American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-10-17
Our Arn;y----Its treat Deeds. IFS Trials
lis Snler.f:s,,s, and rs periss III tn
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WIScHEsrER, VA, Sept &c, 1902
Ny condition is such. as to render it I'M
possible for me to rcioin the army for the
present | was not pre- pafed for the hard-
ships, exposures and Hastings the army has
encountered since it left the Rappahan-
mock, and like many a seasoned cam-
paigner, have hadfto fall out By the Way
Iaaeed, can recall no parallel instance in
history, except Napoleon's disastrous retreat
from Mescow, where an army hasserer done
more mevehing and ligh ting, under such
great disadvantages, than Gen. Lees has
done since 1t left The banks Of james river
Itproceeded directly to the line Of the Rap-E
pailannock and moving out from that river,
it fought its way to the Potomac, crossed
that strearn and moved on to Fredcricktown
and Hagerstown, had heavy engagement at
Boonsboro Gap, and another at Crampton
Gap below, 70 ght the greatest pitched bat
tie Of The war at Sharpsb urg,s and then re-
crossed the Potomac. back into vlrginia.<
During al this time, covering the full space
of q mouth, the troops rested but four days
And let it always be remenabefed to their
honor. that OF the men who performed this
wonderful feat, Que 9th Of them were bare
footed, aud one half of them in rags, i inc th
whole Of them half FINISHED. Z lie country
from the Rappahannock 10 The Potomac had
been visited by fire md sword, and our
transportation was Insufficient to keep the
army suppiftu IT0uSsSo ufSltHt y OdSe as
Gordonsvilie; when the provision trains
would overtake the army, so pressing were
the exgencies of their position, the men
seldom had time toxcook. Their difficUl tiles
were increased by the fact that their cook
ing utensils, IN nrany cases, bad been left
behind. as web ass everything else that
would impede their movements. It was not
have barrel OF flouradistribntcd to them,
which it was utteriy impossible to convert
into bread with the means and time allowed
TO tt&m. They could not procure even
piece of plank or ascorns or -four sack, upon
which to work up their dough.
/. Do you wonder, them. that there should |
have been straggIers from the army That3
brave and true men should have fsllen out 81 I
line from sheer exhaustion, or in their efforts i
TO obtain mouthfnlt to eat along the road
side3 Or that many seasoned veterans, thed
the svailcy at Richmond and {
Manassas, should have succumed to disease
,nd been forced back TO the hospital? I
ook to hear great outcry raised against
he straggiers. ALREADY lazy cavalry men /
md dainty staff officers and quartermasters,
yho-are mounted asd can forage the CONN Il
ry for Something 70 eat, are condemning the 4
weary private, who, notwithstanding bis Il
BODY may be covered with dust aud perspira- Is
ion, and bis feet with stone bruises, is sex-
,ected to trudge along lnder hi sknapsack +
md cartridge box, ION an empty stomach,
md never to- turn aside for morseI of food
Q sustain his sinking limbs Out upon Is
uch INDUSTRIOUS injustice That here has
zen unnecessary stragglers. is la iii adj
atted but in large majoritE of 81 $, Tia
zen have only to point to fheiz eediax Il
Get, tattered garfnenfs and gaunt Ixqfaes tor
n answer to the uni usf seh arre. ss q - 81
No army on this conIisl6af haa 6I6r ac-
omflished as much or suffered as n1aeh; as