The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-06

fOUR OWN CORRESPONDENTl


nOhACk.
Some days ago published information re-
eardsng the winter quarters OF our army,
based upon the statement Of q gentleman
whom supposed correctly informed upon
oil points co injected with the disposition OF
troops. but I have since learned from better
authority that my publica tion was prema-
turs, and furthermore, that 1t was substan.
tally incorrect. Ten Thousand rumors upon
the 81 meet are floating on the current OF
public talk : but they are merely exaggerated
reports upon a matter no one beyond onr
Generals can even predicate An opinion. In
nv college days recollect to have read,
think in Terrence. the saying, "Iasifa Aomi
s,tbus litido aisadi dc indasf,ia ruraoyes-lnen
have in them natural propensity for spread
ing rumors.
The truth ofthe phrase was never more ap-
parent than at present. 0len take very di
minutive faete, blow them up into unusual
Dimensions. then set them Afi )at,-as school
boys iE n ite bladders, and use Them for foot
balls. 1t takes good soand sense to tell truth
from taisehood, aud sometimes sharp cross
QUESTIONING to bring out true eviden CO In the
60. - person happens to be mislsd, even
In a single instance M matter about tile cir.
cums taaces, ,~oe be unto him He has COM
mitied the unpa rdouabie offence Of ctrcu,at-
ing VIVA, TO beiiey vi 20 he true, but which
proved to be untrue. kua your bodkin In to
him, Madame Public; and you, old fogies,
civil or military, spit your venom at him, or
guiiotins him on The spot! Like the victim
OF "all + 70 day" or the unfortunate during
Carnival week." no one has any charity for
the man who gets misied into error. Nine
tsnths Of the world will rather encourage the
fault than 9th err wise, AID II possible put In a
few private sicxs tO6ssist NJ % on the high
way TO the ID.
have written all these moral reflections
over the fact tIat WAS misiej, after lesy.
Ing Centreviile, into the statement mat Our
army had gone into winter qdartsnak Spenx
8nk collectively, exactly the reve3o0k1s true
A portion Of the troops have been assigned
more favorable positions, but only q small
portion are now engaged in the ID" hutting"
process. Although the present prospect is
quiet enough, no one can say what the win
ter Will briug forth-whether it will be quiet
ly spent in camp, or whether more active
policy will be inaugurated. Al present win
Ter exists only in lame, but we have prece.
dents upon which to found an opinion that
there may be bad weather befors spring
Good, omfortable quarters must be pro vided
Tor our volunteers duTing the chilly storms
Of winter No matter what course may b.
pursued in the conduct of the war-act on
the defensive or offensivs-the health and
comfort OF the men demand that proper shell
ter should be given them.
IL q -ner al Johnston has decided to assume
the aggressive, there is o reason in the world
why the men should not be allowed the pTi-
vllege OF making log huts TO live in until he
is ready TO lead them into the field. fine has
decided to act upon the passive policy that
--hss Asyp inaugurated since the butte of Ma
nassas it is cuipx5ie 10 keep the m en- in weak,
fimsy tents, sleeping upon the wet, damp
ground lille the icy wind whistles the 'dasd-
march" around their ears. Abuse a man, i'm
peril his health and life, treat a volunteer
ike a senseless machine, and then ask him to
enlist Immediately when twelve months
hard service has expired? sense of duty
may drive him TO the defence Of his country,
but he will enter the array with toe reluct-
Rnce OF quarry slave scourged to his cell,
rather than with the en- husiasm that is the
life Of an army. 1t is by showing every man
that he is loved, respected and cared for by
pointing out and guiding him in the path OF
duty. AID not by shaking the rod OF military
law in terrorum over his head, that volun
teer organization can be made effective. Dis
cipline must be preserved, and martial law
executed, and j am well aware of the fact;
circumstances OF guilt. There is truth in the
old Latin maxim, "Le9is eonstractio non (acit
injuyidm."
some writer, In speaking Of rank and file
heroes, says truly, "War is far from being
An unmitigated calamity, to be compen sa ted
for only by the benignant results it IL a
means OF reHchfng in n crisis where all
other instrumentality fails. On the con.
trary, war, at the very time of its proseau-
tion. brings oat the good and noble as we'll
rs the baser qualities Of human nature -
This Is true to greater extent than we are
apt TO perceive. We lose sight Of many man. 3.
ifesttons of virtue by confining our gaze too
exclusively to the principal actors on the
stage, while we forget the mass; f1rgettine e
that the private soldier is hibiting his per-
sonal character as truly as the General.
