Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-07
How to Demoralize an Army.

Suppose that treacherous, upscrupulous
foe declares war against the country, in cir
curn9isnces which render the war an out
rage OF peculiar aggrayation. The Govern
Inent calls for an army 10 defeat the foe, and
a vast coDcourse Of patriots assemble to
chsstise him, aud save the nation. Actu-
aied by the noblest and most self sacrificing
spirit, the physician and lawyer leave their
offices, the farmer bis lovely home, the
tradesInan quits his shop, the mechanic
his bench, aud the laborer his daily toll
forsakiDg home, wives, children, friends,
business, and the sweet rcpose Of civil life,
with its wine aud fig tree, to try the hard
fare and severe exposure Of the soldier
life--the forced march, the drifted snow
purpled with gore, the burning heat Of sum
mer and choking clouds of dust, the drench-
ing torrent Of rain, the hospital. the dread.
ful shock Of battle All this the patriot
soldier faces, and if his heart quails, it is
but for a moment, for the love OF country
inspires him with more than mortal courage,
and the voice which speaks within his
breast is not uttered by earthly lips and
thus
AIn spite Of surging biilov's roar
The orrd inHrclI--the deadly shores
he marches on-on, repeating as he goes
For that, fair Freedom welcome all the past
For thee, my country, wcleoile even the last
He reaches the territory of the enemy,
eager for conflict with the enemy lle has
no love for war as profession and longs to
conquer peace, that he may return to the
delights of his former life, which no motive
save that of patriotism could ever have ;m-
PEELED bin to forsake. Weeks, months may
pass away, and there is no battle-no ad-
vance is made. He is in the midst Of a
population, many of whom sympathize
heartily with his armed enemy, and many
more Of whom are actually aiding that
enemy. He is beset with spies, who dog
his footsteps everywhere. A distinguished
rebel General has a fine plantation and many
servants near the camp; but he is ordered
not TO molest them, and for fear he might
transgress orders, he is sent with some 9TH
ers to protect the plantation and negroes
The next day he is detailed to guard re-
bells orchard; the next day to protect a
rebels corn6eld from the depredations of
some soldier who wants the luxury Of a
roasting ear; and on successive days he is
sent to protect the cotton gin of rebel Gen
eral, to guard the wheat pens Of rebel
Captain, and to keep his fellow soldiers away
When he has discharged these duties, his
officer sends him along with violent rebel
who has just returned from the army, and
found that one of his negroes has escaped
to the Federal camI, to aid in arresting the
fugitive. He and his mess,naies, broken
down by the drudgery Of the day, have eaten
! their plain. hard fare, which hunger made
savory, and now sit before their tents in
the pleasant moonlight summing up the
events Of the day. As they smoke their
pipes he hears one of his comrades say
We'll, don't you think that old rebel NJ,
whose son shot one Of our pickets a few
weeks ago. got permit to bring some goods
! through our lines?" Another one speaks
up: "Yes, and our General wrote pass
to-day, for that old she rebel, Mrs. B.,
to go and visit H" Another pale
faced boy says They made Inc stand
guard for three days because | gathered
some apples in rebels orchard" The
takers hush up for moment, for the dash
ing commander of the post comes sweeping
past them, accompanied by a gay belle OF
the neighborhood, who is noted for her
rebel proclIvties. The cavaliers pass, and
the conversation is renewed, but is soon
broken by sadder interruption Four
comrades come bearing in a fellow soldier
who was shot through the head by an as
sassin while he was standing on guard at the
cornfield to keep soldiers from stealing rebel
roasting ears. Better loyal soldier be as
sassinated than an ear of traitors corn
be stolen
And presently messenger gallops in with
the news that company of guerrilas have
captured the officer who lately rode by the
group, while he was taking tea with the fair
Secessionist at her farm house, mile dis
tant Would it be deemed strange if these
soldiers were to say: I'VE had better re-
! turn to our homes than come away from
our families to protect the property Of the
very men whom we wish to fight. We come
! to fight as soldiers, and our officer has turn
ed us into police to watch over the corn
cribs, orchards and hen-roosts of traitors
Our officers frolic with rebel planters, and
compel us to dig bitches and repair roads,
when there are thousands OF slaves belong
ing to traitors at our very doors, who are
more than willing to leave their masters,
who use them to raise corn for the rebel
army, and come and work for us. We en-
listed as soldiers, and the Government has
made us drudges.
The ardor and energy of the best troops
in the world would melt away in such cir
cumstances as these. Not in one county,
nor in one State only, have these things oc-
cured We hear one loud and long re-
monstrance coming up from all sections Of
our army.