The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-13

kOoD FOR THE ARMY.-Gen. Lee exhorts
his soldiers to endure patiently the hard
ships oocasioned by the reduction of ra-
tions, which he hopes viii only be tempo
rarily." The General order containing the
exhorsation Is dated Jan. 20, 1854, six days
ago, and is ~ follows:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VA.
January 20, 1864.
CENTRAL ORDERS No. 7-TheC command
ing General considers it due to the army to
state that the temporary reduction Of ra-
tons has been caused by circumstances be-
yond the control of those charged with its
support. 1ts welfare and comfort are OBJ
jject0 Of his constant and earnest sOlicitude,
and 10 effort has been spared to provide
for ito wants. It il hoped the exertions now
being made will render the necessity but Of
short duration, but the history of our army
has shown that the country can require no
sacrifice too great for it's patriotic devotion.
Soldiers, you tread with no unequal steps
the road by which your fathers marched
through suderings, privation and blood, to
Independence. Continue to emulate in
the future, ~ you have in the past, their
val0r in arms, their most patient endu-
rance Of hardships, their high resolve to be
free, which no trial could shake, no bride
seduCe, no danger appal, and be assured
that the just God, who crowned their eff
forts with success, will, in His own good
time, send down His blessings upon you.
lSignedl r. E. LEE.
As General Lee never speaks until it is
necessary, We may be sure that his SOL
die8 have suffered, or are likely to suffer,
unless the people and the Government do
their duty. We put the people before the
Government, because that is the position
which they have always been called upon
to take in times Of emergency, and which
they must do now.
What if Northrop is thought by the Pre-
sident land by him only the best man in
the COnYederacy for CommiSsary General
The Presidents mistaken opinion does not
absOlve us from our duty. What If ninety
vessels did run into Wilmington Harbor
within the past four months, and brought
mean whisky and Yankee notions instead
of meat enough to feed the army for year
to cOme-what OF that? Our armies suffer
none the less on account of this sat,sfactO-
rysexplanatiOn of the reason why they are
suffering.
The truth is: if there is meat and bread
enough in the country to feed the army the
army must have it. Is it not enough to
ask the soldiers to she'd their blood, lose
their lives, sleep in mud and snow, die in
hospitals, go barefoot and endure the inev..
table hardships Of amp, marches and
battles, but we must ask them to starve in
the bargain? Can We not suffer very lit
tie in order that they may suffer not quite
so much? Can't zee live on half rations, so
that they may have at least half quarter
ration? We trust so, indeed.
Here is fact for the consideration of the
Government. Every man who has plenty
Of money can always get plenty to eat
The Government has plenty of money.
Which is better, to hoard Memminger's
notes, and let the army starve, or to buy
freely for the army, and let the people pay
the piper? After all, il is the peoples
Seddon's or Davis. Buy food for the SOL
diers, no matter what it costs. Give mill
lion dollars for a loaf of bread if necessary.
Let the people charge their own prices and
pay their own debt. 1t is their debt, and
not the Government .-Rich8lOnG Wing,
Traaas<Ar,s G1HIh