The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1862-10-16
aUARTERmAsTER AND coMMIssaR4 DE
PARTalENTs.

QUARTERMAsTER AND coMMIssARx De-
PAYMENTS.
There are no positions in the army Of
more Importance, upon the proper manage
ment of which depend more its strength
and efficiency, than those Of QuartermRster;
aud Gommissaries Napoleon Bonaparte.
who well understood everything necessary To
constitute a. powerful and successful army,
selected his best officers to fill these depart
ments We are compelled, on account Of
our deficiency in educated army officers, to
select the best men we can get from the
ranks of those Who haze heretofore been in
civillife. In some instances we have Sc
cured admirable officers, and in others we
have made miserable failures. We know
it is usual to complain of these officers in
discriminatory, butsthis is all wrong. If a
man does his duty, his whole duty, in either
of these departments, he is rendering the
country and the army great service. But if
he is either dishonest or inefficient, he is a
great injury to the cause. The first great
requisite in either Of these departments is
strict integrity The men who fill, them
should feel that there is something dear
er than money, and that is stainless
reputation. No man ought to be either
Quartermaster or Commissary who desires
TO make one cent out of the Government ex7
cept his salary. The fact that a manIis d
good business man, man of energy and
shrewdness, does not always show that he
is suitable for these positions, because his
very shrcwdness and business capacity, I'M
less it is combined with ineprruptible iAtegt
iity, may the better enable him to swHndIe
the Government without being detected-
The Quartermaster having charge of thd
transportation should soc that the army not
only has good wagons and teams, but BID
should also see that they are we'll ,takcu care
OF. We have seen teamsters, during the
hot months of last summer, in the STATE Of
Mississippi, driving their teams in a swift
trot when there was not the least necessity
fer 50 doing, therby seriously injuriag their
stock This IS only one out Of number Of
instances where there is neglect Tho
Quarternaster should see that everything Il
in good condition and that it is kept sps-
Some regiments have fine horses aud mules
and in excellent condition, whilst Others Have
such poor, wornout teams that they can
scarcely ret along All these matters cHlne
properly under the management of thd
QGartermasters The greatest complaint
made against these officers IS that they hsd
the Offices for their own individual gain. LII
some instances this may be true, but for the
good Of the country and fer the honor of Fhe
service we hope such eases arc rare. The
man who now, in this hour OF trial, whehl4ll
the energies of our country are needed ID
gain our independence, uses his official pot
siti6n to advance his private interests is furE
.her gone In infqnity than We ale willing
to believe many men are Such men af9
guilty Of high crimes They yiNlate the
oaths they have taken to faithfully serve.
the Confederate States, besides being guilty
of dishonesty We know there is room fbt
fraud, and we think there ought to be strict
and rigid exam ination into these matters
but We ought not to believe men guilty mt
I'll we have some proof against them Me1
Of the highest standing, who value character
more than money, ought to fill these pesiE
lions; and We think the error with Us has
been that we have never attached enough
importance to them, and have thought any
body would do for Quartermaster or Com
missary- This is agrieyous mistake and the
sooner. we remedy it the better will it BIZ for
our cause. We know there are many temp
tations and frequent opportunities for fraud,
which we will hereafter point out, but thiF
only shows that men above suspicion should
ill these Offices. Improvements can BE-
made upon the present system, and We will
endeayor to show in what manner this may
be done. Let this suffice for the present.
- Sock MANUTAcToRY.--An enterprising firm
in Wilmington, y. c., has factory in opera
ton in that city that turns out daily 1000 pairs
Of thick, strong and soft socks, suitable for