Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-04
BACK RATIONS.
ESlraet from tortteoaing pamphlet, entitled " West
Point and Political Generals" By I,restgator.

Ertraet from toriIcoD,iHg pamphlet, entitled West
Point and Political GcacraLs.' By Investigator.
There has been practice in the Confederate
vice. since its organization and still prevailing which has
been an incaculbe of evil IL is the refusal to
give the soldier his back ration any Communication for
tho 1t would he difficult for ingenuity to frame u
regulation glArng, in it, injustice or more nju-
rou to the service and the country. 1t has not even the
excuse Of being copied in spirit of routine from vicious
model being to the best Of the writer's belief mischev
ousy original and without precedent. The soldier vol
unteering before he was forced by CONSUMPTION laws,
into the army contracts on his part obey his supe
ror to encounter fatigue, privation, danger wounds
and if necessary death nideience Of bis coun try and
his country on its part contracts to give him eleven
dollars per month 4nd stipulated ratons. No one will
contend that vieJmsed he is by extortoners, with
the present rise in prices and depreciation of our cur
rency that this pay equal to fifth of its value when
that rate was fixed Clearly, therefore, the ration, al
WAYS the most important part of the consideration, has
become predominatingy So His country, furthermore
assumes the implied obligation to furnish these ra'icns
as far as possible at stated times tits plain, for instance
that the soldier only received these ratons at the end
of year, that the bulk of our army must starye, dis
equally true that with every exerton the part of the
Subsistence Department. the accidents of campaign
occasionally preclude the possibility of giving to the
trooos any or the whole Of the ration to which they
entitled at the proper time But when wet Nes-ed
suffering from heat he is marching, camping or bivouac
IN in rain mud snow dust without food, for sew
eral DAYS on half ration, curlAiled for weeks or
m,ntbs of some of his ratiOls he would derive some
compensation for his suffering and privaton from the
reflection that at future period he would receive
either the articles of subsistence withheld at the tme to
With to purchas. those necessares or luxures which
consume or cell of the value thereof in money where
his scanty paw and opportunities rarely allow him to
obtain Now this is what the regulation OF the Com-
missaria Department of the Confederate States denies
him. The soldier has therefore, not only to endure,
without this cheering stimulus but depressed besides
by sense of the injustice done him and by the convic
ton that deprivation OF his ratiOns has become the in
teres Of those charged with their distribution. The
great problem in all wars vet satisfactorily solved
mas been 10 keep commissaries and quarermssters
Zee and honest in the field To this end the ingenuity
| of governments and commanders has been taxed but
all that ingenuity combined could not have devised
scheme better suited to denoraizc those departments
II the Commissary or his assistants have not certain
lions hand he they have not the trouble OF scrv
ing them ont either thcu aiterWards-here is pre-
MUM inactivity where experience has SHOWN the nc
cessty OF spur to exertiOn The captains Of compa-
MES making their requisition perhaps in dripping tent
or rainy bvouac receipt for all raons in the hope that
| some of them may be on hand They have neither
convenience nor inclination to substitute fresh requi-
son aud both they and their companies not being al
loHed back raons have interest in looking further
into the matter Here is the strongest incentive to dis
honesty in the commissry his suoordnates 1t may
fearesSy be asserted that every Confederate soldier
SINCE The beginning OF the war; has had at least, the
average one third in value of his rations thus withheld
Quite as confidently it may be stated that only frdc-
ton of the vast amount involved has Injured to the
benefit of the Government that is TO say that every
body in the army believes and knows that what is thus
abstractcd from the poor pittaucc of the soldier paid
for by the people enricling the dishonest and gradually
cOrrupng those who have not yet become so. In all
| wars, even the most bloody, have seen that
sickness harvestS many times victims than
leai or steel The difference between the NOR
tally OF camps in time of war and that of those classes
exposed in time Of peace TO fatigue and weather,
shows US how large share want OF food unaccustomed
food or want of accustomed food has in the production
OF sickness Hence we may deduce that this unjust un.
usual cruel and impoc regulation denying to the SOL
der his back raons has laid thousands upon thousands
in their graves and cost the country millions upon mil
IONS of dollars Most of have volunteers civ
ing eagerly their three dollars for unripe watermelon
or two for an undevcloped cabbage like flies
about the suffer for candy, gingerbread or moasses-
so intense was their craving for something cooling OF
for something sweet II may be tue that the Confede
raey could not find in kind coffee nor sugar sufficient to
supply our armies and that at four or five dollars pei