Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-24
The Army and the People.


The army has become the embodiment
Of the highest patriotism and courage of
nation. It is an organization distinct
initself, having its own thoughts, feelings,
prejudices and purposes, which to civilian
are almost incomprehensible. A returned
veteran, a wounded man, brought from the
o front, soldier just released from the pest
house prisons of the South, is astOnished on
his return to the North toiind what an en-
ervating and chilling atmosphere exists in
many places Having endured everything
for three years, been exposed an hundred
times to death, lain in the gloomy hospital,
suffered all the hardships of hard campaign
ing and half rations, and been paid with
mere pittance compared with what some
men ia the North are receiving it is no
wonder that a soldier soon becomes wearied
and disguised with what be sees about him,
and is anxious to goback again to an at
mosphere that is not poisoned by the self
ish fears and contentious which distract the
North. Dumb with amazement at the
fears and disheartebed condition Of many
men whom he left but few months before
~ 1a0I1Io5 IIrgI SrruonG palflot7i ne no
sooner hearstheir complaints, their trem-
blings,f and their distresses, than he be-
comes disguised with his kind and is ank-
! ious again to face the rebel crew. The
soldier that has been one. of the grand army
of Sherman. that has heWn its way through
hundred miles of natural defences, ex-
tending from Chattanooga TO Atlanta, and
p now threstens to overwhelm the last yesti-
ges of rebellion in the Gulf States, is amazed
when he hears that we have done nothing,
that the rebels are yet in all their strength,
and that great political party Of the
North are proposing to surrender to the
rebels all that has beer achieved.
The spectacle now presented by the peo-
z pie to the army is certainly very humilia-
ting to American pride. Instead of being
ready to reinforce our. armies vigorously
and promptly as they should be, the army
sees the great people of the North higgling
and chafering in the market places for
men TO go and stand by them in the last
hours of-the struggle They see many,
with indecent haste, contriving by every
means fair OF foul, to escape the responsi-
bility of service. With what supreme dis
gust they must read the details of the syB-
tenn of Brokerage -inaugurated everywhere
in the north, and the other devices for es-
Gaping position side by side with the
brave defenders Of the republic.
Their indignation knows no bounds and
it is the most natural thing in the world
that they should feel like throwing every
possible obstacle in the way of recruiting
from the rebellious States. With the men
and money at the command of the North,
they cannot comprehend the cowardly shiv-
erings that has seized some of the peo-
pie.
But if they are disguised with the unne-
scessary alarm which exists throughout the
North, they cherish nothing but burning
sense Of wrong toward the men who are
prating for peace with the South such as
the army itself does not desire. The whin-
ing about losses and desolation and blood
shedi not found amongthe men who have
reason for lamentations, but among. class
Of men whose losses have been the least of
all The vilest sniyeling Copperhead in
the land, is the man who has no sons or
brothers in the army, and who has been
growing rich out of the war. The soldiers
know this. They know that the white flag
is not being hOisted by the men and wo-
men who have the most at stake They
cannot, therefore, but feel that the dignity
and glory of our great armies are insulted
by what is often seen among the people.
Let the epeople shake off all fears and doubts
and catch the glorious spirit of the men On
the front edge of battle. l.