Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-01
Desertisn and Struggling.

Desertion and struggling are beyond doubt chargeabe
with occasonng the greater number Of reveses as well
with preventing generals from improving our sue
They in fact responsible Tor the prolongaon
of the war with all its dangers, losses and suerngs.
The proportion which tae persons absent from their
time, bear to those present with such
commands is we are assured good authority really
startling and sufficient of itself to for the numer
cal weakness srmes create the necessity for
falling from strong positions and abandoning
important sections Of country.
We that rigid system has been nargurated with the
view of putting stop TO this and growing evil which
will hereafter be punished with the severity, and
crushed down with all the force Of TIE Confederate
ment. But this will be iIefeetual whc the coope
ration of the people and the local auth critics.
Deserons attempted be ed upon the ground
that the soldiers deserving have families suffering in Their
absence after whose welfare they must LOOK come what
may, and that be with such families they are
compelled to desert from the army.
Now let US ask how much good deserter do hi
family To what extent CONN., Dg an ofenct
punisha death and knowp that be is doing
tribute the support Of his vile and children Can ht
carry the operations Of is farm ne has one or super
intend his business be has any, try to make money by
his daily labor Hardly think. On the contrary Is
notorious from the eagued with Others
either eyading the CONSUMPTION form themsev
into bands hiding from the authorities, terror to the
neghb orhoods in which they find hatbo getting their
subsistence by sinister tax rather than supper
to their wives and families where they have any, the
being that in very many perhaps most instances
they have no wives or families. Beginning grunb
lers disc ontented men-men taught By wiley naIo71
vrers to hate President DAVIS and the Confederate
thorities as enemies destrucves they end by be-
coming deserters degpeIadoes, outlaws cure to the
neighborhoods which they har themselves aud bur
to the efenceIess whose benefit it pretend
that they deserted That uch gangs have spoken
of exist and find har6orage does not admit Of question
Apart altogether from patriotic motives connected with
the general of the Confederate cause, il is the
well the duty of the people and he local au
thor tiles to do all they by moral s1ascD well as by
force to discourage and deserton and tc
and return the all persons who by law ought
be there. The evil is that if not promptly repres
SEQ, viii be to grow. Il would not have every
swamp in the east and every mountain in the west
rendezvous and halbor for deseIrg and kukGrsoon
acquire tie habits Of bapditi, they will have already
themselves outlaWs-this thing be attended to
Deserton and be discouraged and repressed
tie laws must be sustained
But while let there hs real ground OF
complaint the families Of soldiers be really cared for
That is matter of charity. rgat and duty that
ought be neglected. fear is too often done
viii tend diminish assertions 5y removing of
the Indictments the ssion Of offence.
If all who oaght to be iDthe army and in Tanas were
LEE would have sufficient force to drive MEADE the
Potomac and BRAGG would bs strong enough to recover
Tennessee and Kentucky Even peace men would fad
their dscouraging diGerton and evasion for
were these sources Of weakEess removed, would be
much aea ter to honorable peace than
or ever can be by submits sion attempted negotiation
with obstinate, and il his opinion triumphant