Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-16
soldiers and FxtortiOners.

Ia Yesterdays issue, gave an extract from an ed
toria in the Charlottesville Daily Chronicle, in which
the ndomtabs spirit and cheerulness Of cur soldiers
were admirably depicted To-day, we present the rest
of the editorial which SHOWS up" the exoTtoner in
contrast 10 the soldier after fashion which both will
appreciate:
at will not be an idle boast whom this deadly strug
ola IL mast, for one to say belonged TO the Army NJ
Srthsrn Virginia for that army 70 really an army,
and has won Tor itself name like that OF the veterans
Of Gustavus Adophus CSsar. Even in the event oil
disastrous result history will eXpaate upon their bat
Ties and their patient endurance OF marches, and nun
Ger and uakedness and their very conquerors would
s,smnt 70 oonciate those who they have learned, by
ali the endoWmenis Of Lature are their masters IN Gil
that eonstu es true and genuine nobility OF character.
In the event of success the survivors would become the
oortrs o the national affections and all that is pleasing
or Aatering in the memories OF nation would Ind Its
ehodiment in the heroes that had followed jackson
and Lee and been participants at Gaines MIL, hanas,
sas Port Republic Cedar Run, Fredericksburg, and
Gettysburg"
Tbi. armv has been in multitude of partial engage
msp,1 and in many pitched battles, and upon no single
occasion from the very inception OF the war; have they
ever faltered They were wretchedy handled at Get
tvsburp but they carried of there the honOrs Of
the battle.
"Thus the grim lion his retreat mAiniainS-"
IsnR stands the Show'rlns darts, and missile fires
,sThep sourly slow tn indignant beast reiires.
$50 turnd stern kaI Sy whole hosts ss 5sPsI
MANY Of these soldiers have been absent from lone
DosrIv three wears Their brothers and friends have
fallen by their sides sad changes have occurred in the
circles they left behind them perhaps they have been
entirely cut from their Safes they receive no boTes
nu nm by the hands of mothers and wives and sisters
no money IA RENTED them they suffer for the SIM
Dlest of life surely every soldier should be
the object of tender interest and sympathy-and Ill
becomes us at home to look with dispeasure on some
one OF them whom meet, and may fancy TO suspect
of being improperly "absent from his COM
mandn we make 70 plea for the straggler.
The necessity Of the hour requires the presence OF
every ahle-boded soldier in the army but such stray
Rler III stragger he be has generally encountered the
peril of many battles, and suffered continued prlvaions
10 every form; and it would frequently be well, those
Who sit in Judgment on them had exposed themselves
in single skirmish or felt the pangs of hunger upon
single occasion since tie war commenced. We know
men who are constant and obsreperous in harangung
on the Importance of sending the soldiers back TO their
commands and in recommending the policy oil t1e
'back Aig," aud the "last ditch, and tue last man.
who were able to be In service aud have kept carefully
ont OF II during the whole War-who, perhaps, have
been fleeing the county and army alike and who plume
themselves on being very cheerful and always enoour
aging other people do their lighting. Tney are the
true CONFERENCE.-The genuine Southern men-the
philosophers who direct the marches, ana 90 al .he
hard thinking for God and fahtrlAnd. They hold the
ouArtermasters commissions they are in the commits
sary departments; they hold little offices; they have
government contracts. Eight on, brave soldiers tney
saw, "never surrender-We are making money When
the advancing tide of cOnscrption approaches these
men, OF negro Is wanted to work on the Notifications,
thew suddenly discover that the Government is depoc,
and begin to point that the production Of food the
great desideratum or II men are wanted that some
body ought to sending the straggers back to their
oomnanes Il is no acute vision which Is necessary to
perceive that is the flower of the country who are
lighting our battles