Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-25
ThouSands Disabled.

In the performance CT our duties as journal
ist for a number of years we have had TO record
many disasters and unfortunate casualties, but
though we have mentioned many that have been
occasoned by cars running off the track, the
explosion of powder magazines, the bursting OF
boilers en- Steamboat and Railroad engines. the
falling ct houses, volcanic eruptons, earthquakes
and all the ''moving accidents of flood and field"
yet we have never been called upon to record
such number of persons disabled by any or all
of these agencies combined as have been caused
by an occurrence which recently happened in
this State. The 10th of March marks an epoch
in the history of this State, for on that day a
countless host of disabled men were evoked from
the bosom of this State, AID it was made mani
fest that our good old mother had a vast number
of weak, enfeebed, diseased, crippled, deformed,
and sickly children-many shaky in the knees,
weak in the back and faint hearted. If our
weakness be our strength, and our host of disa-
abled men cur sLield of defence, our State is in
deed invincbe. Some may think that Gov
Lecher is guilty of treason in giving 'aid and
comfort to the enemy by exhibiting, by his
proclamation of the 10th irst., the disabled con-
dition of our people, but the second sober
thought will convince them that he has doubt
less deferred the enemy from advancing any far
ther into our State by showing them the danger
of attempting to occupy a country which is so
sickly as TO have SO many thousands OF diseased
and disabled citizens. If the climate be SO un-
healthy to natl se citizens, they will naturally
and reasonably infer that it must prove fatal to
unacclimated invaders, and will avoid its sill as
they would house of pestilence. We would
not be surprised if the Governor woald issue a
proclamation publishing the number, Ct the emu
neration table could furnish number sufficient
ly large) of disabled exempts, for the purpose of
expelling the enemy from the State. We think
if he would do so that the enemy would do what
Lincoln commanded US 10 do-"disperse and go
to their homes"-tl.ey would leave the State in
ssdouble>quick, ard fly from it as from city
of the plague.
Some from the counties of Rockingham and
Augusta not physically, but politically diseased,
having, it is surmised, the plague spot of treason
upon their souls, in very unpa ,rotic and unmili-
tary style marched off with tie view of leaving
s'Dixie's land" where they should have taken
their "stand," and getting within the lines of the
enemy. Before reaching the lines of the enemy,
however, they were taken in charge by the
Confederate pckets and escorted to Staunton.-
As their cases VI ere so bad, as to be beyond the
skill of the rural disciples of Ksculapius they
were sent on to the Metropolis where the proper
treatment adapted to such desperate cases could
be administered 1t may be possible that they
were mere rash than brave, and Iatriotic be-
yond the limits of prudence were too impatient
to meet the enemy to await the word of COM
mand. They could not wait till they reported
to Genl jackson and then march to the conflict
but ran to meet the enemy at the nearest point