Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-21
Unpleasant Truths.


majority, are guilty of sending into the
army such persons as are represented by
this correspondent as having been sent into
it. 1t can be attributed to but one of two
motives-either to cowardice, or to dis
position to prolong the war as much as pos
sible, to the end that they may make money
out of it, and work themselves into official
position by clamoring for its prosecution
Read the article
There are truths copnected with the his
tory of our army that wecould wish might
never be written. There are facts that we
could wish might never appear amid the
records of this war. But history does Its
work impartially; whatever acts we, as
people commit, must be recorded. We
would not chronicle that which could be
construed detrimental to the best interests
of the service; we would not refer to the
events of which we are about to write, did
we not know that they were already more
familiar to the enemy than they are to us
more of 10Y to the rebels than they are
unpleasant to our people.
In the dispatches forwarded, concerning
the engagement of the Sth, in which our
outposts were driven in and many of them
captured, no mention was made OF the cause
thereof, for little concerning that was
known.
Many of the Eastern regiments have been
lately filled with class of men that, to say
the least of them, ought never to have been
sent to the army. The substitute business
in the East has become as much source OF
trade, as great source of revenue, as the
mercantile or any of the other great divis-
ions of trade. Men are bought and sold in
as great numbers as in the palmiest days of
the African slave trade. Beings in the shape
of men are sent to the army to fill up our
thin regiments, to be called soldiers, to be
paid more, to be fed as well, to bear an equal
honor with the men who, for love OF coun-
try, for honor's sake, enlisted in the ranks
in the earlier days of the war. These men,
who come to the army tor the reward they
gain in dollars and cents, are placed by the
side of men who have borne an honorable
part in some of the bloodiest fields of this
war; are borne on the rolls OF regiments
that carry flags, rent and tattered by balls
and shell, and that are covered with such
inscriptions as Antietam, South Mountain,
Roanoke, and Newbern. These men swell
the numbers and ranks of such regiments,
and 90 into action side by side with the few
remaining veterans, who have earned the
proud name their organization bears, and
who would die a thousand deaths rather
than see their tattered banners trailed in
the dust before victorious enemy, or than
have their regimental history stained with
any such record as this: "Four men de-
serted to the enemy on the Sth of March,
1865, giving the enemy full information of
our position, strength of forces" &C., or
than this: Surprised while on picket on
the Sth of March, 1866, and greater part
of the regiment captured;" and yet there
are brave veterans and gallant officers,
bronzed and hardened in past campaigns,
glorying in the proud history of their old
regiments, who must share the disgrace and
bear the ignominy such records bring upon
them. We will not, for the respect we bear
the feelings of such gallant men, mention
the organizations that earned such
record on the Sth of this month.
But that such events occurred, we record
for the information of the country, and that
they may know in what manner they are
increasing the numbers and efficiency of
the army.
These four men-who, but for the prompt
and timely dispositions made by their COM
manding officers, thus endangered the in
terests Of the whole arny-it may be, rep
resent four of the leading men of New York
City, and what representation it is. What
assurance have the thousands of readers of
The OmmerciaI-whose interests were such
that they could not enter the service them
selves, but whose highest aim was rather to
get some one into the service to represent
them, than to get a ahigh-minded, honorable
man-that they are not in like manner
represented? Have they the consolation to
know that, though they conid not render
that high service they owed 10 their country
themselves, their duty is at least being done
by a worthy substitute?
But this is not an only instance where
the interests of the army have thus been inn
periled. That which but few months ago
was accepted with doubt as truth, has be-
come of frequent occurrence. The records
of our army prove this beyond question.
1t Is a very rare occurrence in our West
ern regiments, because, as we all know, the
privilege of furnishing substitutes has not
been as shamefully abused. But there has
been sufficient number OF these men al
ready sent into the army, to greatly, very
greatly, impair its efficiency. The records OF
the different mastering officers will show
that there are great numbers of old and
tried officers and men, daily being mustered
out. They have done their duty; they have
served their allotted time, and are going
home, honored and respected citizens. With
such men leaving the army, and such ma
terial as we have referred to, coming to take
their places, who can fail to see, in how
much the discipline and high toned spirit of
the army is affected. ~
This fragrant violation of a sacred duty,
on the part of all who thus encourage or
countenance this internal traffic in men, i'm
poses upon those men and officers who still
remain in the service, increased response
bility, danger and duty. Such nen as leave
your cities by hundreds, tojoin your friends
and brothers at the front, are OF no assist
ance 20 them. Far from it. They endan-
ger lives on the battlefield, by deserving
their posts, or fleeing at the first alarm of
danger. Officers, alive to the dangers of
the hour, are called upon to recklessly ex-
pose themselves, that they may, by theirex-
ample, inspire, If possible, these men with
of the bravery and heroism de-
manded at such crisis.
In thus instilling into these men in the
hour of battle, something OF that spirit and
high resolve that can only spring from a
heart that loves the cause of right and
country-hundreds Of o;;r bravest and best
men are daily losing their lives.
In view of these facts, plainly stated, and
not in the least exaggerated, 1t is the boun-
den duty of every well-wisher of his coun-
try, to guard the recruiting lists and offices,
as vigilantly as they do the poll books and
ballot-boxes. See that none but good men
are sent to the front-to the post Of danger.
See that these brave men, who, for four
years have endured hardships, and braved
the storms on hundreds of battle-fields, are
not now-to be worse than forsaken-to be
reinforced by men who will only forsake
them when the danger is greatest and the
storm f3ercest. See that men of high resolve
and noble purpose are sent to the aid of the
gallant officers who have made such glori-
0ua history for our country and whose Ia