Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-06-13


S1ne try Of the critic pu, Il sqgirss scqssntsDc,
With :ae science Of vaF and kaosleSg Of tbs ny5s
terry Of tac'ics dccver TIC indispensable necessity Of
oss,Aia preliminary conditions to success n battle
WaEJevsr ddsrences Of opinion may exist anorg ct
zs1s Or soldiers the amount Of din required 20
miks ioleat army, al cosoGT in the conviction that
d'se'PlHs risi and thorough is OF vital Importance
Tais alone Distinguishes an army from MO- II is tie
source and sdsgg.-d Of Ori.r-ths primal law Of or.
gz1'EaiOa-tle OHy means Of producing and perpetr-
81 has unity Of Pu-Poss and action which constitutes
ai once the pJFer add toe protection Of q Command
A. Impression prevails that the volunteer service cannot
b. mauaged BY the rules and governed according
% ae same AVS EAca haze Jssn successfully applied to
regular troop; b.; believe this to be a mistake
"a out Of the TaaUssr of enforcing obedience to
ta' e Or soldiers ara in mos: cses intelligent
warmly enlisted IA the oIase aad wiling to do and sue.
Ela'eEsr s Necessary 70 the success OF srus
gle But their patience irsqaen,ly taxed by the capri
Co Of cseF who have no system and who in the orders
tcey Issue, and the punishments they aeL are
gdrd by their humor more than sense OF duty. Ere
qE5oy they rude n their bearing and often insult;
~ N tosir language to the men, which begets
u mt towards themselves and an indGreuce to discp-
Inc Tue officer who thus behaves not only risks bis
p 9ladon In tae hour Of trial and hsz,rts tie elsrac-
e Of bis troops bu deserves the exeeratou Of Ill good
ap for BY bis misconduct be eools the srdor Of tie
sota--ias - aud rerdsfs odous even TO the pa
70 C, service n Which the soldier constantly sub
Cd 10 indis4isiss which he eau neither redress nor
scps The tssIt lies with the officer and not with the
nsl We do 10 say thas there arc none in ihs
army Eao ressO: their du'y and avail themselves OF
evry opportunity 10 violate their obligations We coz.
code here are many, very many, who gladly plead any
and every pre,eI 10 their ielIqueuces but they
compose very meAgre minority. TIE moral tone Of
Toe Army s high aud its spirit admirable. Cultivate
this tone-apPeAl u this spz and the skulkcg
unO thFong the hospitals under a stimulation OF seknes
o. lounge about camp leaving Others do their work
would DC shamsi into good soldiers promptly handed
oVsC 70 punishment. Ulder competent aad conscivn.
tous efh,srs our army could soon be brought into
state Of discipline which would make It iavincibe by any
t1res The enemy nigh: bring lsAins: Us,
Wat s required 20 secure such = results
We answer, that discipline to be effective mrs: be
thOrouga-psrvading al ranks and governing every de-
tail, however minute. While ornamental aids Of high
military flac;oaare5 eAnter through the streets or eY
hoidOn, or ssuatSr in billiard gambling saloons
officers, Of every grade, in all the bright emo inry
Of lace" lounge about Richmond Hotels and private
paror, cannot reasonably bs expected that common
soldiers should Always DO found AZ their proper places
N camp. The officers Of every department should be
a. their post personally suparintonding its duties =
TIE Colonel Of the Regiment, with all Of his
sa5oriina.es to manage the military movements
Of the meu. The = arsrmlstes, 70 supply whatever
pertains 70 biz dsPlrtmsn-slo.hiag fus, stationery,
u tsansPortAs0f and in he intervals repairing damages
done % wagons recruiting his teAns and having every
thing in readiness to move promptly when ordered
Tie CJmmsssry % tsrosh provisions aud make up BY
diligence in the discovery ard purchase Of articles from
the surrounding country, for the deficiency in many
things prescribed BY the Army Regulations but not is
sued 10 the troops The Sgrgson hear examine and
administer to the SEX providing NOT oay for ho msd;
CausnL bu: FER ths,r comfort suggesting tygisn.c sr.
ra-senents in their camp prevent ds'ass, ard
prove tho general health Of the regiment Egerythn..
which IS doae, from "rsysle" to sap shouli conform
to prescribed rule aad proceed according TO in.egeu,
regulation.
~; only sac1'j diei2ias b, H5roggL per vsdi1g 81
"a K, I'D regulating eTsfy dsta, 81: it sh,ud be uui
fo. cor reused mo y5le-, exercise OF the eve Of
oa,te, o, The enhancement Of march a, d eaDs
ia profound = psle shea ne: simulated b. such emer
ge1cigs a slao15 ell iscip.ae. Il sKasreratgs win
or improving The sans Systematic gOyeFrnen, ought
to preside ever every days duties, and habit would
make h. most ,I,c;irs dseiPlas tOleraSle.
Ds,Flae should be scrupal,Qy impsr,isl, for favor
i:m, tOssver sIg5s or iBf-,quent will denoraizs any
SonnA-d robs su.bOri'y OF al respect and makes
Oosdiscoe Odioua TIE sense Of ustce in an army s
lc1, tender and siEost ursIrng. Aad the efser sho
WOOuds Il uasOrsy of bis raIk and impOtent to en-
free obedience 10 his Orie,s
TIE la; r,Qlrsmen. to success, in the thorough or
Rlnzton Of troop il the promp: and certain eon
0i PalsLe1i for tiso5edieuce An order which can be
s7Adsd violated viii iupuaiy, besides producing no
gaoi rssal DOES absolute injury By bringing into con.
tempt che au,hcr which issues t. More, even, than
this while Il operates, the exemption Of those who d-
honestly avid duty, i, imposes heavier burhers upon
the considerations soldier and thus produces general dis
oCaiert and Generalization.
What We have sad Of regmsntal officers applies with
greater force to bIgades, divisions, corps ard in fact
tc he Ehoe organized army for you ascend in grade
lie Of duty aud responsibility ought to increase.
Wat Ncud te the cons quenees Of discipline nsti-
tu.ed administered aqd perfected on the principles
hsys i5d e,,sd' Ehch are simply the principles pre-
scr0ed and n tired BY the Army R'gulstiOrs) Tits
oi,J Hoald be filed with uniformed idlers the
country crowded Wish stragglsrs from camp. gmfnts
watch nov call for thousand twelve bundled n OF
o. Their mus.erros but have four Eve hundred only
Pesent il eolloD, would soon swell TO their prOpe'
complement The duties which fall so heavily on few
would be distributed among many. The health Of the
HLOs army SOud improve, having plenty to eat plenty
to wear plenty to do, and proper from their
EeoEs The spirit Of the army would be terminated -
When the battle there would be no SlEPriSs but
buoyant courageous and strong the troops would meet
ls with uadauassd 'front.' There would be no confusion