Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-02
Neees.i., d pi.elpIlna r. lhe A..

Order is the first law of armies Without
! nothing is certain. The Charleston Merearg, i
: some well considered reflections, establishes th
!, importance and necessity of discipline in an al
' my, and at the same time, draws the destinctio
between strictness and harshness. These oh
servations might be read with profit by man,
officers who have yet to learn that discipline i
not incompatible with kindness:
1t is the highest duty of officers to establish
discipline. Nor is strict discipline incompatible
with kindness and justice There is a broad
distinction between strictness and harshness-
kindness and familiarity-between self.respeci
and haughtiness. And all officers should strive
70 appreciate the difference. While it is their
duty to be strict and kind, and to preserve their
own seltrespect there is no reason for hauehti-
ness, or familiarity, or harshness and these
distinct qualities are often antagonistic. Firm
ness and self-contrOl are prime qualities to the
! power of command
! Military operations depend greatly upon pre-
| cision in calculations and in movements. To
be handled in the field, armies must be in hand.
so completely subOrdinated to the will of the
commanding officers as to move like clock
work Every part of the machinery has its al
lotted function assigned, and the failme of any
one part may derange and defeat the object of
the whole combination Otherwise, ali is a
chaPter OF accidents, without the guidance Of
head-the result eff blunders and bluRderers.
Inc army OF the North has, during the last
year, been converted into an army Of regulars.
Their officers have been subjected to examina-
ton, and removed for incompetency without
scruple. Efficiency and success have been made
the tests OF merit and promotion Their troops
have been subjected to rigorous discipline ac-
cordng to the letter and spirit of the army regu
latlons. Their drill has been energetic and IN |
1agglng. Their courts martial have done their |
work A year in camp, under these circum- |
stances, has served to make Northern troops as |
efficient as their previous unacquaintance with |
weapons, their inferior material, and their lack /
OF patriotic spirit in an unrighteous war of sub
Jugatlon could make them. How is it with the /
South?
Our troops are composed Of far better mate
rial and of higher morale Our men are well
acquainted with firearms, and fighting for all
that Teemen value, are more desperate But
except the old army of Gen. Johnston, of Vir-
glnla, and Gen. Bragg's Pensacola troops, and
mere ana there company or regiment, ara not
oy any means, what they should be in point of
discipline and drill. Many of our volunteer
companies and regiments are very inferior to reg
llars. Our armies are filed with officers who
aspire to political preferment, and who value
heir own personal popularity more than they do
he efficiency of their commands, or the service
hese may be capable of rendering the country.
The repeated election of officers, company and
ield, has not mended this tendency to dema-
,oguism.
Officers have been timid about establishing
trict discipline, or sUbjecting their troops to
ne hesdlsagreeableness of thorough and system
TIC drill. Although, by drilling and discipline,
rmly and justly conducted. the troops are GER
ain to acquire greater confidence in their Officers,
nd In time to appreciate the propriety and i'm
ortance OF such measures as may be necessary.
We believe there is much need in the Southern
rmles for turning over new leaf in such mat =.
9rs. Let generals and field officers set exam
les and encourage this vital work. It will tell .,
I the day of trial. The laxity of demagogue-
I'M and popularity hunting are the bane of the 1
oQthern armies. Duty and efficiency should
ather be the governing principles of officers /
nd men alike The time for the agreeable is s
asst and trifing is now out of place.