True Democrat., 1863-01-28

Lieut.. R. w. Lee, A. D. C., Acting Chief of Ordnance
 Col. D. Province, Acting Chief of Artillery.
 Col. A. $. Dobbin, Vol. A. DC.
 Maj. E. c. Boudinot, Vol. A. D. c.
 All of them were constantly under fire They displayed great coOlness and disregard of danger in the discharge of their duties. This was the second bloody battle in which Col. Newton and Maj. Wilson served on my staff;-in both, they evinced the same high qualities. The confirma ton of their rank has been fairly won, at Shiloh and at Prairie Grove present this subject specially to the Department Commander, with the case also of Lieut.. Hammett;-all being of the number of assignments made hy me while commanding the Trans Mississippi District.
 Considering the strength of my command as compared with the enemy :-considerino that my men were de~titute of food. their wagons thirty miles in rear, and not to be brought forward with out imminent danger of being lost ;-that my small supply of ammunition redpced far below what would be necessary for another days fghtng--and that my battery animals were literally dying of starvation, and could not be foraged in the pres ence of superior force of the enemy;-I determined to retire. and gave the necessary orders for that purpose
 Cavalry was extended along both sides of the Cove creek road, distant two or three miles from 1t, from near Prairie Grove to the mountains,- and scouts were thrown upon all routs leading to- wards the enemy's position. The prisoners and captured property were removed. At twelve o clock the rear guard of the infantry had passed out of hearing remained, with Narma1uke's cavalry, the feld occupying the line held at dark, caring for our wounded and dea,,, and collecting the arms which the enemy had abandoned in his frequent flights before men.
 A federal officer, under flag, brought the follow ing letter;
 HEAD QUARTERS FEDERAL F. IFS;
 1N THE FIELD-Dec. 7ih, lc62.
 TO pOlnfnandinr 0ticnr of to fOrcpa. GENERAL
 The bearer, Dr. Parker, visits your lines with flag of truce, for the purpose of caring for my wounded.
 Signed JAS. c. BLOUNT,
 Brig. Gen comd'g.
 The bearer of the flag indicated twelve hours, from sunrise next day, as the desired period of truce. To this I acceded, detaining the federal officer, and notifying Gen. Bount, immediately of the fact Receiving no written reply, and the bearerof my first note not returning, again gave him the same information. He replied as fol- lows:
 HEAD QUARTERS FEDERAL FoRcrs;
 IN THE FIELD, Dec. 8th, 1862, o'clock A. NJ. GENERAL:
 l have the honor to acknowledge your second note under flg of truce, and express to you my regards for the privilege granted of entering your lines to care for my wounded, which is in accord ance with the usage of civilized warfare. Instead of returning written reply, as 1 perhaps should have done, sent an unarmed party with ambulan ces, accompanied by commissioned officers, to rseat Gen. Narmaduke, and to be by him conduct ed wthitl yO lines
 1 have the honor to be General,
 Your ohelient servant,
 Signed JAS. c. BLOUNT.
 Brig Gen. c)nd'g. Mai len. T. c. HIypMAN,
 Commanding Confederate forces.
 Gen. Bount's officer had submitted a proposi- ton, as by authority, that surgeon's hospital nurses and attendants, sick and wonnded, should not in any case. be regarded as prisoners, but re- leased internationally. This was not in such shape as to be conclusive. l therefore requested that Gen. Bount should meet me personally next cav. He assentcd, and met, about TO- a. m, on the 9th. The result of the conference was the adoption of the proposition before referred to- with the additional stipulation that ambuances, and hospital trains, medicines, and medical and hospital stores should be exempt from capture. About l2 m. I withdrew Marmsduke's command; and oveatook the infantry that night, at Morrows. The return to OFT former camp was attended with no incident worthy to be reported. Aftera battle. the mind naturally passes in re- view all the circumstances connected with 1t. hone the expression here of such reflections a, now present themselves to me will not be deemed lmpr per.
 Undoubtedly, there are serious defects in our military system Chief among these is the rule Of electing to the lowest commissioned officer, and promoting to those above, in companies and e ;i- in suc1 pro66PlAes m9?9cy2tfX 9ghi ffprfaGfs that anything of discipline or efficiency survives. As substitute, would propose this; That when ever vacancy occurs, in company or regiment, an examining board Of three capabe officers be ap pointed, by the division or corps commander; That, without regard to rank restriction to the command all persons desiring the vacant place be invited to appear before the board, within given time, to be examined to character and qualifications; and that the board recommend, and the division or corps commander immediately assign to- duty, the one found best qualified and most mertori0us, con ditioned that he shall not draw pay till the aSs gn- ment be approved by the war department. As uxiliary to this, division corps commanders should be authorized to order before similar board any regmental or company officer deemed inca able neglecttul. or otherwise unfit, and on the re- port of the boar against him, to suspend him from duty and cause the place to be immediately filled, as in the C SC of any other vacancy; and upon tn approval of the proceedings by the war depart ment, the delinquent officer shonld invariably be put in the ranks as private solder. 1 would ap- plv these prov sions to all the staff officers ofcorp'; divisions brigades and regimeDts with the further regulation, that persons as'lSnel to staH duty where bondis required by law, may execute the same before the commander of the division corps, great delays and dctrment to the service result from the existing arrangements as to that matter. Next in importance is the subject of the pay oi tho troops Poor men almost universally m Ike uE our armies. Their wives and children. left without pro ec.ion, are exposed to absolute suffering un- less tse men are regularly and adequately paid No troons that have known during the war have been paid with anything like promptness I'm mense arreages are now duo the men oi this corps Their families are in great suffering. The couse ouence is that very many assertions have occurred If arrcarages could be at once discharged, the evil would be checked If the pay of the soldier was not only promptly given him, but made suli- cent in amount to support his family as it should | assertions would be unknown. This subject in | wolves the fate of the Confe1eracy. Notions oi false economy ought to be discarded in consider | ing it.
 The conscript act ought to be revised Every man between sixteen and sixty, who is able to serve the Confederacy in the army, whether in the ranks | or as an artisan or mechanic, laborer, teamster | cook. hospital attendant, or in any other capacity oucht to be put in service, without regard to avo cation, or otherp plea.
 There ought to be no exemptions whatever, ex- cent in the case of absolute and permanent phySl cal disability. If by this means more soldiers are raised than necessary, it would be very just and humane policy to grant furloughs to the old sol diers and put the young conscripts iii ther places | If the men out of the army are the "people,' | these ideas may fail of popular approval. That | howeve,, in no wny affects their merits. | It will be odous in the eyes of speculators ex- tortoners refusers of Confederate money, evaders of conscripton, deserters, harborers of deserters snies marauders federalists, an1 that less respecta be class who regard these others the people and