, 1862-06-02
GbG:: Gtihutt&.
Row 10 FILL THE RKGInENTs.

unteers. It is stated that one hundred
thousand are wanted. Recruiting Offices
are to be opened to fill up the emaciated
ranks Of the regiments in the field, all Of
which is right and proper. But We wish TO
ask the War Department why steps are not
taken to send back to their regiments the
soldiers who arc at home and well enough
IN refurn? Tie number Of such cannot
be less than eighty to one hundred thou
Band. Means are provided by which sick
soldiers are sent home from their regiments
quite promptly; but once home and well
again, how are they to return? By the
present method few will ever find their
way back to their regiments The army
is melting away and little or nothing is be-
ing done tc replenish it. We hear Of many
regiments reduced to two or three hundred
men. How does this happen7 Fifty may
have been killed in battle, and one hundred
disabled By wounds: fifty may have died
Of disease;- nifty may have been discharged
for physical disability. Here is q total Of
TWO hundred and fifty. When the regi-
mens took the field it was one thousand
strong. at roll call it now musters
We are told, but two hundred and fifty
men. What has become OF the other .1;re
hnndTeds Few regiments have suffered
bonn tdt, 60 great q loss as We have named.
Many regiments have not yet lost in killed
and wounded fifty men, nor more than
fifty by disease, aud yet they have NOW not
more than four to five hundred at roll call.
What has become Of the other four hun
dred with which these regiments entered
the field2 Tt can readily be explained.
When soldier gets sick he is apt to ask
for lcave to return home to get well The
surgeon is but too glad to procure him o
furlough to get rid Of him. In this way
thousands are sent home every week.
The, Government gives those men
free conveyance to their homes. But
how arc they to get back when they
are it for duty? And here is where there
Is q big screw loose, and where the beauty
ofred-tape is shown to perfection. Not q
thimbleful Of common sense is exhibited by
the officials whose duty it is to attend to
this important matter. See how It works !:
1st. The sick soldier is sent home on leave
Of absence to return tchen he considers
himself fit for duty. I'd. It is left
entirely to his discretion There are
plenty Of men who have been at
home three months and are perfectly
recovered, but have no thought Of return
ing until the scar is orer, when they will
report to draw their back pay and bounty.
Sd. If soldier wishes to 60 back to his regi
ment he is obliged to travel at his own pri-
vate expense, from his home to q Govern
mcnt post, and there be inspected by an
amy surgeon, and if he is pronounced
well aud ft for duty, the commanaant Of
the post is to provide him with pass to
his regiment; but if he fails to get the health
certificate heis obliged to return home at
his own expense. This is probably the
last time he will ever attempt to Join his
regiment 4th- There are in this State but
two places where returned soldier can
IND an army surgeon and procure trans
portatlon back to his regiment, viz: Chi
cago and Springfield, and they are distant
from one to two hundred miles from the
homes OF one-half OF the soldiers in Illinois,
How absurd it is to suppose, that men who
have Wlthstood the hardships and dangers
OF Blk or ten months Of army life, will
eV1nee much alacnty to return -particu-
larly as their pay goes on all the same
whether they are OF home on furlough OF
in the regiment?
If the Secretary Of War would take
steps to return to their regiments the
$4,000 TO 100000 men at home On in.
definite furloughs, he would in all proba
blliy discover that the new levy Of 100 oo{
men is not wanted The shortest anf
quickest way Of finding out who are fl
for duty and sending them back, is to order
the colonels Of the regiments from each
State, to send to their respective Governor;
list Of the absent soldiers, with theil
places Of residence. Let the Secretary O
War authorize the Governors to provide
conveyance for each soldier from his resi-
dence to his regiment, and to appoint
surgeon in each county to examine til
health Of all the returned soldiers. Til
lists might be sent by the governors to th
sheriffs, who would find those in thei
counties and notify them to apnear Mt ron
Fenient points to be inspected. and if foun,
capable Of duty to be forwarded at oncc +
their regiments. It would be surnrisin
how quickly the ranks would fill m sni
regiments that now muster from t}raa +
five hundred men would soon have fror
SIX to nine hundred at tie call Of the roll
When soldier becomes sick, as q Ger
era1 Tule it is best to send him strair1
home to get well 4 large mortality
thereby saved. But there should he strir
gent rules adopted for sending him back
his regiment just as soon as his health b:
recovered.
We invite the especial attention of II,
Secretary Of War to this imnortant ar1
jcet. lie is man POSSESSING cooa brs
ness seuse. Int uc f1or,ht rhot1,., - =.
eyer been correct1v ;,formo1 ac - =,
practical working Of the nrosont e;o
fu1lough system. else he won1d 1ara ~
rected it long aeo. Ger. HaJ1eck,s orm
has lost 10000 men within seven veal,
--1,o INV, too. 4,