The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-11-14
DRUNKENNESS IN THE ARMY.

We are not aware that any effort has been
successfully made by the Temperance Soci-
eties to collect statistics of the spread of
drunkenness in the army, hut the matter is
one of prime Importance and should be at
tended to. MIR Cough was recently an
nounced to lecture on this topic at Cooper
institute; but, on taking the stand, he frank
~ confessed that, he had no data for con-
nected argument, and should, therefore, con-
fine himself to the discussion of intemper-
ance generally. 1t may fairly be said that
onc-hslf of the young officers and men of our
volunteer service are becoming addicted to
the habit Of using intoxicating liquors. We
shrink from an estimate of the proportion
of those who become confirmed drunkards
before the expiration of their term of en-
Iistment, but it will be fearfully great. Off
GERS of all ranks, from the highest to the
lowest, have fallen victim to their appetites,
by scores upon scores, and among the num-
Der many of the highest premise. Generals
have ridden unsteadily along the lines of
battle under the influence of drink, colonels
have staggered at the head of their ,egi-
ments in the charge, and majors, in maudlin
excitement, misplaced or sacrificed batallions.
None knew how much drink may have had
to do with the reverses We have met in bat
tie since the war began. 1t is held to be
proper that officers should keep liquor in
their tents for the entertainment of friends,
and custom compels them to drink for fear
of seeming singular. Let an army corps lie
in camp for week, and one will hardly find
wall which does not cover a bottle of
whiskey, nor pass guard-house where sol
'Iicrs are not tIsd by their thumbs to posts,
OF otherwise being punished for drunken
ness. Is town entered or city taken, the
struggling soldiers rush to every rum-hole
and fill the cautecns with villa. liquor they
can find, and the provost guard must be
quick indeed if they would prevent scenes
of noting and drunkenness. When the pay.
master comes, the men, careless of conse
quenccs, buy wretchcd liquor at fabulous
prices, and give themselves up to theil
beaStly appetite for drink. We have known
} of instances of 50 being paid for canteenful:
Of whiskey, and as much or more for bottle
/ fuls and this by mcl who left home TEN
peratc and respectable. But for all this, w
would not have it thought that the condition
E Of our army is as bad in this respect as tina
: q the rebels, which has at times been 81
e scourged by the intemperance Of officers ant
S prlvates that sumptuary laws were deem
n ed necessary by the rebel Congress. Th
j restraining influences of home, through tn
: letters and newspapers which 60 to our camp
r by tuns weight daily, keep our soldiers tror
: harm in many instances where they woui
: otherwise fall. 1t is bad enough, though
J. terribly bad; and something should be don
e by Government to stay the awful tide of NIL
e cry which is rolling back upon the COMMIT
= nifty.
n 1t may be asked why, with articles of VIZ
if prohibiting the use of liquor under stringer
d penalties. and even forbidding its introdu
IS ton into camp, all this intempererance shoul
rs exist. But it must be remembered tn
- each regiment is allowed to have suite
ID who is to be bound by certain restriction
E. and that the class Of men who usually acce
l. this are those who do not thrive, or at lea
le have not thrived, in ordinary business, a,
s. too often are wholly devoid Of moral prin
e, pie. To such it matters little that the ss
e. of liquor is forbidden; they will smuggle
into camp for the sake of the enormous pr
its it pays. So long as they make their t'
RS or three or five hundred per cent they do r
as care a zig how many drunkards they NAL
ad how many officers they break, how ma
10 good soldiers they turn into sots. To tht
'ut harpies, ten times more than to any otl
cause, must the drunkennesss in the arl