How often il 1t we see the character OF the
former morally greater than ths latter, and
In precisely the same traits.
We notice the commander in his tent at tho
midnight hour IN ee ting the respon sibiIities
OF bis position with unwearied fidelity, aud
we look upOn him with admiration. That
nom IL m n Ia au u "a " hu <C
tary sentinel on the outpost, who, at that
same midnight hour, is sleeplessly vigilant,
feeling, perhaps, that the safety Of his com.
rades depends upon his wakefulness. We
see the leader at the head Of his column
dashing gailantly into the fight, and we
honor him for his bravery. Should we not
also honor the private beside him, who, Wi tn
steady step and firm determination, follows
him into the fighti When we take q careful
view OF the whole force of our army, we
are struck with the sublimity Of the active
sense OF duty which actu.tes every man.
The official reports tell us Of the bravery and
skill of General officers. Letters read with
fearful eyes in far OF Southern homes, give
the modest narrative Of merit, as great In
moral purity and in elevated motive, AS If
Its author were not private in the ranks.
The newspapers recount the adventures OF
the leaders, and send them out for the admi.
ration OF the world, or preserve them tor
the pen OF history. Many poor sister
reads the simple story OF her soldier. brother.
or. In her chamber. pores over the letter OF
her lover with moistened eyes and emotions
half Of pleasure and half OF grief. II the
unwritten history Of this war could only be
toid-if the many instances Of individual
virtue and patriotic herOism could be writ.
ten. what an insight would 1t give Us to the
human heart
the present moment, there is enrolled an
amount OF intelligen conscientious convic.
ton, earnss.ness Of deli berate will consecra-
ted 70 holy cause, never, perhaps equalled
let nH sntt tA0vA 1aNe1A hn
best blood, and the truest, most manly
hearts: Of our Southern land, are en-.
listed In the defence Of it's honor. When we
think OF the chivalric noble men COM
posing the rank and file of our army, how
closely do we scan the character Of the Gene
raj upon whom the responsibility Of their
treatment rests God forgive the com mander
VINO nseiects and misuses such men while In
And now must draw my correspondence
from the Army Of the Potomac to q close.
During the past six months that / hNe re-
NAMED aNA within its lines my pen has bsenss(. !.
oom idle. have gathered many sheaf b
nseIui knowledge and experience and 0aly
regret that have scattered tares In the public
nignway. When first Bohemian" sat down
70 quiet chat with his kind readers, he
promised more than his poor abilities allowed
aim 10 accomplish. Why was IL that f4&
!asr castle he planned turned ont as tup1D(lp,
oown An Old building as ever shook . shat.
ter! To use the we'll known nt&1Iplnr Of
Horace. which heads this letter, Lkffe jar
VA begun TO be made. why ~ the wheel goes
round does IT turn out . pHltry pttchepu
With many thanks for the Congratulations
ano presents ssnt me by kind frtGnds, and
win many excuses for my remfsspsm IN
9utys hasten 70 say good bye. And YET
Aops not long, for ask the same dear
readers 70 accompany me In further "E3ohe.
mian walks and talks" In other waye. pre-
same have looked my last upon the brad
delds Of hauassas plains, dotted with the
white tents Of our soldieFss and have done
with the busy scenes at war on the line OF
the Potomac. Well, they will stin cling 10
memory, and fancy can Iepaaut them a. sstn
the new role Of student work up the nm.