The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-09-16


# not the same, rs the one inaugurat.d by
Gen. Jenkins. His ranks are always full !;
he has but few men 10 the Hospitals.
The misfortune in our case seems TO be,
that our Commander.in Chief has forgot.
ten that we are men Of families (; that we
nave mothers, wives, sisters and relatives
at home which we crave to see /;
that we have business interests to attend to
which is OF the highest importance to the
welfare of those loved ones We have left at
home, and from whom we have been sep.
arated for over two years. Are we, (who
have fought as men for our country from
the beginning Of the war; to resort to IN.
dsgraceful, aud shameful plan Of deserving
our colors, in order to visit our homes -
Shall we be compelled to take such
cosrss If 30, attribute it not TO COW ardce,
TO want of self devotion aud patriotism
No, give these men, Who nave stood by
their colors through every battle, their just
due; there is not more willing hearts to
submit 10 all endurables, than throbs in
these mems breast And even if thero was
a necessity for our presence here now, 1--WE
mean those who are entitled TO furloughs)
not n mutmur would be heard, all would
be submissive.
"What a sad mistake to suppose man
a beast" There is such disease as home.
sickness, and many brave men have died Of
it during this war. Let us all have a fair
understanding that We Will visit our homes
at stated periods, and what happy effrc,
it would have upon each individuals mind ;
what cheerful spirit would reign through.
out the camps. How much better the sys
tenn of furloughing, than compelling honor.
able men to Disgrace themselves by deser.
ton, when it has been clearly proven tha,
the furloughing of two per cent, may save
the desert'on Of five per cent.
The Richmond Seminal has n very able
article on the subject Of furloughing, which
am in hopes may be copied and published
throughout the Confederate States, | send
you the following extract fromit:
1--WE have in our mind two opposite ex
amples, which We will rocite, by way of
making each illustrate the other. When
our army was passing on to Maryland, ito
march lay through county Of Virginia,
from which there were several companies
OF soldiers who had not been home for
long time. General Longstreet issued or
ders tu let those men scalier, that they
might 60 by their homes. hi, only injunc.
ton was that they should Meet han on a
given day, al point ahead. The solder,
were thus enabled to ENJOY pleasure III"
dearest that Garth yields, and at the rend.z.
vous Gen. Longstreet found erery man of
them, except one, aud he had good
excuse.
The other case 10 which we refer was on
the return OF our army after their BLOODY.
battles. Other soldiers. OF another county.
desired similar indulgence. Tne comman
der refused. They were thus pat under a
temptation which was too strong for many
OF them. On their return to camp, the com.
mander Of the regiment Gen. Lee knows
his name) had then, "burked" Gentlemen
Of chararier and intelligence, soldiers from
principle, had their feelings mortified aud
their just pride iusul.ed, by being subjected
to this ignominy, under such circumstances I"
Now which Of these Two commanders nc
ted as q wise man, More anon.
anJrNNIL,y