnot help himself from
enemy's fields or Stores without viola
The first rules Of discipline. And the off
is one SO grave in its results, so disast
70 a0 srbo1diugtiou or efficiency. an