Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-08
CAMP % N. G. TRooPs,

site banks-and the river being narrow, you must
know they are very near together: The Yankees
seem very DESTROYS to talk to our boys, but we are
compelled to turn the cold shoulder to them, as we
are ordered to observe the strctest silence. few
days ego, considerable force of the enemy, con.
ssting mostly of cavalry and artillery, attempted
to effect crossing at Kelly's Ford, on the upper
Rappahannock They were met by detachment
of cavalry and horse artillery from Gen. Stuarts
command, and were fepulsed with some loss
Their object it seems, was to obtain supplies lor
themselves and forage for their horses, but they
made most signal failure.
We have k;en expecting fight here tor some
time, but the recent heavy fall Of snow will! impede
the progress of Fighting Joe" for several daysto
come. Whenever he does come over, he will meet
with fate similar to that of his crest fallen pred
ecessor; and he too like Burnside, will be laid up
on the Shelf in solitude and alone to feed upon MS
own gloomy thoughts and to mourn over departed
greatness which can never again be his. MOST
truly may be then exclaim, "stc transit gtortd
mundi" | visited the old town of fredericksburg
a short time since, in which two brisades, IN par,
ticular, distinguished themselves tBarksdales OF
Miss, and Cobbs of Georgia. in the tight lase De'
cember. 1t was there that the gallant Cooo ieii'
urging his men on with his last breath. Well may
Georgia mourn the loss of so noble, so patrlotlc
son; "for nobler heart than his never beat re-
sponsive to his countrys CALL" There were others
of humber place, who did deeds rendering them
worthy of fame as enduring as posterlty lsseii
but following the general course, they must De
overlooked to make room ON historys page ior The
starred and epauetted few, whom circumstances, IN
most cases, and not merit have rendered their SD
4periors IN rank But we thank you, Mt EDITOR;
for your sympathy with the private soldier, and
hope that you will give us little space IN your val
liable paper to represent his claims. and make
L-..-o a. 500. ,,,n, ,o.5are Game Of the imDO.
stions to which he is sub)ectedfor no paper in the
South has ever dared to take so bold stand IN
favor of the poor man and the private soldier as
YOU have; and such course, Mr. Editor, has Sc
cured to you the respect, and may say, the alice
ton of many private soldier IN the army, and It
is gratifying to us to know that in our favor We
have SO able an advocate
1t is humiating to a man Of education, intelli
gence and refinement, to feel that he is commanded
BY pen who are not only his interiors in education
and knowledge of military matters, but wanting
in the gentlemanly principle so requisite in men
appointed to govern and control Others, who are
their equals, and perhaps their superiors in every
thing but rank. Yet such is often the case Men
who were never known beyond the narrow limits
of their own homes, and who are hardly morally
constituted so as to govern plantation OF negroes
properly, are, through the influence OF commanding
officers, appointed to command men Of whom they
know nothing, and who know nothing OF them;
and such men, l have observed, generally become
the greatest tyrants and select as speetnt ooects
of their tyranny those men under their command
who have been favored with more general lntelil-
gence and better education than they possess.
Such men they always select to impose the most
degrading puEishments upon, striving by every
means in their power to destroy their seifrespect
and humiate them. and it is often the case that
those very men have done their whole duty IN every
battle, and have rendered themselves worthy Of
high positions, and if slain would have bathed COM
munites in tears, while the officers of whom nave
spoken, skulked from the field like scared houhds
and hid their worthless carcases behind trees ana
stuHlps. Some snch, l am sorry to say, we nave
in our regiment One hero We know who rushea !,
to the rear during the battle Of Malvern l'i ana
on being expostulated with by wounded ofhcer,
his inferior in rank, replied, oh, it's ho use; our
army is all cut to pieces" I have seen this very
officer beat private soldier with his s%ora, "ne',
there was but little danger, because ne suspec.eu
| him Of being cowardly. This is not all Altet
having shirked the battles in Maryland, ne was
heard to say on the march to Gordonsvlie lrom
the Valley, that he had disobeyed strict oroer u,
! the hope of being dropped, as that was his ohiy
means of getting out Of the service Iheie are
other things could mention in the military hiSso,y
of this hero, but will leave him to enjoy the con-
| tempt of his company, whom know to be com
pan, of high-mnded, honorable men-hls equais
| in education, his superiors in society. we haVt
always thou ght that military laws were SO framed
as to administer Justice impartially to all II sue.
is the casc the laws have been disregarded 1or OF
cers have been dropped for sing instances Of dls
graceful conduct while others have been aiio"ed u
remain who have never attempted TO 90 their out)
in a single instance. This class may be genersii!
recognized by their naughty experimenting,
| 1i, hn t1f09tel
plunging his sword through some poor conscrlpt
! who is as ignorant Of military maneuyres Us ne
Of military laws. ,,..-.
One officer. know, who has never yet been nea
enough to the battle field to smell the smoke q
gun.powder, who, when on drill, where ne know
the private soldier has not the privilege of &c
tort, is continually threatening to dye the blade {
iis blood guiltless sword in the blood Of some pon
fellow. whom nature has so coAi4uted as to rende
him. incanasle of learning as fast as others. But
will not do to dwell too long on this matter; ther
is another subject would like to notice, before cor
Guiding
ALLOW ME to inquire, Mr. Editor, what we al
fighting for. My humble opinion is, that we hay
been fighting for the establishment of republica
form of government, Independent of the NAL admit
istered republic of the United States; that violate
rights and continued system Of imposition h:
driven to this course. and that in the successf
estdoiou'uetit Vi Ills SoVtruiHeHt, oil CaasoSS VI
ciety have an interest-the rich slave owner as gre
if net greater interest than the poor man, wi
does not own negro in the world, for, if defeate
they must be the losers Of species Of property
most wholly unpossessed by the poor man. No
such be the case, Sir why is it that the represe
tatves Of a nations wisdom, have crsated law 9
empting from the tolls and hardships of the WI
; the very class who are. tho owners Of this 81
; cies> Of property Do they intend to establi
among US IN srstocraey, consisting Of the owne
Of this species Of property, and then exempt thu
: Iron doing anything in defence Of the ownership
;. this very property? Our ancestors look upon
first Congress OF the United States with veneratie
imagine. Sir, that postesity will look with equa
as much disgust and contempt on the first Congr'
! of the Confederate States. e.
) T., Contrast for moment, Mr.. Editor, the fate
these two classes Of seciety-the slaveholdes a
the non-slsvehoidsr 1.-the ems living OF home g
rounded ty his friends, his barps sHd sGoks.hou
! stored with corn and baean, nothing disturas