The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-01-27
n1yoriiF From the Louisville Journal.
Cruel and Drunken Army Officers.

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chill has long been thrown over most II not
all our heroic volunteer Union soldiers What
is that vile, that villainous, that most damna-
BILE thing that has cast this awful gloom, this
fearful, withering chill upon the minds and
hearts OF vast armies Of brave patriotsi--
What is it that has caused this long delay Of
our mighty armies in sweeping treason from
the South-this insubordnation Of officers,
disobeying commands Of their superiors, caus
ing so great and so many disasters to our
arms, and death and sufferings everywhere to
our soldiers9 Do you say II is treason triply
covert, the quinessence Of hell, like Judas
Iscariot, obtaining commissions by false pro
fessions TO command our noble patriots iu or
de- to betray them to their enemies9
Perhaps not.I pray not!
Then who is be. where is he, that dares to
tri1e with the blood Of better men, Of faithful
so!diers2
A waichmau soldier, long on the army
walls, would answer, /" It is a long list, say
majority, Of naughty, proud, drunken, pro.
fame, gambling, swindling, despotic, cruel
murderous, and lliterate commissioned and
non commissioned officers holding the reins Of
power in our immense armies"
But the evil is exceedingly contagious and
is quickly caught up and practised BY most
OF the rank and file. thereby causing them to
be insubordinale and cruelty punished by fol
loving the example Of their officers, who
generally, il indeed not always, 90 uupuu
ished. t.
If they are tried il is bya Court Of Off
GERS, mGjo'ity Of whom are their accompces
n crimes and of course they aie acquitted. =
But woe to their white slaves called privates
and non commissioned officers! No negro
slavery can equal their humiliation and servi
tude. The innocent often suffers moro than
the guilty, because he dares question tho
corrupt and cruel prerogative Of his con-
manders, or daros prosecute him for his
crimes. They are often put on double duty
on scaudaous abors, and tied up for hours to
trees for their fathfunoss and their good
qualities. Many Of the privates have for.
mcrly held places Of honor and distiuc,io in
the world; but wo, TO u en- when they were
caught bv such vipers in their traps and
ma 10 to don tho decent cloth cf honore1 cit
izens and c,m, IL der thu iron daspoism OF
drunken, villainous commanders, who perse,
we're to tho very last 10 keep them under their
cruel power, lest their virtues may shine too
bright and be promoted, and they cast down.
The arrest Of an officer il generally under
siood to be such sham that il is commonly
said that that officer j. to lave a good rest.
in orer TO study more cruelty to those under
his command too honest to resist or i sers
Instead Of teaching, training, kin lily treat
ing, and leading, not driving their soldiers to
battle and TO victory, it is generally the very
reverse OF it. Teaching and drilling, what
little is undertaken, is generally but little &C
count. The private really often know mo'c
than their commanders, which makes tho lat
ter alous and cruel TO be told of it. AS to
aiing them to battle, it is driving them like
sheep to slau yhter. Exceptions! Yes thank
lcaven! thank the Lord! We have many,
very many honorable, noble hearted officers
who SEQ these th.'g. anl take advantage of
every opportunity to speak kind word OF
encouragement to the ,lown.hcarted soldier
But they are 10 few 10 ovetrule and crush out
the thou,apd-head viper that thus ports
with tha feblo,l Of bitter men. warn
yoal o my bleeding, weeping, suffering conn
trymen! it. this mighty growing desp p'tis n
and corruption Of army Off er' g,,s on un.
/ punished. your liber les arc lost lost!! LOST
FosEvER!!! Vox MILiIIUM.