The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-14
Organization sf the Army.

OYaanix atisn sf the Army.
CAuf nSesh Rss La V0LrX7Rxss,
Deef' Crsek, Jan. LIST, 1862
Eiisers Dispasch: In recent paper Of Nov.
ls.h. an article appeared on the re.organiza-
ton Of our Army. The views therein ex-
pressed conceded with those Of the humble
Andividual who now addresses you. for the
purpose OF submitting to your consideration
1 pAper, which, II unworthy Of pubiiea lion,
may, at t~ast, afford amusement, and per-
chance suggest ideas TO some Of the able
writer's whose prod tons adorn the pages
OF your most inn aentiai Journal.
The first portion. you will perceive, is but
Q peg, on which 70 hang an arg a,nent should
IT be deemed unworthy of the space IL would
occupy, consiSn it to the flames should the
latter portion not meet with approval, 10. the
srxutssnt 10 How the peg.
vHO Is AEoH'
Many Of rs haze been lrouo ed, in our early
days, to discover the ,dentiiy Of this gifted
writer, whose literary eGosious have, from
tiWs TO time excited our ud ration. some
OF my early associates, IT - wne- VINO
thought themselves shrewder than .he rest,
asserted that he had no identity and that
I" Anon" was "n0m de plume, used "
writers too modest 10 make themselves
known or who, no. being able to fix upon
father, we're therefore anOny nous, and used
tho abbreviatiou Anon" IN lieu Of less
doubtful pntronymic.
Ths Nrst assertion SUNNI arily disposed OF.
BY triumphantly demonstrating that II was
altogether unlikely that all modest writers
should have hit on the same 90 nom de piume;"
the last I treated as u malicious IL sin uatiou,
too base for notice, against my favotite au-
thor.
lnis morning, while walking through the
woods OF Warwick, l. met with s,gaAI q nd
pleasant proof Of the justice OF my conclu-
Sions as 70 the individual III question, had
uuthinkingly turned CT the marrow bride
path that leeds to james liver, wnen was
suddenly confronted by man OF sing ular
yet venerable aspect, VINO accosted me with
politenss IS, and in d conversation which en-.
0ueds astenished me no less with his vast
general in 70 rmation, than with his pleasing
variety Of style.
NV new acquaintance appeared to become
pleased with me as our intercourse progressed;
this perceived, and AZ l was equally we'll
pleased with him, produced from my wal
let, a bottle of "Baumgartner's best" which
1xlways carry with me for medicinal pur-
poses.
me that although he abhUrred liquor, he was
compelled 10 use 1t in small Quantities, for
the benefit of his health, and tha he would
therefore, feel greatly obliged to me tor
drink.
Uuuer the In fiuence of DIR. Baumgartner's
great specific, he became quite comm MICA
tive; and rs the treatment progressed, his
manner became almost affectionate, while
his confidence '7as SO much Increased, that
after exciting from me promise, that l
would give him three hours start before
making known the fact Of his presence, he
informed me that he was the celebrated Mr..
Anon.
After had somew hat recovered from my
astonishment, he Went on to tell me that,
although he hxd been b.sely slanderr by an
ignorant, curious, al d unthinkinH public,
nediHrA0 free fr.,m as \ is
character from reproach that he WAS be
tween three and four hun dred years Old ano
that although his long life had been one OF
untiring industry, such WAS his natur.i tim.
idity that he hP.s ever nhrunk from being pub
licly known az an author.
1t would be tedious for me to enumerate all
the W orks of which ne assured me- that he
was the auihor; but l cannot forbear men.
tioning the deep feeling with which he spoke
Of parties who, kno wing his distas,e for noto-
riety, had taken to themselves the credit of
some of his best works. He complained bit
terly Of one Albert Smith, who had robbed
him Of the Just credit d ne him for his ceie-
brated "Address to a Mummy" and said
that the baseness Of Junius In afilxing his
make public was only exceeded by the treach-
cry Of n Scotch barrister, with u halting gait,
whom he met with in the ruins Of Melrose
Abbey, and who so won upon him by his
plee sing address that he conf led to him for
publication his original manuscripts Of the
Wavsrly Novels.
Much a. l was pleased with the modesty
and apparent worth CT my tertainer, and
with all my self emulation on the sound
ness OF my early views Is to his PERSONAL
identity. I did not forget that it was my
bcunden duty to satisfy myself a. TO the
correctness Of his political views be fore SUI.
IertnG him to depart.
In answer to my interrogatcries on this
subject he informed me that he was a good
Southern man. and as such, had written u
paper containing facts NJ d sugges tons which
he hoped would BE- found worthy Of the able
And patriotic men To whom are oLfded the
des,inies OF our beloved country.
So interested had become in this CONVEX
sation that time passed away upnOticed, uD.
til my companion, declaring that lac must
visit neigh boring comp, thrust a manu-.
script into my hand and took hasty leave
Of me, remarking that, should any profit ac-
cue from the publication, could settle wi tn
him 1t future time, a. ne proposed to spend
the winter OF 1850 in New Orleans, at which
time he would DO happy TO renew our &C.
What passed from the time Of his de parture
until evening know not; hut certain 1t is,
that awoke from deep sleep as the sun
was about tc disappear for the night, and,
looking upon the events OF the day as some
remarkable dream, was about to return to
camp without further thought, when nv at.
tonti0n Was attracted by folded ma uscript
lying BY the side Of my now empty bottle.
On my return 70 camp / opened the manu-.
scrtps, and found 1t 70 read 40 follows
sfArSs AMY.
Organised In . few short months, the army
q the south, 10 source OF pride to oursel yes
and Of wonder to foreign nations. since
March last, 900 900 men have taken the field
In defsrc CO Of their homes. They have met
the enemy at many points, ana have signally
detseted him In nearly every engagement
S Lac xS,smpsign - nov nearly over, and II ):
arise from the movements OF the CON tending
armiss before spring.
In n: nesniims, the enemy IL adooting
and laersass the en,cisncy Of their armv =.
Shall We not do the samsI / answer YEA !:
and 70 eject this, let it be our tack 10 lav
esre the defects OF the volunteer system, ana
tnat ofoor legtsistors ~ provide the remedy.
Nearly oil the com any o6acsrs Of our ar.
ny are men Of little military experience.
eCms q them Of little sducadon~ They owe
s snsss S.esuons IN many Gee. to the TACT OF
Wnsssan tAsy resided; In Others. TO the o..
teoaunas dieplay of Q small amount Of Mill.
@ky,s s. "eS.s before thsss who had none !;
~ rIs".s 81 sn: asxs bssn elected 70 nj
oiartty gatsed among the men by ncxiectisr
shsis dst!se - omceFs or mon. ccm "a ssioned
o1 Even q a. e: e sae.s S,..A,.,,.
shsslasu Of ths young ana gsntie Slood
81 the country, has enabled them 10 49, IA
. dme With The hasdshtps, privstioSs. snd
!.ssstess HILLARY dates. taeidsatai - a
This cssaos long eoatiaus. Tor many q,
tAsoe Dea have now learned Enough Of Mill.
tesy matters . unfold 70 ths@ the utter in.
ecnpstency Of thstr oaicsrs They hays dis.
aentsaiiy In command, are In many Fsspects
thels sePvAsts; ~. ~ thsy, II tAAt tfros
1isstssant .puatsAM NJ Sos ny fAslp Or
es1m1s, as9Atls a soseea Ne from The oenes.
$780, e !. ~. = ss:!s ss.s' ess ny xo 4.
- ~ 49, = ~ ~ 3 w