Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-02
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. RIGHTS
~ -.
RICHMOND WHIG.
MONDAY ncRNING, nov. =, 1850.
Discipline

bomny the roads the fields the farm houses the sub
urbs and streets of the city, erammed with fu-
gtves perfectly able to do duty. Ip its advance to
MARYLAND the Army of Northern Virginia eft behindit
swarm Of sraggers equal if not superior, in numbers
TO ,seM After Saarpsburg the scenes Witnessed in the
Valley Of Virginia we're frighuuL Two thirdo OF that
great army which Lee had on his muster rolls were
ssrolliug An and around the mountains.
Toe di.grscsful spectacle had its effect It taught
boh people and officers the absolu necessity OF dis
eplins. From that day Lees aray began career OF
announcement wbiclr has made what it nov s the sd.
mration Of the country. The good work still goes on,
and every day our army apprOxmate5 more and more
an srny OF regulars Short Of that point h must not and
will not stop for the salvation Of the cause rests upon
the psreloa Of discipline in that and other armies. The
day Of armed mobs is past
Can. Bragg has the reputation Of rigid discipline
-;.,-a martinez indeed; bu. his army never and
svsr will be Organized md drilled az Lees is for the
.ip reason that General Bragg himself is the great in
sr,bls obstacle 70 subOrdinaton. This is % be de-
,ored but the evil is beyond cure Il is too late now
"a attempt 20 restore confidence. That IS no longer
,ossibls The i,si steP towards the Improvement Of
tbstarmv will not have been made until me Command
inc General "a one whom the general Oiheers will obey
: c,rcsnasts and hOmies on the beat ty usefulness
IA ,,i3ism Of obedience w not remedy distrust
- ssaneaySd and long continued a. that entertained
40 bib and lo1 in the army before Chattanooga with
regard TO Gen. Bsagg.
But obeiience-prOmpt, implicit unhesitatng Obedi-
o,o the first duty of the soliier Of all grades from
,hs nr,te in the ranks TO the Lieutenant Genera; and
,ba reueaon Of this duty in the armies Of the Coated
sracy is Of such imperative importance at this time,
that the punishment even with death, Of disobedent
general IHicer would be a cheap price TO pay for IT, Il
i n b., hoped that some such example will be set be-
fore Ne are reduced TO the last gasp will ne,i
tby be unless absolute military discipline il enforced in
every army.
Discipline IS the putting in practice Of regulations
or rules which Ike the sIiOms OF the geOGeircan or
the general principles of the philosopher, the
Dipgs up of years of patient thought. How to make
bodv Of men most healthy in camp, most rapid and
,onp,et on the march, and mos. successful in battle,
a the military problem and on it has been expended as
,,ob tbouvbt and Of as powerful and cultivated minds
a ,on spy other subject that ever engaged the human
mind Every movement of the soldier is directed to be
.,forued in certain manner beesuseit has been
csr,siuei BY minute investigation aud myriads Of ex-
cher raansr. The manual uish the musket, the line
Of m,rcb, the line of battle, the strength OF eomPa-
ss regiments, brigades and Divisions the proportion
OF officers aud their duttsA these are prescribed be
cause lust these movements and combinations have
been found by actual and repeated trials 90 be better
than any other movements or combinations whatever
Finally. uuuuesonirg obedience il required and enforced
nv the severess penalties alike upon officers and men
b.ue thereby alone unity Of action be secured.
Ths viii o, one man must be the supreme law of an
.rmv and 70 this end is members, like those Of the
human BODY must have neither will thought OF their
o-n. If the head contained one brain sno the arm
another few blows would be struck The u,bs cannot
anpeal from the decisions Of the head.
Military discipline ia common sense applied 10 the
vinnipg Of battles Take as "a example the line OF
march It's utility can be shown by simple ilus.ra
don drawn from every Gay lie. man starts out t.
make an easy DAYS journey horseback, and tk,s
bis doc With him. The horse moves regularly along
the road aud as nearly practicable in straight ae,
while the dog runs from side to side darts into the he.d
and back again is left behind and catches up by
ming at full speed When the day is ended, the horse
hiss travelled thirty miles without fatigue; the dog has
travelled sixty aud is exhausted. So with soldiers
marching in column. Those who keep in lii aad keep
step where ,hass practicable make the march without
fatigue while she sragglers who take the route step
climb fences, stop az creeks TO 6n their csnteens and
run to catch up 60 twice the distance and the day.
end are flgged out completely and unfit for duty.
So again. with the military rule Of EeePingthe mouth
closed while on the march, and particularly Nhen per-
farming the double quick" This is common sense;
for experience las &lught that breathing over the
tongue dries the natural moisture impaired by the glands
and creates an artificial thirst which slases but
does not quench. Toe mouth being kept open thirst
1eky feturas aad say nothing Of the delay caused
by the filing Of caneens constant drinking brings on
prOfuse perspiraou which not sSly Veskens the sol
der but renders liable cOtds, rheumatism and
intestinal disorders 90 the other hand if the mouth
be kept closed aud no unnecessary laughing ticking,
Whistng or singing be allowed there is little thirst 10
s,oppages ara made 10 hll eantesns and ircSd bic
muehes are performed with but l.te fatigue and no
danger 10 the health.
But it is uselssi 10 dwell on these points. We must
have discipline in every branch Of the army, pareu-
lsy in that Of cavalry and in every army particularly
tbose Of the Southwest. This war; il it ha1 not lasted
long enough already promises to b. Of such DURATION
tb,t there is 10 escape (uFposng thai TO be desrAbe
from the duties and the discipline which obtain in the
regular army. The side which 6rst conforms to the
established system, aud secures to itself the advan
tagss which thorough discipline slO0e can give, viii win
the day. Every AMI every obstacle which stands
tae least in the way of lsrfectng the organ zien and
scpEne of any southern army should be put down at
once The If o, the CoHfsderaey hangs upon this
Rad We cannot trust 70 numbers, for We have
them not Discipline is our sole reliance.