Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-11-14
The condition Of our soldier..

The recent SNOW no doubt extended throughout
the valley of Virginia, where at least hundred
thousand Of our veteran troops already feeling
the sure approach of hard winter. Many ofthese
veterans are without shoes or blankets, or suitable
clothing. The last Richmond Dispatch gives the
following extract from letter written by soldier
in Armisteads brigade:
We had quite fall of snow here yesterday, and
it remained on the ground very we'll not beginning
to thaw. Ny feet are perfectly naked, and have
to tramp the frozen with bits of old blan
kets tied over them, which keep constantly coming
off. We are about marching; tents are struck,
baggage packed, and we are standing outhere wait
ing for the order to fall in"
Many of our soldiers in this State are without
Shoes and almost in rags An officer who took part
in the late conflicts in the Eastern part of this State
told US day or two since, that when the order to
advance on the enemy was given, scores of ragged
and shoeless veterans responded to the order with
sheus of enthusiasm, and in their bare feet marched
for miles through the snow, six inches deep, to
meet the invader. He had been in battle before,
but he so reused as he was on this occa-
sion by the sublime courage of these barefoot boys.
Though humble privates, they are really deserving
of the chief honor in this war; Every nerve should
be strained to provide for such men.
The last Richmond Wing, noticing the suffering
in our army, breaks forth Indignantly as follows:
"a few days ago scene was witnessed in our
streets which at last aroused the people to lively
sense of the real condition of our soldiers. A
number ofregiments marched down 9th street pass
ing the very door of the War Department. Citizens
standing near-there were no officials present; they
never are on such occasions-saw with their own
hat L..
make them believe. They saw numbers of soldiers
marching barefoot through the melting snow. Nor
was this all They saw them thinly Clad in ragged
and worn out clothes some of them without blan-
kets and without hats. This was spectacle to stir
the pulses even of speculator.
But there were some who took good care not to
witness so disagreeable sight. At the very mo-
ment this barefoot procession was passing the War
Department the President of the Confederate States
his Secretary of War, all the Cabinet officers the
QuartermaSter General and some thousands Of able
bodied young clerks, were sitting by rousng fires
toasting their well-shod feet and thinking of anyth-
ing but the soldier. 1t is not to be expected that
stout young fellows, who stink into government
drudges in order to get out of the army should
care cuch for anybody but themselves. 1t is not
to be expected that an administration, no member
of which was ever known to put his foot inside Of
hospital, or to bestow so much plate of soup on
sick private or to SEND one of their gorgeous We
hicles to bring in the wounded-it is not to be ex-
pected that such administration should care very
much for anything but the snubbing of men like
Price and Beauregard. Our political system makes
them secure in their places for six years. and it is
matter Of observation-disclosures to them what hap
pens, so long as they can draw their salaries and
reward their fsvorteS with the honors and bounties
of Government"
The above is sad and, we fear true picture
Enough hides were lost or thrown away last year,
ar Manassas, to have furnished shoes for half our
army. We learn from those who saw it done, that
they were piled by thousands in the Notifications
and covered with dirt Is there no forecaste in the
government? Or rather is it not true that a ma
ority of those commissioned to purchase shoes and
clothing, are mere partizans-appointed because
they were partlzans-and unfit for their places p
We were informed week or two since, by an off,
who visited Tennessee to purchase leather that
he met there several Confederate officers oithout
money, who were offering to purchase the leather
if the manufacturers would send it to Richmond,
and receive their pay for it there. OF they
got no leather, though there Was enough in that
partof Tennessee at the time to shoe thousands of
our troops. ..
The South had very great resources at the be-
ginning Of this war, but they have not been hus-
banded and applied as they should have been. But
for the contributions of the people, the cotdi ton of
our troops would have been much worse than it is.
The main reliance, it would seem, is still on the
people to clothe and shoe our troops, exhausted
they have been by former contributions and the
general drain of war; They will do their duty, and
if still greater suffering should be in store for our
brave boys lie cannot be said that the great body of
the people are to blame for it
The Enquirer protests in earnest terms against
the above article in the Wig, especially that por-
ton of it which reflects on the President and Secre
tary of War. 1t says that every requisitiOn made
from Gen. Lees army for shoes and clothing, has
been met 1t says, our cotemporary took counsel
of his wrath instead of his reason"