Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-02
Discipline.

Only by dint OF persltteat enueauesi cOnthueu cay
alter day for more than two years, could the neEs-
papers induce the authorizes military and civil 10 en-
crce sriss mil tary discipline. Indeed, It Is more than
| doubtful whether the neWsplpers would have ever
succeeded if their arguments and appeals bad Dot BEEN
heightened by gslus the most une1amPled, by
endless absences without leave aud by constant and
evsr-nereasing desertOns. Not until the very exist
snee of our armies was imperied, the enueaties
Of the newspapers needed.
The fault lsy at the door of the higher authorities
FsOm the beginning Of the war, the decisions OF the
courts martial in the Of pnvates contormed tc the
evere requirements of military Law. Bat thee deci-
iona we're GENERALLY overIuled mtgatsd by tie
commanding officer, who se1Orh his reasons in Ian
gaage veil calculated to terrfy fer time, but Which,
became meaningless just in proportion to the frequency
sth which Just punishment was not inflicted. II the
dngs OF the courts martial we're approved by the
Commanding General, pardon was but TOO easily OBJ
usd BY appeals 20 the Executive. Matters became 50
oAI that during the past summer, the desesters, who
sreamed 10 squads OF ten or twenty from Lees army
aud fllld the woods and bye-WAys OF tie counties
south of Jamss river laughed the idea Of being shot
or receiving any punishment than Ar'piimsOd
Instances occurred OF men WHO had deserted six or
ght times within scarcely so many weeks.
Appeals and threats from the Generals laughed
4, proclamation OF amnesty to deserteTs, who resun
q within certain number of days, had little effect;
nc thing served bu. the rigid enforcement OF the Law
zen it Vas discovered that dsserteIs being shot
4, the rale oil ten or dozen day, tten, and not ii ]
then, did de3ertiOns begin 10 cease. Ii may be safely
assumed that but Tor the free OF the bullet the
Essat armies which to-day confront Grant and Sher
man would long ago have ceased to exis. as efficient
| OrgAniE uions.
DISCRETION is nov punished so promptly and so much
:, mater Of course Letter writer's no longer con
der description Of ths events attending an Sxscut on
a. worthy OF special notice. The private who is de
ctsd IN the Of forsakDg his cOOrs for those OF the
en- my, or persists in aosenting himself without eAvr
stands small chance OF escaping the full penalty Of the
49, for sciences are rarely commuted Blu; do not
lsAr that similar justo, is melted to he obi ers
~ pseiAy OF the higher grades. This is attributable
doubtless to the fact thst Southern OH rarely
guilty Of crimes which deserve punishment. No ouo
y CLAIM, however, that in an army 80 large our,
al officers are wholly iaulless. There mus. be some
10 are guilty Of wilfu errors others who negli-
aud natteniiVe; others STILL Who blundeE for want
capacity. Yet, how rarely We hear OF even the dis
% ssal of such officers. Bus our army will never be
Jruy effective uarl ali sGeh punished according to
,sir desers True, there Courts Of FL qliry for
CHER officers bat to what purpose, except to white
ash tho OffsnderS la certain army, Rai during
certain campaign, very grave mistakes must vs been
commit by one or moro officers OF hi shsr rank. So
lar we kaSE, not much an investigation fol
. red. To mlgaanimouI Commanding General took
ii the blami his own shoulders, and there the mat
ended Were ,ubsequsnt bldndefs due to tbs le
liSney A generous forb arance in time Of disaster
nsy DO wise in the Commanding General. but the ,f
,noy o. bic army depends upon the subs, qaent 61ns
responsibility. The tssroTs Of military and re
COR OF discipline must not be limited to prvaes only.
Oar attention has been drawn 70 this slb cot by the
o owing ex.rsc. tAkep from newspaper. The "other
n alluded 10 relates TO the proper observance Of the
5 lblth:
AnO her order Of the same date illustrates him as
aud uaa.nching disoiplinArian. Csnp,lnts on at
I,yii, having been made OF the lAwess conduct
company of cavalry, the company, then marching 81
Tia enemy ordered Galveston An the case the
roughly Investigated. Tue invsIdgAdOn disclose gross
ni.eOnducs the part Of both officers and men, and
gr ,ss neseci thu part Of the former. Gen. Magru-
Ger therefore reprmAnds the Cap ain for lot hlvirg
The cOmDlA aimed Of hrouOlk
~,
Tue OH'nus'S 10 Puai''~'n'' lu' SSSOau Lieutenant
vac HPpears by his own confession 10 have participated
utu.AsA i'o'''' - u'''u'Osace
.sA'-U' " ~ Aao
-, e.. s,,.,s0,;D,, LA. "a b.,s,'
he -ond l., bi9 bor.s .lo0. !. r.dnoad :, 49,
saks. Two priEates tnrIed over to Sheriff to be
tiled for Orsestoang, and ordered be dshonoraby
r,.Os apv corps BY allowing them to serve in the a,mv
L.sly, the company is ordered to to dsmOuu,ed at