Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-12-31
CLEARFELD, PA WEDNESDAY, DEC 81, 1862

went home. Subsequently they were ar.
rested as deserters, put in there and can't
get out,
Col. Belknap, who was in command
seemed willing and anxious to mend mat,
ters. lie said he would shrink from no
responsibility or duty, but he had not
full control; he was interfered with; he
could not compel the surgeons to act and
two OF them were at loggerheuds, each
claiming to be chief. His acquisitions
were not promptly filled, and irhe sent to
the Quartermaster General for teams, he
was told they had such a numbcrand that
was enough while the fact was, many oi
those charged to him had been captured
by the rebels some time ago.
The trouble, | think, begins with the
doctors. Nothing can be done without an
official examination, and they don't exam,
inc aquarter fast enough. There should
be halSa dozen examining boards, Yet
slow as they are, tbe papers will bo gone
two or three weeks to Washington for ap>
proyal. They should examine every man
at once; if he is down sick, send him to a
hospital; if we'll, to his regiment if in.
durable, discharge him. Send them off
somewhere, anywhere but for Gods sake,
don keep them there 10 die by inches
Hundreds OLIVES, doubt not, have been
uselessly, recklessIy sacrificed there alrea-
dy, and hundreds more will be, unless
Congress applies the emedy, for the Med
cal Department won't, or it could have
done so lorg ago,
Then, I mistruSt, there are a set OF
thieying, shittless middle men and under
officials, who oppress the soldier by their
petty power and flch his food. If he
wants to sell some articles for others bis
sickly appetite will relish, which is accor'
ding TO army regulations the rations are
stopped. The presumption is that when
soldiers are short, in such place as Alex
andiia, there is a gross neglect of official
duty or thieving officials somewhere, for
the Government is not at fault. No sol
diers were ever more bountilulIy furnish-
ed as ours are now. And there is not oae
particle of necessity or excuse for suffer.
ing, or even hard fare in this or any Other
camp so easy ofaccess, if officials do their
duty as the men will do theirs.
1t is pitiful enough to see so many poor
brokenrspirited crippled fellows gather
around man who comes in TO look up a
friend, and plead with tears and offers OF
all their four or six, or eight months back
pay, for many of them havn't had a cent
in six months, If he would only help them
out. They have asked, and looked and
waited, month after month TO be examined,
They think if they have some member OF
Congress, or influential friend, to give in
their names, they will receive attention
and so they will But alone and unaided
they look upon all effort as useless. If
they make complaint OF abuses, they say
they are gyufliy repulsed aud tod to mind
their own business. This for men living
perhaps in luxury at home, and quite su'
perior ir position and worth 20 many Of
their petty tyrants, comes little tough
on true, freeborn American citizens. And
thus the brave, high spirited, enthusiastic
young men who palriotcally left friends
and luxuries, and all the heart calls a
home, with a glowing enthusiasm to carry
the old flag bravely through the battle
storm, or die beneath its starry folds, be,
becomes the spiritless, detected, ruined
objects of pity, caring little whether he
lives or dies. Sir it is one OF the saddest
sights of my life. And the remedy is with
the press and the people. Let them set
their Congressman at work, for they eau
reform these abuses if they will.