Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-01-26
The Private Soldier.

Under this head the Jackson Miss,
Crisis pays the following handsome tribute
to the private soldier
"Justice has never been done him.
His virtuous merit and unobtrusive patri-
otism have never been justly estimated
We do not speak of the regular SOL
dier who makes the army his trade for
twelve dollars per mouth. Wedo not in
cludc the coward, who skulks, nor the vul-
garian, who can perpetrate acts of mean
ness nor of the laggard, who must be
forced to fight for his home. and country. :
These are not the subjects of our com
ment. We speak of the great body of cit
izen soldiery who constitute the provis-
| ional army of the Confederacy, and who,
at the sound of trumpet and drum, march
ed ont with rife or musket to fgbt-to
| repel their country's invaders or perish on
that soil which their fathers bequeathed,
with the glorious boon of civil liberty
These'are the gallant men of whom we
write, and these have saved the country,
these have made a breastwork of their
wanly bosoms to shield the sacred precincts
of altar-place and freside.
Among these pri0ate soldiers are to be
found men of cuiture-men of gentle
training-men of intelIect-men of social
position-men of character at home-nen
endeared to domestic circle of refine
ment and eleganee-men of wealth-men
who gave tone and character to the socie-
ty in which they moved, and men who for
conscience sake have made living sacri
fee of property, home and comfort, and
are ready to add crimson life to the holy
offering.
Many of these, if they could have sur
1 rendered honor and sense of indepen-
dence, could have remained in possession
of all these elegances and comforts. But
they felt like the Roman, who said, Put
honor in one hand and death in the other,
and will look on both indiferently
Without rank, without title, without an.
=, ticipated distinction, prompted only by the
: highest and noblest sentiments which can
influence our common nature, the private
labors, and tolls, and marches, and fights
endures hunger, and thirst, and fatigue
: through watchings, and weariness, anc
: sleepless nights, and cherries laborious
y days, he holds up before him the one glo
: rious prize" Freedom to my country ;
A." Independence and my homep' If W,
can suppose the Intervention of less wor
. thy motive, the officer, and not the private
: is the man whose merit must commingl
} such alloy. The officer may become re
= nowned-the private never reckons upol
. that; the officer may live 10 history-tb
: private looks to no such record; the off
0 Ger may attract the public gaze-the pr
. vate does not look for such recognition
y ! the officer has salary-theprivate, only
- monthly stipend, the amount of which b
- has been accustomed to pay to some fel
" laborer on his rich domains. The office
:, may escape harm in battle by reason {
= distance-thc private must face the storr
y of death the officer moves on horsebac
~ the private on foot !; the officer carrie
10 sword, the emblem of authority, an
= does not fght-tbe private carries b
rs musket, and does all tt fighting.
- The battle has been fought-the victor
80 won; Lee, or Jackson, or Longstreet, {
- others, have achieved glorious success
y but that success was attained by the pr
81 Uate soldier, at the cost of patriot bloo
Isl of shattered bones and torn and mangle
vi muscle and nerves! We do not mean
underestimate the officer, or disparage h
courage or his patriotism. We draw Il
= pafalel for another purpose, and that is
- show, if other than the highest hum.
~ motive prompts the soldier to action, it
" theoffcer, and not the pri0ate, who
-. most liable to feel its influence.
H eSs We have often felt panied and annoy
0n at the fippant reference te the privot