Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-25

n ted 20 the men of Texas brigade, the gin OF
a lady who had heard of their noble qualities ana
their daring deeds. One Ly these men were
called up before their fellows aud from the hands
OF their General received the gilt Of the ialr Texan
the testimonial OF her admiration and esteem-as
proudly Is /. i, were the badge OF some new order
of knish,hool or chiyalry. Those who saw thai
simple ceremony can bear witness TO the good Ell
feet il bad upon those war-worn soldiers, Who with
nany Eardships and few rewards, have been fighting
for four long years. IL was an epoch in the lives
OF the few fortunate men; and stimulated the many
70 a spirit Of emulation. Why is it THAI some badge
of honor is not given 10 those Of who dis
tinguisL them selves IN battle Although II may
not be the chief eud for which our solhers tight,
glory is undoubtedly the leading motive in the pro
fsssion OF arms. Ia all countries and in all ages
some kind Of decoration for valOr has been bestow
I'd upon soldiers decoration that has to be fought
for aud gained By noble deeds, as the Knights Of
Malta won the Cross. King Richard, at the siege
OF Acre, gave the garter to twenty-six men who
stood by him; and how many have since fought
nobly for the same order The Cross Of the Legion
u Honor leads on the Frenchman, while the Eng
Ish soldier strives to win the Victoria medal.
When such have been the rewards for which men
have rsAed their lives, it singular, with the
light OF history before Us, something OF the kind
has not been introduced into the Confederate ser
vice.
In the new era Of the war upon which we have
entered, II is proper that some rewards for our
soldiers, other than paltry sum OF money, be de-
terminej upon by the country Instead Of improving
the tone VI the army people, have grown censorous
doing il more harm than good b. thOughtless criti-
eisms. Nothing is satisfactory but continuous tight
ing and that commander is tar less popular who
carefully spares his men than he who boldly and
recklessly sheds their blood. The popular idea OF
a campaign is a constant clash of arms, while the
excitemen; of the war seems TO have engeudered
morbid desire for blOOdshet aud slaughter. The
army is spoken OF ike = machine, to be wound up
sud set going, never having 20 stop for food ior
rest or siecl-ls It the art Of did not consist
much in grand strategic combinations as in the
actual ordeal Of battle. In the general oatcry for
battle, the Shoie country seems TO have lost that
careful solicituie Tor the soldier with which the
war began, and has forgotten Ihe motives that in
dCCe men TO peril their lives in the field. Ii has
IN word, grown careless about them, about their
comfort, their spirit aud their lives. When hand
iul of men were killed and wounded Al Manassas
tle united voice OF the country was raised 10 do
them honor the wounded were carefully nursed
and tended, the dead eul0aizcd and the yery
grouRI rerered, spriuElei it was, by tho blood
OF martyrs. The sans persons who once shudder
Cd az the sight OF a funeral or walked a square 10
avoid a graveyard, have now becon. So famil lar
led 0itL slaughter that it excite5 no emotions OF
horror. The death OF a Stuart was the topic Of
day the death % Pegram causes only new
IA an tl I,t-
fsieuj-Nheu, hereafter, history aud romance will
weave spell around Ihyir Iame,. In the general
desire 20 ceusure tn commander who spares hi,
army lgom unnecessary loss by sl,lllful retreats,
uatI the tine comes ior an effective blow the emo
ticLs that once Characterized our people SEEM To-
be entirely lost aud ia the general exultation over
q battle There Is reckless disregard othuman lie,
which s'-ws that the tender regard once entertained
Tor our soldiers Is uoS ia d measure lost.
1t is an extreme thing " .say that next to de-
feat victory Is the sad lest thug IA the world, and
as We reflect upon 1t We become aware that II Ia,
ils dark we'll ITS briglr side. We glory in the
though, that a harl-ought field IS won, and are
called upon o. mourn the heroes who have fallen 10
gain il. Ho'S is il men pass lightly the gravr
aqd sad reflection, =, they read the report Of vic
tory that the killed have fallen after one short
glimpse Of the resuit-one moment of soldiers
-teta,uph-upou the bloody HELD With aa army
like ours the eoaEtry should never be careless for
the noble qualities OF the msl-sA.slI ~ too hgbly-
estimated There We have m.a cast in the truest
type, yisant in their calling and faithful to their
high emp,oycr-the Nation. Ia majority OF cases
our geneJll,-tud good ones, tO1-;Jlu from civil
life, bringing the clear heads aud strong
nerves Of able administrators 10 the business OF
war, as tue emergency required. Ia the rank anl
ME, too come from the people men Of thought aad
power -prucipled, upright mea-lbe~to coul-.
maui thCmselses-bUt coateut 70 work on quietly
10 the remote eud. Thinking Will estim a.. ia.
character OF our soldiers more highly "a these
things are reYolved and they vail appreciate the
hi,h resolve that bears them into battle in the
service Of their country. Among such there "a.
dyuJtei,y those who feel aie motive Of glory ftr
l.ss than, that OF duty-.nea who SEX distinction
the echo Of sslEdPprovai the token OF honorable
labor in an honorable cause, aud 10 see their own
work when it is d ~ is their prouiest re ward
But another, aud not small class ii sht
fos glory and fame, andsSO them proper deeoratioa
even the golden stars9 some tiir dlme-.s e.
ward eagerly coveted AM sought
Iuno case should the country Withhold IN, re,pe,.
que Is 10e0i'- A~ CIV VI Sdit2lty sttlt o1risln
their hearts, AMI their courage is of the az
cislt Roman type. The same desire for DRY
swells the breast, and in this war may deels OF
daring are performed as in thswars Of IA. To
these men too much honor cannot b. AWARDED AM
while the country has it in its power to reward the
one class by words Of Kindness and cheer, it should
devise some decoration of honor FOR the othct At
this time IL is proper to hold out al becoming ndaee
ments to valor, and nothing would better attain that
sRd than some military order Of merit.