The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-07
Save the Pieces.

When the Commander Of the Universe
had fed thousands on Eve loaves and two
little fishes, be babe his attendants gath
or up the fragments, that no waste be
made. Yet he could send to the anglers
hook fish with money in his mouth to
pay tribute, could turn stones into bread,
and could draft legions OF angels for an
army. If Generals Colonies, Majors,
and Captains in our army will not profit
by the example, the many Chaplains In
the service, at least might teach the
soldiers and officers lessons Of economy
from Il, which would save millions to
Government before the war closes.
Needless destruction of property, en-
riches nobody, impoverishes the world
Neglect Of that which is going TO des-
truction, ministers to the same end. II
soldiers in our army burn farmers fence
when they could get fire-wood without
it, they may regret the deed before this
time next year. Perhaps the fence en-
closes a rich corn field, which the owner
will not plant next spring, if he find it
fenceless. Perhaps the field has been
sowed in wheat, and the farmer will not
refence il, because be thinks the soldiers
may burn the second fence, as they burn
ed the fret. Then it may happen, about
this time next year, or before that times
that our connection with the North's
inexhausiible graneries has been inter-
rupted for season by JOHN MORGAN,
STARNEs, or FoRREsT, and we may have
need Of supplies in the country. We
have just had lesson of experience,
which should have taught us how pre-
cious 10 an army with interrupted trans
portation, is a teaming corn crib or full
granery, or pen of well fed porkers.
Do you say, the enemy may get the farm
er's products before you get them? You
don't think SO Nashville has been Tiv-
eted into the United States, and the fruit
full country around has been fastened in
with il. Nothing MORGAN can do in
Kentucky, nothing KIRBY SMITH or
BRAGGG can do, nothing conservative"
nincompoops and neutrality grannies
can do, is able to separate the City of
Rocks and its surroundings from the
firm grasp of our beloved Uncle Samuel.
But there are other things, dear SOL
diers, besides fences, in which you some :
times manifest great want of economic
forethought. Didn't your Yankee COM
mon sense teach you, when you first took
possession of Nashville, that all such es-
Adjustments as the two Confederate gun
factories and the saltpetre refinery,
would of course be sold for the benefit
of the Government Then why did
you tear down, in summer time, the fine
plank fence around the last named build
ing, and much of the building itself, and
burn them in cooking your victuals, when
it would have been light job to get
wood less valuable ? And why did
some Of you amuse yourselves by tear
ing in pieces that magnificent engine al
the larger gun-factOryP Why did you
utterly forget the Government you fight
for so bravely, in these and other mad
vertencies ? Why did your officers per.
init you to act so foolishly? We com.
mend you to your Chaplains, for farther
lessons on this subject If they fail tC
teach you reflection and ideas of socia
duty, We shall have given good pay for 3
bad preach