Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-14
From tie Correspondent Of the Richmond Dispatch.
Army OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA., -

=
Standing On the threshold OF the year, thorough
II imbud with love for our cause and deeply anxious
to contribute according 10 our humble mite Whatever
may lie in our power 10 insure its final success F0e have
determined after much reelection, 70 present thG follow
ing views suggested by q sense Of our tStGTe ~ant8
taken in connection with our pQsj experience The pre-
sent duration Of the war ana The PROBABILITY now re-
c0@uIzad al hands OF lis lC continuance, a!monish
Us clearly that it Is bouuden duty 10 place tie
country upgn 7egr foot sng t0Y the 1~Er 20 DO this
successfully requires at our hands three thDgs-irst,
suiic;cGCF e men sCIOnGg1 & sElcIG"y OF food ard
thirdly, healthy circulating medium tlr currency, In
tF- first place. then, TUst have u carry CT She
fcaI-i { Wa must have strong DaiGIiuns, capable O
meeting uGG resisting TIE enemy Is armed hosts Bat
then, turn the question Of numbers with Us st he
controlled by ability to sUeasi,
Our armies need recruiting, Or rather lie Ranks OF
those in the field need filling M low shall th7 lie
accomplished ny quaw7g Il ready at land. brlhg
back the ahscueCs 0f wb0m,t viii venture, there IS
to-day not less than fifty per c2Dt q this army Lave
recently ccUycrs>d with the commuters Of trc2 dill
f1Ient brLatGs thIs important question. . One OF
tnyIa told that III his brigade ury per cent. were
ujseut another told IGG thet IL L's brigade ortylye
per cent we're absent and an0thc. nifty per cent
Taking Tie mean of these three statements a5 the
average Will appear that forty five per cent. o THIS
AMY absent from t. he inquiry which very rcaiI'
y presents itself 10 every one IS where ar tho8e men
that they ut home detailed rs COUEGr!pt
CtcEtrS prov guards, passport clerks, ri t&cheuS to
garterlnasters COriInsssrcE and hospitals and a very
large class are hanging around loose surgeons Ger
t.icats whilst not small class are absent without
permission excuse and yet tie niras Of these men
borne upon the muster rolls o. honor OF the Army
of Northern irginia. Ought these things To he p
Can they not be remedjcd? I believe th2y can. &c
Begin the pr sent cOuscript organ zatIon OF tbs Stal
ct Virginia i d positive nuisance. The men who ms
thus engaged 50 c0utrige that the duty OF COLLECTING
conscrips shall be Incidental to their private ounl
rather than the public business q their lives. : h
sooner, then all those who Gvc thus engaged shall D.
relieved aud returned 10 then commands the better to-
the army ard the conUtry. Return aI the Proves
guards their Eeyern commands, and bring Gu. the 1,
10 80 class of men an3 give them this sort OF duly <
perform. Improve our lcgisatioa Ga To lassan th
power Of Surgeons il granting aud extending tuEicuGh
Tor sickness and disability This, however, looks t
vigorous measures cajcuia:td to operate upo
te ieaTs rather Than appealing to the better qnaife
OF mems natures.
There ought 20 De established at once hy Congress
system Oh rewards for brave anu naritoTi0Us
roll % honor or some Distinguishing badge that woulC
tell IS the faithful solder passed on the highways
there goes soIHler who, though clad in din2y gar
rent6 and cutting huc !.0r figure III dress has &c
deserved well OF his country, in the camp on the march
the biv0uac it may be when the battle hiss races
hottest and the missiles OF death rained thck.s" mi
army would be new machine by the passage Of gpcI
law, and every man here would tLen exert himself I,
be hero in the strife. Shame upon Conetess. ths
thus far there has been such legislation, ana eerna
honor TO our glorious Dead who sleep IN neglected Or
yate graves, aud brave and faithful soldiers tia
though their country has never remembered them, ye
they have never forgotten been recreant to the
country. Better late than never" would be goo
motto i9g Congress. Let them order from this tin