Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-11-01
VOLUME 26.
Our State Military Management.

Our State Military Management.
The following, from correspondent, is
sensible and sharp, little too sharp, we
suspect, on Governor Curtin. While we
have no doubt Of the existence of the abu-
ses spoken of, we are reluctant to believe
that they were winked at by, or even
known TO-, the Governor.
TO The Editor ef1e Phiia Epcning Journal:
Under the head Of "The Draft and the
Exempts," is given the report of a large
meeting in Spring Garden, the meeting
being of three months volunteers, who
claim exemption from being subject to the
Draft member stated that it was
apparent that competent military men are
obliged to 90 without a command, while
preference is given to men ignorant of mil
ltary duties that competent persons who
had gone to Harrisburg, had been ignored
and "aImost been told plainly or given to
understand that if they desired to be COM
mssioned they must pay for it," This can
be proved before Committee of the Legis.
lature if it is denied by ''tho powers that
be-"
. "'ii ouat0 thdt auuleSsco, Dy letter
Governor Curtin, two or three times, offer
ing my services TO organise regiment or
kbrigade, of volunteers. offered to equip,
at my own expenses, "a regiment Of cavalry.
received hardly courteous reply saying
there was no rcquisitiou for any more troops
when, in fact, Mr.. Curtin was constantly
receiving compqn,es at Harrisburg for mil
itary instruction and to be organised into
regiments. The company officers, many
Of them, were enabled to raise companies
by having to pay whippers in or comnoss-
Si0a brokers', who had the back stairs entire
or negotiated with the magnates at so much
cash for each sheepskin which authorized
straps and cockfeathers to be mounted
| for consideration Of from one hundred to
live hundred dollars, paid for Lieutenant
ci,s and captaincies, and to a thousand or
more for chaplains, surgeons, majors, lieut.
enant colonel aud ooloneloies.
| When these were given, then the COM
panies were organized into regiments, if
the men SO appointed could not hand over
the cash or bon~S, they agreed to pass
over 10 the manager their orders or
monthly pay accounts for the purchase
money. Many of the officers, strapped
and teathered on trust by the tailors have
been working, as they say in the army,
for dead horse, ever since, as the pur-
chase OF their commissions absorbed from
two to five months, pay and emolumepts.
Such transactions every ri ht minded man
would say are infamous. Those who ex-
acted such commissions are disgrace to
the position they hold, and only such per-
sons as are insensible to common self
respect, and totally unfit to bo placed in
positions requiring educated minds, and
experienced. if possible, to lead or COM
mand soldiers in war, would be guilty of
such conduct.
All the miserable business would have
been avoided, at least, the corruption of it
and most of the disasters that have fallen
upon our gallant volunteers, had Military
Board been ordered by the Secretary Of
War, OF two regular army officers taken
from the list of retired officers, to attend at
liked places of ndezvous in the several
States. and examine the field officers and
captains as to capacity, OF course, tho
Board would not have examined them upon
engineering policy, Notifications, or grand
tactics. They would have seen at once
whether there was any promise in an udi-
vidual who applied to be a Colonel, of his
fitness, or whether he had perception or
adaptibility. Governor Curtin adopted
the plan best suited his admirers in filing
their pockets, that he might strengthen his
maneuvres to be reelected, not caring
whether the selfsacrfcing and gallant
volunteers were swindled by shoddy vest
ments, or commanded by ignorant and
presumptuous Jaks. When The people can
see behind the Curtin, they will not hcs-
tate to have it removed, and so mote it be.
"The hand writing is on the WALL"