Washington telegraph., 1864-11-02


The MODEL SoLDIxE.-,Just now, each
man in the Confederacy, OF woman either, is
making history. They are actors in the most
important events which ever occur in the vicis-
itudes Of human affairs. Thsirepresent conduct
will be the prids or the shame of their posterity.
How he hearts Of their descendants Will
swell to speak of them hereafter as soldiers Of
the grand war of Secession, who bsttlsd fer
Southern Independence We remember the
pride of these who descended from Rsv olution-
AIRY ancestors. To have been at Valley Forge,
or Yorktown, or Saratosa, or any of the battle
fields, was title sf nobility, proudeT than that
of these who cams over to England with Will
liam the Conqueror.
On the other h,ad how sad it viii be, 10 have
their names connected with seght that might
blur the brightness of their fame. Many of
them are ,Loughtless and do not think OF hat,
or forecast tbs consequences
As the South clSims to be far ahead in the
march Of civilization as she seern5 the mean
ness of our fes; as she assumes the proud dis
tin ction Of chivalry, thas her sons are not only
without fear" bat also without Tepronch" so
should each otfeer and ssldier of cur grand sr-
mics, composed as they of citizens and gen
tlemsn, feel himself charged with the honor Of
eur country and not only scrupulously refrain
fron anything law, mean, and disordsrly, bat
frown upon AID discourage the same in others
upsn every occasion. Above. all things let
them avoid the miserable sophstry, that the
service Of the ConfeGsracy in the field, is IL
eense for the exercise of wanton plunder and
rapine, OF gives them any claim over the prop
erty of citizens They are the defenders Of
the country, not the wastsrs. They themselves
rest upon, and are supported by those who till
the SELL Every field rayaged, and every heof
Of cattle dessreyed il blow at the vitality Of
the eonfederacy. tits more than that. 1t Is
disgrace to the memory Of those whs perPs-
trate the euhsges, and blurs tue fair fame of
the officers in command, whe will not be held
sEiltless by the calm. ia partial, and infs1ible
verdict of history.
But we arc proud to chronicle ths fsrt,whieh
observation has confirmed, that these things do
not characterize the soldiery of the South as q
v.
and pssilent men, who, in times OF EeSce, ia
fest evary society, and make grand jRries necs-
sarv in every community. Such men get into
the army, many from love of adventure, more
from the hope Of free license to plumber, but
NEST upon the compulsioR OF tbs copscripting
officer. The cause does not sanctify 'then an
fortunately, nor win their charaster as soldiers
of the south shield thsm from the jnst oppro-
brium Of poscrity.
The true soldier of the South, tbs man whom
posterity Ill delight to homer still considers hfl-
self citizen, profoundly interested in the good
order of so.ioty. aud the maintenance ofjustee.
dc believes that 1.-THE bravcst are the tenaerest''
and seorus ali wanton insults to the weak and
unprotected. He looks to ths public good ever
and beyond his present wishes or ~hims, and
sses in unrestyained license, the ultimate de
.trucsion of all industrial interests which sup
port no. only til army but the wives and ehi!-
dren Of soldiers. Ho obeys orders because
hs feels it to be essential to cur cause
and 30: frsn cravsn humility. He en-
dures the tolls Of the march and the Perils OF
the battl- 20 E-curo the boon of liberty TO these
who are dear 10 him low, and who are to come
after him through succession of ages. 1t is
not that he may thereby acquire title to plum
der and Insult these who, in their way, ar> also
upholding the eommsR Gauss. He serves his
country under the promptings Of honor, and a
high-toned chivalry which has become cOEspie-
uous TO the world as the Characteristic Of !
Southern man-aEd which, in contrast with the
narrow hearted nleanness OF our Northern foes,
has not only bsen our pride At home, but has
elected the admiration of the christian werld
Il is true that the farmer or the workman
must hold all things subject to the order Of Ais
government; but Congress and The War Depart
ment have provided the means and the processes
by which his property shall be appropriated
and nothing remains for the true soldier but his
dutiss in camp and the field, and a seruPuloss
observance Of the law.