The New York herald., 1862-11-20
Omccrs Absent from the Army.


We are now promised new and stringent
orders in regard to officers absent from the army.
We are told that the President has put his foot
down firmly, and will force such officers either to
return Immediately to their posts of duty or to
incur severe penalties and almost insupportable
disgrace. Such statements have been made so
often, however, that we must refrain from be-
ing very sanguine about the matter and would
very greatly prefer to SEQ the orders thus fore.
shadowed, and to find these orders strictly exc
cuted after they are promulgated. 1t may be
possible, after all, that the War Department
really means business at last. and that we are
to have an end to this disgraceful absenteeism.
II so, the reform comes not moment too soon.
In Washington the approach of great battle
may be accurately predicted from the sudden
increase in the number of officers in uniform
about the hotels If these officers were thus
congregated to rush forward and assist in the
coming battle, this fact might speak we'll for
their courage and patriotism Unfortunately.
however, the tide always sets just the other
way. Officers coming from the army, not Of
fcers pressing forward to the battle field, cause
these remarkable freshets of shoulderstraps
which deluge the Washington hotel corridors
Just on the eve Of a terrible conflict. How,
then, is this circumstance to be interpreted
What does it argue in regard to the courage
and patriotism of our military men? We sup
pose that careful observation would de-
velop the same state of affairs in this
city but the fact is that there are
such crowds of epauletted officers on our
streets at all times that it is very difficult to
perceive whether or not they increase when
battles are in prospect. Beginning at the
Astor House, around which these military
men swarm in great numbers, you find all
Broadway brilliant with new gold lace and
snowy uniforms, on any fine day during the
week. Comparatively few Of these officers are
here on duty, and those who are have the least
gold lace and the shabbiest uniforms. Indeed,
it is well established fact that our really SER
yiceable officers of the army and navy seldom
wear their uniforms on the public street. You
may pass on Broadway generals and colonels,
celebrated in many battles; but by their dress
alone no one could distinguish them from ordf-
nary citizens. A second lieutenant, connected,
perhaps, with company not yet recruited, be-
longing to regiment not yet organized, flashes
by, however, glittering as if he had been
through shower of gilt buttons and yellow
tape, changing his sword SO as to frighten all
the poor omnibus horses, inficting dreadful
damage upon the ladies' dresses with his long
spurs, and impressing every unsophisticated
person with the idea that he is either General
Mcclellan or Halleck, when in truth Mcclellan
and Halleck are remarkable for the entire alb
sence Of military finery in their personal habili-
ments. We can very readily excuse the vanity
ofyoung officers who wish to show their new SOL
dier clothes and inform the world that they have
oinsd the army. What we cannot excuse is the
mpropriety Of selecting Broadway instead of
he battle field as the place for this display
Murat glittered with stars, orders and decora-
charging upon the enemy.
We hope that the orders to be issued by the
War Department will be rigidly enforced, and
will soon put an end to this shoulderstrap
nuisance. We trust, also, that many of our
Broadway officers will take the hint and push
on to the wars before the orders are issued. If
necessarily detained here, let such officers wear
their uniforms as seldom as is compatible with
their duties People read in the papers Of Off
GERS absent without leave, having disgracefi,lly
deserted their commands, and are very apt to
believe that these snowy officers on Broadway
belong to the number of these shameful absen-
tees. Even the ladies have ceased to admire
hny hn pnf hoII
win their spurs before wearing them so conspi-
cuously A thorough reform in this matter of
absenteeism would greatly benefit the army,
relieve the community and exonerate from un-
just suspicious officers who are obliged to remain
temporarily in the city; for If no officer were
allowed to be absent causelessly we should at
once understand that all who are seen about the
city are here upon important military business,
and should respect them accordingly.
The NAVY DEPARTMENT BEGINNING TO WAKE
UP-The Navy Department Is beginning to
be aroused to the fact that the United
States Navy is in want of all the fast
vessels that can be obtained. It has in
consequence Withdrawn the steamers Connecti-
cut and Rhode Island from the beef and
passenger business, and ordered their i'm
mediate fitting out as active cruisers. Had this
been done q year since we should have had
more captures Of Anglo-rebel steamers to record.
The Nashville, Ella Warley, Kate and many
others would not have made SO many successful
trips and IL is safe to say that not onehalf tho
arms and munitions Of war shipped from Eng
land would have entered the Southern ports
had the Connecticut and Rhode Island and SINH
lar vessels been cruising of the Bahama Islands
during the last winter and spring.
Again, when the Alabama was first heard
FROM destroying our merchant ships, these two
steamers, had they been properly fitted out and