The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-03-17

A correspondent of the Chsrleston Courier, writing
from the Army under Gen. Bragg, at Shelbyye,
Tenn, says: =
81 am glad to say that the exertions made to
bring up the missing soldiers to duty are working
wonders in this army. All of our regiments here
have been consolidated, making one out of two
half the officers have been relieved from field SER
vice. and, with Gen. Pillow, of Fort Donelson
notoriety at their head travelling over the land,
inviting all to come up aud assist in the defence
of their country in this her time of need. Many
have accepted their Invitations, as we'll as the cav
airy escort which is allowed those too modest to
cpme alone, and this army is to-day good many
thousand stronger in Numbers than when we
fought the battle OF Murtreesboro', Ill December
last
There has been a thorough over-hauling since
the last battle; those who failed do their duty
have been brought up to speedy trial, aud summary
punishment dealt out wherever it was deserved.
Several commissioned officers ho did not set their
men proper examples before the enemy, have been
relieved of all responsibilities aud tie petty
annoyances incident to the holding Of office; and
ia the case Of one Of the Lieutenans of the second
Arkansas Reg iment, whose example was peculiarly
pernicious in sight Of the blue coats, the extreme
penalty of the military law was meted out You
may think all this hard, but in my humble opinion
the only way to have good army is to make the
commissioned officers know their duties and
perform them promptly:
Our Congress has passed one excellent law for
the army, provided it be enforced | allude t.
the Act to 'relieve the army Of incompetent, dis.
abled and disqualified officers" One of the re-
quiremcnts of tina. Act is that the commanding
officer OF regiment at the end of each MONTH re-
port on the efficiency of the officers Of his COM
uand-how often absent from camp, on march
Il oh l;ttlo
points in relation to the conduct of officer. ~
soon as the report is laid before the General
handing the army, the denquents are immediate
ly brought before Board OF Officers appointed to
examine into the cases, which Board are bound by
their oaths to do their duty to their country The
consequence is that not great many are brought
before this Committee, trem the simple fact that
they know what to expect and studlously avoid
getting into the clutches OF these judges. Sol
diers will nickname and apply slang epithets to al
most any thing, SO this Board is commonly known
as the "Croton Oil Board"
General j. T.. Johnston, the commander of the
whole West, paid US visit two weeks ago, and
reviewed the troops at this place-expressed him.
self highly delighted with their appearance, and
with the management of things generally in this
department-issued orders exceedingly compli-
mentary to General Bragg and his army, for their
gallant conduct at Murtreesboro-usi as one
paragraph of his order, these words: "By its own
courage and the skill of its General inflicted upon
the enemy loss almost equal to its own numbers,
besides capturing thirty-three cannon and one
thousand wagons-an exploit unparalleled in
modern battles" Such language from such a
source should stop the tongues Of some Of Gen.
Braggs abusers.
l sorry to see intelligent newspaper cores
pondents advocating the doctrine Of allowing the
Northwestern States place in our Confederacy;
and even that ably conducted journal, the Mobile
Advertiser and Register, favors their union with
us. | do not know the opinions Of outsiders and
home folks on the subject, but do not think it
would meet the appreciation of the army, at least
not of the Army of Tennessee. We love peace
and desire peace, we love homes and families,
and would love once more to be with them under
our own roofs, still want to complete our work
of entire separation from n-slaveholding States
and not patch up Government for our children
to fight over when we are gone. We are willing
to extend to them the right hand Of fellowship
and would be most delighted to soc them cut away
from the detested New Eng land States and form a
North Western Confederacy-but let US buckle
on our armor for another two years fight, rather
than see the stars and bars wave over any save
slayeholdino State