Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-11

/ tors. that when the bulk-head of the Dutcl
Gap Canal was blown out. we would be fur
nished with plenty Of work, and that lively
times would be insugurated hereabolts. But
that which was to have opened the James &C
our fleet as far at least as Fort Darling, anc
have enabled US to flank that stronghold, ha:
ended in the blowing up Of sanguine ex
pectations, and left the door to Richmond
still tightly closed in that direction.
1 MAJOR GENERAL GIBBoN,
| At one time in command of the I" Iron
Brigade" and more recently commander of a
division in the Army of the Potomac, has
/ Just assumed command of the 24th corps OF
this army-Msjor General Ord taking the
place made vacant by the removal of Gen.
eral Butler. With new lords come new laws,
and many thorough and radical changes are
already taking place and being ordered. This
morning the corps was reviewed in front OF
our works by Gen. Gibbon, and there is a
general brushing up" evidently preparatory
to the early opening of new campaign, and
the negotiations for peace" ~
THE REMOVAL OF MAJOR GENERAL BUTLER
has produced profound sensation throug hout
this army, although it might have been an
ticipated, and really ought not to be matter
of surprise. The failure at Wilmington and
the .faseo of the Dutch Gap, has sealed his
fate as field commander. With great ad-
ministrative ability-keen, shrewd, saga
cious, quick to discern and prompt to execute,
he yet had little fitness for the command of
armies, aud with abundant means at his dis
posal could not win victories. Besides, he
was unfortunate in another respect, that he
transferred the iron and despotic rule which
crushed out the mob at New Orleans TO the
camps of his soldiers, and thought to secure
efficiency in discipline, and the most perfect
subordinatIOn by stern and arbitrary meas
ures and terrible punishments. Still, Gen.
Butler is not dead, nor extinguished, and
those who are rejoicing over his downfall and
military demise, will assuredly find that he is
a power in the land, and nat the sun of his
renown is only in partial eclipse, not set for
ever in darkness. He has won for himself a
great name, and that name will be imperish-
able upon the br ghtest pages of our coun-
try's history. t-.f.
SUFFERING FOR WANT OF PAY.
The failure of the Government to meet its
engagements with the army in the matter OF
pay, Is not only subjecting officers and men
10 great inconvenience, bnt is a source of
suffering TO themselves and families. A large
portion of this army has been without pay for
five or six months, and hundreds of soldiers
have not seen the face OF a Paymaster tor
more than eight months: tbs delinquency
~ a
izes-and Government has only TO persevere
IN it for few months longer to break down
the spirit and efficiency of the men who fight
its battles. Ii may be good for suffers, but it
is terribly hard on those who are Obliged to
60 upon his books for daily food.
DESERTIoNs
These are becoming alarmingly frequent in
our midst. 1t Las been said, and have no
doubt truly, that if an examination of the
records of our armies in Virginia were to be
made, our losses by desertiOn within the last
six months would be reckoned not by thou
sands, but by tens of thousands. We infict
the death penalty upon deserters, and yet the
crime il common. regiment stationed not
more than a hundred yards from where |
write has been largely depicted by desertion,
and none of its members can now be trusted
O0 the picket line. The evil has its root in
our system of recruiting. By it we gather
up the scum and refuse and rascality. not
only of our own country, but of other coun-
tries. and empty the whole villainous mass
into our armies. A draft is ordered, and 70
save ourselves the necessity of entering the
ranks and fighting in person against the re-
belliOn, we employ substitute brokers who
shall buy up cOnvicts, rOTdies, men rotten
with disease, and all forms OF wretched and
depraved humanity, with whom TO ill our
places in the thinned ranks OF veteran heroes.
The whole thing is damnable and most ruin
Gus. Men thus obtained desert the very first
opportunity. They cannot be trustee any
where. They indeed count in the filling up
of quotas, but they add nothing TO the
strength of our armies in the fielG. 1t is to
be hoped that our people will beware of sub
stitute brokers in the coming draft, and that
no one will be enlisted or mustered az a SOL
der who is not worthy and well qualified.
THE NINETEENTH
This regiment, since the disastrous night at
Fair Oaks, haa been gradually getting itself
into shape again. and may now be regarded
in excellent condition. Its present effective
strength is about 400.
Major Vaughn is winning an enviable
name as an able and efficient commander, and
is well supported by staff and line officers
Tine surgical department Is in charge of DR..
Dodge, of GAINESVILLE, than whom there is not
a more faithful and skilliul surgeon in the
army. DR.. Diefendorf, our major surgeon, is
on duty at Chesapeake Hospital. We are
comfortably huttg for the winter, and are
enjoying good degree of quiet. Picket FIR
ing is entirely dispensed with along our
/ lines, and only an occasional report of gun
Is heard in the vicinity of Dutch Gap. The
boys, or the non-veteran portion of them, are
anxiodsly looking forward TO the time-the
10th of April next-wheR they shall dOff the
uniform of Uncle Sam and return TO civil life.
And may we not all anticipate day not far
distant, when our sacrifices and sorrows on
the behalf of our torn and bleeding country
shall be at an end-when peace shall have
1 been restored to our stricken land-when
our national sins shall have been purged
away, and every inch of American soil shall
have been cOnsecrated to freedom. Then,all
of disaster and suffering-all of loss and trial
ali of mourning and sOrrOw-shall be sub
merged in the swelling tide of Joy.
CONSTANTINE.
From the Sixteenth Wisconsin.