Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-08

DESTRUCTION OF THE VOLUNTEERS eflhlr-
RED-TAPE FOLLIE5 AND wR0NGS-ILL Eff
FECrs OF THE cUNCrATIoN PoLIoY-OFFI-
oIAL UPsrARrIsHNEss AND AtoGANCE-
TIE REIMBURSEMENT QUEsrIoN-soGG SESSIONS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CAVALRY BRIGADE, Jan. lst, 1861.
To the Editor: of tia Whig:
MANY Of the m a.ers alluded to 10 this article bad some
months since been committed to paper bu. we're with
held in the hope that matters would be mended by the
proper authoritarian the hope that having the rsaith,
ntsct and energy Of lhs phols South a, command the
interests and welfars Of the ctzsn soldier would not
only be respected but well cared for and that the pur-
eat patriotism, highest morality and strictest justice
would ere long, mark all the Off sl operations Of the
Government and army. Toe writer withheld this com
upicaton from the fact that he did wish to furnish
even seeming basis for the criticisms Of the lying press
of he North. Il is manifest that csmpletter.vrters
rarely associate or oonyerse with prvat in the army
or hear or;know their opinions or their wishes Albeit
The best blood aud intellect Of the South aren the ranks
and it is their war. their money ,psnt their blood 'pih
and thus ia many cases. the public and perhaps the
Government, are unnteudonaiIy (dOuStlss) deceived
10 speaking OF the opinions wants wishes and com.
plants of the army the writer wishes to be understood
az speaking Of Virginia troops, and nearly always OF
| company officers and priyatee,
When Virginia determined to cut herself loose from
Yankee desposm, and TO place herself as wall oil hre
between the Northern hordes and the chyarc little
States of the Gulf q! our mothers call there stepped
forth an armed host Of such few mothers ever bear
the attorney from his court, the physician from bis
patient the divine from his closet the merchant from
his desk the farmer from his plough, the hunter from
his bounds the student from his hall and Of every oge
aud Glass; they to struggle with every nscs"aryin'
convenience and prva!ion, to suffer and endure every
necessary hardship. to furnish every Hcs'ary dollar,
AID TO bleed and die necessary for Southern free
dom and Southern rights for eig and religious liberty.
Il th, truth or fsion! Let any mal go through the
Virginia Regiments as tn, rolls are called ask who
these hsea shd he will fad graduates of every institution
o. learning professional men, large land and savs-hold
ers lrred and single, OLD aAd young boys OF l6 and
taen of so yesrs-meu who Mihk and vo:s, who own
and control the country who made this and are to
keep PIP and support the army and Government, Whist
brought these men thus swiftly the field Of strife -
Were VIC personally suff.rng' Wme our houses in
fines or our c41 ms vetsring in tleir blood' None
ol.thcss things What theny L0ert, was gone lat the
NORTH, the civil TIBus VI tuc Soutu auH
pure Safi5in stirred TO- enu'iasm the caval blood
Of Virginia. and everywhere brave men ard fair women
we're rOu.ing the slumbshug wrath of the people.
This is a revolution and revolutions have been cue
cessfu only when the feeling just described possessed
the people Revolu.ionists always the minority the
weaker party tie scattered patricts," resisting the
bories Of tyranny, Here thorough organization the
best drill, aye the p>rfect'" Red Tape" will not
saud against native courage and ohivil'oas enthusiasm
At Manassas the best Regular could not stand the eye of
1.-THE Virgdan on his native heath" The pot.vsant
Cocoran, with twenty-five armed men stacked to
cavalry sergeant aud one man. History shows that
enthusiasm is necessary to overcome numbers 1t fur.
ndese OF the fatal effects Of crushing 1t out
veil as tie glorious results Of its cultivation. The con-
ieacs Of our me in the leaders Of the revolution and
n their i,ers at the OF hostites tas
beeoze part of the history Of this Children were
rens med ana the press teemed with short lives" Of
Bsaurega rd Johnston, Lee, and this admiration Of
what we're considered patriot officers: shng, il went
down ID Colonies and Majors. The sight Of Jsf Davis
would bring tears OF JOY to our meas eyes, and wild
sicut would follow the announcement OF the fac. that he
Was in the nsshborhood Many fir tales were told OF
-Four President and our Generals Of their familiarity and
kindness to the priraisS Of their willingness TO. hear
complaints, redress promptly all wrongs, to afford all
relief aud extend to the poor soldier every privilege.
The papers saii our Generals chrstans-the YAM
kse Generals goddess our officers moral conference.-the
Yankee officers drunken prod gaesi and the men, be-
Ieyirp Christian privaiss wsged with lighter
hear. and fcmer faith. Whisky ras no. then is,Gsd as
ration, Our sick were to be nursed by beauty, and
fair woman Light step and soft eye were TO relieve the
wcarinessof the hospital, land woman God bless her,
woald have done her full part If she had been permit
tedA aud might 90 on, lad infnitum," as 10 tie
causes that walked AID kept up the enthusiasm Of our
volunteers and inspired them with love and devotion to-
aud cont denco in, their officers.
4 Ba, Il any Government oMcia--any red.tspe dr.
believer in the oluncer system IN take the trouble to
def bis badges and pu! gray jacket and talk with
the prvates, hewl lad the; for some months eBhusi
as has beea going on; rapidly corf l.pce in the ability
of the officers wsaksang and 10 they religious reputs.
lion it has taken i;s everlasting Hghii and JUS: here
dont blame H. Talk with the men, and Company off.
cers-aye, and regmsnta in many cases-iake of al
you can for exiggeratiOn, and you will fad such difr
ence 10 the army OF Virginia the 2ls JAY aud III /,
2lst November certainly the Is. January, 1862, will
aslonish ycu.
i What i to be the etc. Of this changer What re
sui.s will proilca2 Csl they be avsrtsd The hrs
effect will be to prevent the reensng Of most of the
moaths men, certainly the b,st men. They say they
woa in the Virginia volunteers gentlemen and came on,
o. s. l. regulars They were mustered in by companies
we're lcei in regiments without their consent or tina!
of their officers aad after their d,parta-c from their
homes nearly all seubauce of tie volunteer has de-
:, parted What complaints do they mike' The writer
has rep ,A,edy heard tho following Isl, o. the Medic
Department. iusitention Of surgeons in camp. have
hssrd numbers d cited OF inattenon such as no
physician would be guilty. oiin biz hes.e pras:ipe This
BY men who a: home might miks FIVE hundred dollars,
and here were receiving eighteen hundred dclars,
TIC delay in procuring sick turOughsi men have died