Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-27
ADepartmontaI Corps.

and We presume it is true, at all events we
have never seen it denied, that West Va.
has furnished more troops in proportion
to her population than any other State in
the Union. Certainly far more in proper
ton to her loyal population. Ten thous-
AID more men, then, is out of all proper
ton. Such a number would drain her
limits of able bodied Young men, and by
young men We mean men sound enough in
body audit NIB to undertake. the fatiEues and
exposures of campaign.
Consider the fact also in addition to the
foregoing that the country South of the
Northwestern Railroad is now almost en-
ttrely In possession of the enemy-the guer-
rillas. The people are not adequate to their
home protection, for the reason that they
are unaFmed and uuOrganized for the most
part. They are in no condition to leave
their homes. Their crops must be gathered
now or starvation and want to an uuparaI-
leled extent must follow this Autumn aud
Winter throughout our border. Many far
ueFs have not help enough to save even
their small crops. Many moro have lost
their horses and all their stock. They
must save little of something in the way
Of grain in order to live. Now is the only
time in which they can save it. How then
are ten thousand men to be had from West
Virginia? We do not believe it possible
And what therefore is to be done under the
circumstances2 Our answer is that tho De-
partmental Corps, as it was expounded and
understood here few days ago, will come
nearer meeting tho hardships of the case,
as between our people aud the Govern
neut than anything else we know of. Es-
pecially will it do so if the War Depart
ment will more perfectly adapt it to the
necessities Of our situation. That adapts-
tlon it strikes US is easy enough, if there is
the disposition. The Government has been
keeping from twenty Eve to fifty thousand
men-sometimes more-within the limits
of West Virginia. She needs always
considerable additional force when danger
becomes imminent. Troops, under such
circumstances have always had to be rush
ed ia from other States, not only at great
expense to the Government, but also at the
risk of ether points. Now why not have
a thorough home organization in West
Virginia Of not only ten thousand men, but
all the able bodied men. We undertake
to say that the Government can be made
stronger in West Virginia for any pur-
pose either of war or peace, through, the
organisation of a Departmental Corps, than
any other way. 1t suits our people better
than anything else, and for this reason: II
leaves them at home, subject to drill, when
their services are not needed, and thus
their families do not suffer. The great
dread OF most men in going into the
regular army organization is not for them
selves, but for their families. Tie army
pay will not support them, and the chari-
ttOi ofthose who remain behind, prove, as
experience has shown, as very slim and
unreliable dependence. But the Depart
meutal Corps would alter all this. Our
loyal people all desire to fight when there
Is Atcual fighting to be done. They do not
objectto hurry out to repel an actual danger
1t 10 the lyiugin camp and waiting for
something to happen-aud all the while,
too, hearing of the distresses of their fam
lilies, that unmans:them and makes them al
together reluctant to any continuous ser
vice in camp. Through the Departmental
corps they avoid the tedium and hardships
Of nOu-action, while through it they get
up an organization-a grand defensive
league-whcih with good arms, will always
be efficient at very short notice to drive
out the irregular bands OF the euemy-sucb
As have so often invaded US, a9dIsucb as we
have the greatest cause to dread.
The War Department could make this
organization unusually profitable through
out West Va by providing that those who
enlist in it bona fde, shall be exempt
from tho CONSUMPTION. II need be a
regular order, providing for weekly regi-
mental drills aud other for company drills.
might be issued along with the formal or
der providing for the exemption of all per-
sons who join it. We believe twenty thous.
and men and even more, in this way could
be got into it. In fact NO one liable to
CONSUMPTION could well avoid joining it
after the organization was once started,
for every person who thus might join it
would thereby increase the chances of the
transcription against those who remained
outside of it. No one, scarcely, would be
willing TO run the diminished likelihood
o. escape, and he would as matter Of
self protection join the Departmental
corps.
1t seems to us that proper movement,