Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-26

Not the least of the evils which war
imposes upon a people, is the mOnstrous
aggTavatiOn of the accursed habit of drunk
enness. The demon of Intemperanee,
stronq and active and sinister enough at
all times, becomes tenfold more dangerous
and devilish when he can spread his bane-
full wings over an army of hundreds of
thousands of men and infect them with his
insidious poison. There is many house
hold which has sent out its life
and light to battle for the right, that win
have cause to mourn the day that sees the
return Of that loved one, besotted and inn
bruted by army dissipation. Better for
them and him IL his life had gone up to
God from some far-OF battlefield, where
his last words had been for his country and
his home. Then, he would have died
glorious death, and left name to be sung
in song and told in story SO long as heroic
deeds we're told; now, he inficts daily
pang upon his friends, with no recompens-
ing consolation.
1t is in respect to this vice that the Off
GERS of our armies are grossly negligent of
their duty. Utterly regardless of the Ar
my Regulations prohibiting drunkenness,
they set the example to their soldiers, and
the latter are not slow to follow the ex-
ample. OF the prevalence Of the crime in
the Army of the Tennessee, correspond
ent of the New York Tribune writes as
follows:
"Since left the Mississippi Flotilla, and
have returned to the army, have become
convinced that drunkenness, or at least
| excessive drinking, is the besetting sin Of
| our officers as well as soldiers. Indeed, the
latter have few opportunities, compare
/ lively, to dissipate, and are liable to pun
| ishment therefor, while the former can in
dulge their propensity to any extent.
''Of this fact was particularly remind
ed the other day at Corinth, where Ilearn-
ed from the free and open conversation of
many who had figured in the battles Of the
! Sd and 4th of October that dozens of the
] ,-i..aif.-l seTs-I would not like TO men
] tim -th-- s5hA-a aR thai1-
sy on one or the other day, and some on
] DOln Gays, OF Lne ugnly lnAb Iney were
really unconscious of what was going on
around them Men who were 'nentioned
| honorably for their gallantry were glad to
hear they had behaved SO well, but had no
remembrance or knowledge Of what they
had done.
"As an instance, General Rosecrans
narrowly escaped having his head taken
off by cannon balls several times during
the engagement, in consequence of a
drunken officer who had charge of a bat
terry, shooting at random, and with the
most magnificent indifference as to whom
or what he struck with his projectiles.
ain the Army ofthe Tennessee 1 see men
now that knew eight, ten or twelve months
ago, as sober and trustworthy officers, who
to-day can hardly recognize on account
Of their bloated and strangely-altered ap-
pearsnce.
"No doubt drinking is the pursuing de-
mon of our army, and the fearful habit
seems to be growing. Is it strange, then,
our troops are so badly managed, and that
we so often fail Of accomplishing desirable
results in the field d? This is indeed Sc
rious evil, and if it be allowed 10 spread,
must eventually terminate in the ruin Of
our cause"