Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-02-05
LrrrrR rRonI rnE 1an 3. V. n.


GEBNANrows, Tenn, Jan. l6 1854.
Along time of delay, employed in waiting
and Watching" has glided past since wrote
you; yet at this time, with all my endcavors,
am compelled TO announce that there Is "nolh-
ing new" spoke Of an expedition to try and
capture the rebel Geu. Forrest. Said expedition
was finely arranged failure. 1t took some
close figuring to make il fail, but il failed, aud
Forrest got away entirely unhurt and moreover
with all his irain, supplies, and drove Of beef
cattle. He knewjust when the National troops
advanced against him and from what point, and
therefore deliberately "lct out" stopping to
bridge the Hatchie and Wolfrivers, and to spend
day at Lafayette on the NJ, d. G. Road, de-
stroyi ing culyerts and doing other mischief.
The draft is the subject Of principal interest
among the soldiers. That which is now most
needed, aud which the soldier most desires is
the filing up ofthe old and tried regiments with
new levies. 1t seems that Congress spent much
time in enaciing "conscript' law, which has re-
suited only in giving out few thousand Offices
to hungry nspirants after public pap, and in pro-
curing few millions for the Golfers of the Treas
ury, No strength has been added to the army
by it; the whole number Of drafted men, under
the law, who went to the field, would not make
good the losses in the Army of the Cumber-
land during the last year. The communication
money goes to pay veteran bounties; but rc-en-
listment Of veterans does not increase the army
nor make it stronger. It is very just to give
these old troops the s 1902 dollars But would
it not have been better 10 have sent the 100000
men to the field and thereby made our army
strong, and ready by spring to advance with
certainty Of success2
Congress is trifing with the nations life, and
leaving it in great peril When the season per-
mits the campaign to be renewed, our army will
be too weak to be certain of victory. twill be
vitality endangered by numerical Weakness
We have regiments enough, but they are skele-
etons. Many of our Divisions are not 5000 eff
fective strong, and army corps are less than di-
visions should be. Congress is at fault. 1t in
dulges in holidays, in buncombe. in cocktails
and it is swayed from its duty by fear that
somebody's feelings will be hurt by the draft.
Industrious Governors set clerks about "count-
ing up, and soon manage to "count" their State
out of draft. We want men in the field. We
don't care how many names are registered at
the State Capitol Names do not represent
soldiers.
The $500 clause in the conscript act is obnox-
ious to the army. Nobody is likely to go to
the army who can raise the $500, and very few
are hard up as to be unable 10 do 80. Again |
it is unjust and outrageous to exempt man for
three years upon payment of commutaton. In
this manner the nation destroys itself For the
draft would have to be enforced frequently, the
yield Of men being so small, and in a very brief
period every man woull be exempt for three
years, and the country flat, helpless.
see that this law is now under consideration
and likely to be amended. hope it may be
made efficient aud valuable, "a conscript lao as
it reads, and not revenue law. If commuta-
tion is to be allowed it should be graduated to
correspond with the ability of different persons.
1t should not be less than $500, and as high as
81 500, and exemption should only be good for
one draft.
The weather has moderated from very cold to
pleasant Health is good, times ditto and the |
army quiescent.
Major Eaton has been mustered in as Lieut.. |
Col, and Adjutant E. A. Rawson as Major
Lieut.. Alonzo P. johnson becomes Adiutant
SEVENTY SIX.