The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-04
of the KenoSha Tele-
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NASHVILLE, SUNDAY July oath "a.
Mr.. EDITOR:
The weather for the last two or three days
has been much cooler, and Experience now
no inconvenience from the heat, and feel
much in. hopes that the worst Of the hot
season is over. We have had no rain here
for the last two weeks and vegetation is stuff.
ering with drouth. Large numbers of SOL
diers wounded in this campaign are being
iurfougbed and sent home, in fact all who
are not SO severely wounded as to
be unable to travel find no difficulty in get
ing furloughed, whereas the sick no matter
what may be the disease or its probable du-
ration can get no furloughs except in cases
where the surgeon in charge can certify that
in his opinion change of climate is abso-
lutely necessary to save life. This strin-
gent, and i'll my judgment, unjust discrim-
nation between the sick and the wounded,
causes much suffering and not unfrequently
loss of life, for there are many cases of sick
ness where if the patient could be permitted
to go to his friends north, would ultimately
recover, but the surgeon feels that ne can
not make the certificate required by the or
der and the consequence is in many instan-
ces the man dies here. / have calls almost
every day of men from Wisconsin seeking
their SONS in the service either sick or wound
cd. find no difficulty, and indeed it re-
quires no interference on my part to procure
furlough for wounded man but have
net yet succeeded in getting single sick
man furloughed. have been told that the
primary cause of issuing such strict orders
respecting sick men was in consequence of
the very large number Of recruits sent for
ward early this spring, enlisted by the in
fiuence of the large bounties paid knowing,
themselves at the time to be unfit fo1the SER
vice many of them concealing their physical
disabilities from the examining surgeon, fiat
tering themselves with the idea that if they
broke down they would have no difficulty
in getting furlough or discharge, and
thought it most excellent opportunity to
come down here at government expense, see
the country and pocket their three or four
hundred dollars, Others again were passed
by the examining surgeon evidently unfit
for the service, with bodily defects patent to
the most casual observer. Of all this tbs
military authorities justly complain and
look upon it as not only gross outrage up
on the government but upon themselves al
So thereby swelling the army on paper to
vast numbers while the proportion tit for
active service in the field is reduced below
the number actually required. AS regards
these high bounties would say further that
have always thought it Of doubtful expe-
diency and the more see of the service the
moro am convinced that it is not the prop
er mode of raising an efficient army. care
not whether the bounty be offered by the
60 vernment, levied in taxes by the citizens
of city town or county. 1t makes no diff
erence, the high bounty is raised aud Of
fered and thousands are thereby induced to
euIist and manage to pass the examining
surgeon and are mustered into the service,
when in fact they know, many Of them that
they have bodily iufrnities that will sooner
or later incapacitate for service. Then they
expect to be either discharged or furloughed
and sent home Then think of the vast ex-
pense thus entailed upon the people, for the
people have ultimately every dollar Of this
debt to pay, not only the original bounty but
the soldier is to be clothed and fed, and if
sick he is carried to hospital and nursed
and doctored at government expense neap'
time drawing his monthly pay from govern
ment. Of this do not complain, it is all
right for the government to do thus much
and even more for the meritorious soldier
who has honestly and from patriotic motives
entered tho service and from exposure and
over exertion fell sick. But in my observa-
| tions through the hospitals in the army of
the Cumberland thus far, the fact has forced
tself upon me that very large percentage
of the sick in hospitals are from the late re-
cruts and persons enlisted under the impulse
Of high bounty. 1t will not do to call
this patriotism. Plenty of opportunities were
offered by the government for the patriotic
to step forward and join in the march for
the Union and the real patriot did stop for
ward before the high bounties were offered.
What then was the inducement under the
high bounty, clearly not patriotism, not
love of country, but a mercenary motive, the
hope of saving a few hundred dollars in
few months and being returned home as I'M
fit for duty. There are other grave objec-
tions to the offering of high bounties but
| have not time to notice them now.
The draft after all in my estimation is the
most proper and equitable mode of raising
an army. take the broad ground, that
every citizen owes service, and is bound to
respond to the call of his government when
ever that government may be assailed, either
| from foes, from within or without; the draft
falls Unfortunately upon all of proper ago
and physical ability. am glad that the
Communication clause is repeated 80 that now
every man drafted will have to go or furnish
man. hope that extreme care and eau
ton will be used in conducting the next
draft so that no one can complain OF unfair
ness and that the examining surgeon will
be selected for his stern integrity and pro-
fessionaIly well qualified for the discharge Of
his duties That done shall expect to see
better fighting material in the army, than
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