Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-02-03
FROM THE TENTH REGIMENT.

few thoughts on the duty Of the people to
the army The soldiers mean the oid sol
diers-have long had the idea that the people
at home have not had a proper degree of in
terest in the prosecution Of the war. Their
hearts are loyal, they desire victory, are anx
ious for speedy and lasting peace, but are re-
luctant to make the sacrifice necessary to Sc
cure it, They are good citizens who love
their country dearly but to them the war Is
something great way off, and they know
but little about it, They cannot leave their
business to take a part in II, nor spend much
time TO read aboutit. They have plenty Of
money which they do not grumble much at
paying for soldiers and they think, or at
least they try hard to think, that they are
doing their full duty to their country. When
a new call is made for troops, if they do not
echo the copperhesd howl that Grant is
saughterng the whole people. some are in
c.ned to do it, while others who know better
proceed at once to make arrangements to fill
the quoia oil heir town. And how do they
do this BY getting the requisite number to
enlist; It matters little who they are,-sny-
thing that will count. Criminals who would
be sent to prisoo we're they not sent to the
army negroes bought aud struggled over
from Canada and mercenary foreigners who
hate the Union, but love our gold, and intend
to desert as soon as they can get enough Of
/ it rebels who have come into our lines and
taken Gen. Grants oath, and gone north for
the express purpose of getting large bounties
and eventually deserving back to the rebels,
and carrying information ; shiftless, worth
less citizens who have no pride, no honor
inyalids who expect to get sick enough to be
discharged sent to some general hospital
as soon as they have endured a little hard
ship little boys, decrepit old men, and fools.
This is not an exaggerated statement.
Every regiment from Vermont-and they are
as good those from any other State--has
received recruits like those above named since
the State began to trade in men. To De sure
we have received a few good soldiers with
them, but, am sorry to say, not many.
Is it pleasant for the proud and accomplish
ed student, now veteran soldier, who enlist
ed two or three years ago without bounty,
leaving his books aud his home because he
felt that his country needed him, to sleep in
the tent with a man who had been in prison for
stealing horses, or with a dirty, lousy, drunk
en beggar whose pocket contains thousand
dollars IN grsenbacks, to pay which, the prop
erty OF the good soldier has been highly tax
ed Every regiment, aud almost every COM
pany in the service, can furnish such cases.
And do the people care Not as much as
they should, for they do not apply the rene
dy. They boast OF their brave, loyal army,
pass resolutions In its praise, make nne
speeches about it, and get up great meetings
ostenslby for its benefit, but really quite as
much for their own pleasure; and then 60 to
their homes to watch the gold market, and
dread another call for troops
Where il the enthusiasm that flashed from
every eye, and made the length and breadth
of the nation bright with bonfres. and melo-
dious with the ringing OF bells, and the cheers
and music of wlde-awake people, when the
bugle OF wan.6rst sounded from the Southern
ploins
| remember being with happy crowd who
waved flags and torches, fred guns, illumin-
ated houses, sang patriotic songs, and shout
ed until very hoarse, when the news came Of
Mr.. Lincoln first election. Where now are
those who composed that throng One of
them, my dear, brave companion, helped to
cover with the burning sand at Coal Har Dor.
He had fallen in the pride and beauty of his
young manhood but he had lived up to mis-
professions and to US who stood around his
bloody corse, and | have no doubt, TO the
angels VINO had received his spirit, his life
seemed greater than 1t would had be lived the
tame life OF civilian until his head was gray
with years Others Of that throng, and they
are those who shouted the loudest, have been
afflicted with rheumatlsm,oT catafrb, or lncip-
ient consumption, or dyspepsia, or corpulency,
or have had great family sfficuons ever since
the war commenced. They have got rich
since then, and they wear hne-twned linen.
II they have any consciences they ease them
with the noble reflection that they have shea
no human blood, they have never raised their
hands against their brothers in morta! strife.
The base towards they have murdered
thousands.
There is certain GOODNESS in the manner
of the people towards the soldier, which, be-
sides being very annoying, is expressive Of
the feeling which naturally arises from the
evil of putting Uncle Sans uniform on un-
worthy objects. IL is feeling of pity min
gled with something which is almost CON
tempt and 1t says Il honor your patriotism,
sir, but cannot associate with you | am
afraid there g something very bad about you.
We are willing YOU should stay here until
y.ur wound stops bleeding, but as soon rs it
begins to heal you must hurry back to the
front"
A friend OF mine told me that when he as
on his way home last winter, in the cars at
Springfield the conductor told him that there
was Car ahead designed exclusively for mil
itary gentlemen He was about to proceed
to occupy 1t, when be reflected that because
he wore blue clothes and gilt buttons he was
not good enough to sit in the Car with ladies
and gentlemen, and he politely informed the
conductor that he had paid for his seat and
occupied it to the end of his journey. 1t is
, true that there has been much foolish military
vanity and crime TO disgust citizens, but there
has been more on their part to disgust the
, true soldier.
T The army is not what it has been, but it
has its thousands of good men yet. Look at
( the sentinel who is pacing his beat on the
{ rampant of yonder fort, his gun flashing in
the sunlight, and his coat blue and bright as
the sky in which he seems to stand. have
, heard his manly voice calling his Aocks on
' the northern hills /; have seen his well-read
, library and have heard his persuasive elo-
I quence in public debate. Those locks, now
sIlVered with long, hard service, were toyed
with at home by pretty children those belts
I, were elias ped about him by his gentle daueh-