The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-09-16
[FoR THE LANCASTER LEDGER.I
ORANGE C. H., Va, August 29th 1863.

ohANSE ~. H., va, august 29th 1868.
Mr.. EDITOR Twice have taken nv
pen in hand and seated myself beneath the
shady oaks in camp, to write you something
for publication, but each time have grown
disheartened at the prospect of news before
me, and give up in dispair, thinking that
perhaps something would turn up worthy
OF notice before long. In this, as all other
expectations in the army, generally, was
deceived, aud have concluded to give you
few lines, though my subject should be
"nothing."
In fact, we are doing nothing; the enemy
are doing nothing /; our Generals are doing
nothing ; our CommissarIes are doing less
than nothing, and our Quartermasters worse
than nothing. BY the way, perhaps it would
not be out Of place, just here, to tell you
who those Commissaries and Quartermas.
ters are. You, no doubt, recollect that our
last Congress passed a Law abolishing the
office OF regimental m;ssary, the law to
take effect the LIST Of August, 1863, throw.
ing all the duty Of that office upon each
regimental quartermaster. Well, those Who
are we'll acquainted with matters generally
consider that a mise Act Of Congress
neat way TO get rid Of nuisance. 10 cor.
sequence, We have but one Commissary to
The Brigade, who ranks as .Major-pay
$4,000 per month and rutions-he does
nothing himself but look over and correct
all errors that his clerks may make fly
around with the General on reviews, Brig
sds drills, and other extra occasions.
Next IN turn, comes the Brigade and regi.
mental Quartermasters-ihls class are
generally camped far of TO themselves, so
we do not see 80 much OF them, they sci.
dom, lf ever, having any business to trans.
act with the regiments or Brigades. From
what l learn through others, ths regmenta!
quariermasters see a pretty hard time of it
10 keeping up the business Of their ofice,-
to give them their just dues. they earn what
they get. But here comes in the Brigade
Quartermasters, to tell you what they do,
would be to resort back to nv subject
above-"nothing." They rank as Mnjor,-
pay 90 per month-wears a star on
his collar, fancy confed uniform, at his side
hangs Con extra occasions such ss enumsra.
Ted above) his maiden sUord glistening in
the sunbeams of its own glory. Such is
war with some, what acontrast TO the rank
and file! "Raise tho black Aag' was
uttered by one of these courageous desper.
ADDE'S 10 my hearing not long since. On,
how long TO see that fellows courage tes.
ted. Those who advocate the Black Flag
will take good care never to 6ght under it.
1t has been said "buiIy" for copscripts, but
u can never BE- said "BulIy" for Commissa.
ries and Quartermastsss.
The army is 10 tolerable good trim,
though . good deal of dissatisfaction exists
among some of the troops from different
States, our own included. A great many
desertions among the Georgia, North Caro-
lima and Virginia troops. and some few iso.
lated cases from our own State, have Ia en-
place lately. We regret this very much,
though it does not materially injure the eff
cheney OF our army. But there is q spirit
manifested among good portion Of the
soldiers Of this army, which will, If not
checked 10 time, evidently reduce it. effec,
tive strength. While il is the duty Of every
good citizen and soldier to frovn down
upon everything that is in the least calcu
lated TO do Us harm, we would urge upon
them the necessity-ths oil saving necessi.
ty, Of favoriDg the granting Of furloughs 10
private soldiers. Let the apers Of every
State insist upon and encourage the system
adopted by Congress. Let Congress see to
it. that her laws are carried out, and we as.
sure you our army will be larger and al.
ways invincible. The Hospital "rats" will
crawl FROM their den apd join the rapks to
await their turn for home. Such has been
the case in Jenkins Brigade, and il such a
system was insugurated Ia Lees army il
would have tho Same effect. Ii is strange,
very, that among 80 many smart Generals
10 tho army Of Northern Virginia, that