Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-07-16
Siimrses of EankeeasOisa.

A correspondent of the Richmond Sentinel->a very
good Journal by the ways giving series of IN otea
10 Hospital at st. Louis, by wounded Confederate
prisoner lately exchanged We take the following
tracts
Notwithstanding the loud boastings Of The Fedora!
Government of its wealth and vest resources at hand,
their private soldiers will tell you quite different tale
hether it be parsimony or Inability on the part OF
the Government, negligence corruption among
the officers it is hard TO tell hut from what learned
from the patients in the hospital their fare is far hard
er and more meagre than that Of our troops Hard
bread-which is but -four mixed with water and baked
in thin square cakes called hard tack and detested by
every soler-Nith salt pork is their principal food
the field and march This hard tack is made by ma
chnery and baked n large quantities in all the princ
pal cities, and pur up in boxes Ii kept dry, it will
keep long time 1t is light easy of transportation,
cheap and gots long way because the soldier will not
eat it. Ground coffee largely adulteraed, is scanty
provided with sugar,
The officers devote themselves to schemes of spe cua-
ton, gain and public favor. They grossly neglect the
welfare of their men, while they are earnest and vgi
liant In promoting their interest and comfort The
meD say they are very poorly supplied with Transports
ton that they have their knapsacks blankets and
tents to carry and that they often forced upon
traOrdnary marches without necessity. The tents are
divided into sections and distributed among the
heard enc of the in the hospital say that his
regiment had been marched forty miles stretch
upon bet between his commander and another Of.
cer-the men not suspectng the cause of the heavy
march at the time!
The North prides itself greatly upon the general diff
fusion of education and intelligence and claims vast
superiority the South in this particular. But il
their soldiers to be taken any criterion Of the
facs of the case they fall far short OF sustaining their
pretensions AS far my observation extended and
was able to judge they far iiilterae, gen
erat luie than our own men in arms They appear tc
be possessed, Also of Less spirit, animation and self
reliance than the Southrons. They exhibit little in
terest in any thng outside of their own companies OF
| regiments and seem to have but poor conception o
the origin and causes OF the 1t is surprising wha
little concern they manifest in what is trenspirng, Oh
in reading the daily journals No arguments Or ever
conversation is heard among them in relation tt
matters touching the conduct of their Government
| they show interest in the administration of nation
al affairs, and to all appearance, possible care less
They look to the Government to do every thing, anc
to regard it something independent of the PEG
pie, Hence, they do not act in unison with it, bu
have to be dragged to the performance of duty since h
first impulses produced by excitement have snbsded
showing that their enthusiasm, which led them into h
service not the offspring of true ard deepseatet
natriOtism.