Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-07-08
Fer the Delaware Gazette.
NOTES IN DIXIE.
NEAR AewOnrH, Ga, JUNE II, 1864.

From the outbreak of this war the politi-
cal element has been the bane OF our army
1t ie lamentable fact that amOag the thous-
Rnds of unselfh patriots who, taking their lives
il their hands, sprang at the call of their in
perilled country, very many of that worthless
class of men known as politicians" attached
themselves to the army for mere Gd eaptandum
purposes. The exigencies of the country open
ed new road to place and peWer, of which
the political triekstsrs were neither the last
nor the least jealous in availing themselves
However unified by nature or experience for
the vast and sacred responsibility of command
ing men, there was DO military Office or ap-
pointmsnt too high for the scope of their am
bition or the reach Of their intrigues. Bring
ing with them q very small proportion of
brains, but very large propensity for wire
pulling, many Of them quickly wormed them
selves up to positions fer which they had
neither ability or adaptation. Such men were
no sooner in power than they began to use
their patronage and influence in such way az
best served their party purposes and secured
the greatest amount of newspaper glOrifcation
and lying praise of everything they did. Thus
many military quack has been carried up
and Aept up by mere political initiation. The
severe ordeal of actual services has shown up
the true calibre Of large numbers of these
schemiDg pretenders, and they have according
ly bees wseded out or sloughed of. Aban-
doRing the army they again betook themselves
to political gambling, and almost iuva.
riably became the antagonists of the war pol
icy of the Government. To cover their own
iucapacity they turn and rend the couatry
they have cheated 1aa
Though eur armies have been well rid Of
large numbers Of this class, there are still
many who cling to them for the smeluments
and political eelGt of the service. Where they
control, diEastsr invariably attends our arms.
1t is to such true soldiers, and nsre seldierl
as Grant, Sherman, Thomas and others oi
their class, that we must look for the proper
management of cur vast military operations
If they cannot succeed it is idle, it is foolish
to attempt to supply their places by preten-
tious dsmagegues and politicians.
During the brief repose allowed by Gen
Sherman to his army after the battle of Res
acca, and the occupation of Kingston, cir.
eular was issued by the General commanding
in which, after stating that the impression had
become prevalent that the mails to and from
the army had been prohibited. which impress
sion he declared TO be wholly unfounded in
fact, and declaring that he desired that the
soldiers should have the best possible oppor-
tunities for full and free Communication with
their friends, he concluded as follows:
"What the commanding General does dis
courage, is the maintenance of that class o.
men, who will not take a nnsket and Aght
but follow an army to pick up news fer sale
lspeculatiug upon species of information tha
is dangerous to the army and our cause, anC
who are more used to bolster up worthless snC
idle officers than to notice the hard working
and meritorious, whose modssty is generally
equal to their courage, and who scorn to seel
the cheap fattery of the press"
In this language the miserable perversion 0
the press which has been made by set O
sycephants and party tools for the support o
dsmAgogueG in shOulder-Straps, receives mer
tied denunciation.
In late issues of the Cincinnati papers oc
cur certain statements in regard to the per
formances of Hovey's Division of the 23'
Corps, during the assault of the enemy on tn
left wing of the army Of Resacca on the 15tl
, Of May. The statements referred to are ut
terly false, and must have been made by som
one who was either ignorant of the facts o
else designed = misrepresentation of them.
is asserted that HOvey's men repulsed the al
tacks Of the enemy, and the most sxtravagan
: praises are bestowed upon Hovey's "recruits
! for the brilliant feat. Now for the facts.-
The enemy was not repulsed by Hovey's mer
= and they fired scarcely shot during the Who'll
y 6ght. He iOas repuised by Brig. Gen. Wi
liams veterans, Of the Goth Corps. Geners
r Williams Division was in position full an hou
}, before any portion Of the 23d Corps arrives
= When it did arrive, HOvey's Division We
e formed in rear and in support of Williams
II and, SO far as the writer could see, lay perfec
e y fat upon the grouRd to avoid the bevies I
r bullets that constantly filed ths air during Il
II battle. The left of Gen. Williams' line WI
a held by Col. Robinson's Sd Brigade, which G
Is the previous evening had 20 Rallantly tnrnC
the rout Of Stanlsy's Division into victor
Upon this brigade the enemy made two a
Raults with forces massed four lines deep, al
l. in each instance were repulsed with terrib
A. less. During the fight Col. Robinson feariE
CT that his left, which was exposed, might
D. turned by the enemy, made repeated efforts
So get only regiment or two of Hovey's "T
il cruits' to support the exposed flank. B
%, these men, 30 valiant on paper, could not
I'd induced to bulge an inch toward the desir
uG point. OF all these facts the writer is persO
~ ally cognizAnt, he having bimsOlf deliver
e. the earnest requests Of Col. Robinson to t
) sficer commanding the "recruits" of GSnal
,s- HOvey. Yet but for the injustice done to t
,s, brave men who actually did the work,
By which the whole credit was given to oths
while they whose blood bought the victe
were net even mentioned, no attention woT
have been paid to this sCandalous misrep
: sentation.
he After three days Of rest in the vicinity
nd Cassville aud Kingston the vSst army of @
lrt Sherman resumed its advance against the
A. emy. The troops, provided with twenty da
to rAtionS and stripped for battle, were cautit
yel etS that they were about to launch into the
m terror with little regard for communicate
me or bases Of supply. 1t WAS understood Il
ing j JOhnson's army was lodged in the fastnes
vig of the AlatoOna Mountains in the vicinity
in EtoWah, on the line of the railroad, This
ard sition like that at Resacca was capable OF
the ing turned by means Of practicable r.
- leading over the mountains and debouch
de- into the open country at Burnt Hickory
OF posite Dallas. Oncs at Dallas Gen. Shsrr
} 30 would be in rear Of johnson at Allatoona
bal have an open road to the ChattahoOChee.
J it. On the 23d Gen. Hooker's Corps led
-