The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-08
Intemnsrancs the Army,

The following brief article from tho
Union Cavalier, printed at Huntsville
Ala, contains reflections which TIE hsb-
itual drinkers in the army would do well
70 ponder. How much injury the coun-
try ard the army have sustained from
this evil, cannot be estimated; but that
it has been great there is no room for
doubt. We have daily evidences Gift
Inarecent letter 10 New Hampshire
paper, Be7. s. II. Hall Of Dover n. a.,
states that be visited the army of the
Potomac, and asked Gen. Meade to ex-
plain his last campaign. BE says The
General did 50 IS follows:
81 went over the river 20 fight and if my
orders had been obeyed, lam confident
that Lees army might have been defeat
cd BY plan was, TO cross At GernaniA
Ford, take the road 70 Orange Court
house and push on rapidly; if Lee
sbould send forces TO stop me to attack
him in force and destroy that portion of
his army before be could concentrate
the whole Of it 70 oppose me. Bat one
Of my corps commanders failed me. He
was commanded to march Et six o'clock
IL the morning, but did not move until
eight o'clock. He was directed, if Lee
eut forces 10 oppose him to attack at
once; Lee did send Ewell down the
Orange Court house Road, JUS as l ex-
pected, but my General stood aud looked
at him all day, and did not fight So
VIC lost tWenty-four hours, and that gave
Lee notice and time TO concentrate his
army and take 80 strong . position that
il could not be carried without great loss
and risk Of losing our army. Such =
Gght would have damaged us and en-
coursged the rebels, and prolonged the
war, and gave the order 70 retreat
The corps commander referred 10 Was Gsa-
eral French, Oho gas probably too dram. to
kaoU or do hs d'Ry.
SO 3 great battle in which the Army
Of the Potomac could have achieved @
signal victory, and perhaps have Occu-
pied the rebel capital, was defeated by
the drunkenness Of q General. This
lsolsted fact is worth q volume of srgu-
ment in showing the vast Importance of
sobriety in the army.
But to the article Of the Cavalier. II
is as follows:
No habit grows upon soldiers so rap
idly, or is so hard TO resist, as that Of
inlempel alce.-H1nd of men who
ago as sober and reliable men, are now
victims TO this damniDg vice and IN
less . great change is wrought, will
ultimately inflict lasting diagrace upon
themselves, and I'll the graves Of druok-
ards and outcssts. Officers and men
alike yield to tie temptation; and
strangely enough, are themselves blind
t. the evil which all the rest Of the
world can too plainly see.
How the error is TO be corrected re-
mains 10 be decided, but that it mus! DO
remedied is as plain as the Sun in cloud
less sky. Ii the curss continues to in
crease and be tolerated, the time is not
far distant when in many Regiments all
discipline will be at an end and the
widest passions Of the fallen will have
unrestrained sway. As it is nov hardly
an Outrage is committed tending to inf&t
disgrace upon our arms that cannot Be
traced Immediately to the effects of in
temperance. 1t is the first step on the
downward road, and after it is taken
others rapidly follow.
Ii would be well for officers aad mon
seriously to think upon these facts.
Many Of them will soon return 10 peace
ful life, 10 meet those whom they love.
What will be tho feelings Of 6 mother
when she meets her son, whom she sent
into the service Of bis country blooming
and vigorous, in all the beauty of youth,
TO fud him = bloAted inebriste How
will the wife's heart sink rs she greets
. returning husband and finds him .
confirmed drunkard! And what miser-
les will hover over the children whose
natural protector yields TO vice which
sinks man 10 the level Of the brute.
1t 10 pitsble-it is sOrroWful to contsm-
plate these pictures and to realize that
they are only too trus.
-~ ~---
CHRISTMAS GFTS.-J. Welt 4 Co., who
have permanently established themselves
At Benson's Music Store, 81 Union street,
have just received large stock of impor-
ted and American watches, jswelry, gold
chains, gold pens with and without hold
ers, double-plated table, dessert and tea
spoons, forks aud butter knives, also COB
lets and cups, and everything usually
found in jewelry store, which they will
sell low for Christmas and New Year
presents. Everything bought of them is
warranted as represented. Go and see
their stock. WKLF h Co.,
"a Union St., Benson's Music Store.
E.B. Watches and jewelry repaired
.pI vyarranfad