The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-09-05
How the Army Dw,nd,cs Away.

lrTVm ent NnhFlite Onioh.
The people are grossly and shbmofuliy
imposed on by host OF idlers who have
joined the army and yet seize all occa-
sions to shirk military service. As a
proof of this, an exchange says:
"From high military authority it ia
learned that although there are on the
rolls drawing pay over 100000 enlisted
men, the number actually oil duty does
not exceed 100000! The other 237 900
comprise the wousded, sick and absent
on furlOugh."
Here we find not far from one half of
our army rendering no service. We
make no complaint of the sick and woun-
ded; they are suffering for us, and we
cheerfully pay them their just dues, as
well as extend them our sympathies.
But there is, by universal testimony. a
large number Of absentees, who are
away from duty ithout eny good excuse.
A soldiers work is not one to be dropped
at any moment for visit home. or a
trip to some watering place. These
things arc all pleasant enough, but no
right feeling patriot would wish to in
dulge in them when his country 10 threat
Nhtb t@bkNAOh4 NuNHls
First, let us whip the enemy, and then
we may rejoice " ith pre.ni.;y. We read
in History of brave soldier who would
not sleep in his house while on a visit to
his native city, because his fellow soldiers
were sleeping in the open air. Men who
are not willing to sacrifice their former
pleasures, have business to be in CON-
mand of troops. We fear that some Sec
tions Of our army in inglorious Incidence, I,
and that every day they spend in the ar
my,-not the service, for they do no SER
vice-actually makes them less fit to
cope with their willy and vigilant foe.
Hundreds of our officers have degenera,
ted into voluptuous Sybarites, their pa
triotism, energy and strength sapped by
debauchery; and the wretched infection
has communicated itselfto their men.
We can win no victory with such lag.
gards.--0ne regiment Of stout, active,
Industrious men, whose minds aud bodies
have been kept alive and strengthened
BY continual service could scatter host
OF such effeminatcs like flock Of sheep.
Such soldiers hare no sense OF pride.
Aftcr few months Of idleness they be-
come weary, and would really like to be
surprised aud pareled by the enemy.
Fighting is fatiguing and dangerous. In
starces have been known where soldiers
who resisted the enemy have been either
killed OF wounded; and SO our soldier
determine, with the iliustrious Falstaff,
that ''discretien is the better part of val
or" and he surrenders without firing =
gun or bursting cap. We call on our
military authorities to see that these re-
pested surprises. surenders without fight
ling, aud parolings, are stopped by severe
meas res. We have squads OF men scat
tered all slong the railroads in the eas.
my's country, TO guard bridges. aud yet
we do not know Of solitary place where
those guards are protected BY entrench-
ments OF forts. The consequence is,
they are picked up in detail, and we lose
thousands Of soldiers. At this rate, our
whole army can be wiped out and ano-
body hurt" II will have one good effect,
perhaps, on the enemy, for when he sees
that our troops can be so easily captured,
be will certainly not DESIRE to kill any
body. What humane warfare this has
become, when soldiers surrender to pre-.
vent bloodshed. Vigilance, vigilance,
vigilance, Is what is demanded in the ar
my. No army. however large, can be ef-
fectiie or forni idahie without this quality.
What commander will set Us an ex ample!
We cannot afford 10 be dininlshing the
number Of cur troops and Supplying the
rshels with arzs 10 Ne way we have
been doing.