The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-24
Z The Land We Love. !

During the war, the southern papers ex
ulted in the fact that while Gen. Lee at Fred
ericksburg stood by the side Of a working bat
terry Of artillery, Gen. Burnside was in tb
Phillips house on the opposite side of til
river, and miles away from bis struggling ali
discounted troops, directing their movement
BY the aid Of " a powerful feld-glass " an
'orderIes' commanded to ride very fast" BIZ
10 many a thoughtful southern mind, Their
was more cause for sorrow than for boastful
ness in The difference Of positions held By til
opposing generals, while the battle was rag
ing. It proved how vastly superior to our
was the discipline Of chat army which coul,
make such repeated, desperate and fruitles
assaults, when its commander was beyonc
the range of the most powerful Whitwortl
gun. On the contrary, the southern officer
like the Roman, had TO be a leader; his mer
would follow, but they could not be driven
Hence the enormous slaughter of southern Of
tlcers; there has been nothing like it, nothing
making any approach to it in all the wars D
mankind, from the first shedding of blood
down 10 the present war Discipline with US
was always so lax as scarcely to deserve the
name. Struggling, from the very first, was
enormous; the soldier marched with his com
mand or not, pretty much as he pleased went
home and came back very much as he felt in
cincd. A premium having thus been put
upon Struggling it was not long until it de-
generated into desertion In its turn, deser-
ton, which was Of rare occurrence in the first
year OF the war, increased by degrees, because
seldom punished, until it finally assumed
frightful proportions. This loose state Of
things was not due to an insubordinate spirit
in our troops. They would have submitted to
any degree Of just restraint OF healthful disci-
pine The fault laid in the neglect Of officers
TO enforce orders not in wanton spirit Of
disobedien3e on the partof the men. But dis
regard for authority having been once estab-
lished, a most free and easy state Of things
existed between rulers and ruled. The badge
of the officer was but little regarded he was
respected or despised as man, and not as a
commander. The qualities of the individual
were those which won the admiration or pro-
voked the sarcasm of the soldiery. We will
give a few anecdotes showing this, remarking
that among the many causes which led to the
failure Of the Confederacy not the leastimpor-
tant is illustrated by the relative positions Of
Lee and Burnside at the battle of Fredercks-
burg.
In the army Of Lee, Of Johnson, Of the trans
Mississippi, or in some of the numerous de-
partments Of the south, there was general
officer, who had established reputation as
good fighter, but who had q morbid desire to
be popular with the men. The craving for
had made him claim on the occa-
sion the honor of suggesting the issue of
HoMINY ration to the men. And he was BIZ
no means negectful in improving every OPP
portunity of informing them of their indebt-
edness to him for the favor The same thirst
for applause caused him to wish for soubri-
quct, which would the more identify him with
the men and endear him to them. So one
day he minated, as delicatcly as might be, his
wishes to some privatcs who had been under
him when Id subordinate position. These
men readily assured him Of their willingness
TO crafty him, but asked for little delay that
they might select a suitable cognomcn The
delay was granted and day appointed for the
return the ambitious hero. Punctual 10 the
lie was there and thus gracefully ill.,
roduced himself and his subject " Well,
boys, suppose that you have been thinking
over the thing which you limited to ne about
he other day. I reckon that l ought not to
have any more scrupes about it, or feelings
If false deIicacy, SO [ will leave The matter
with my friends Jackson is called 5" old
5tonewal, Lorng is called cold blizzard, Z
md Dick Taylor, " fighting Dick" I don't
snow why it is but some of the boys over
here will call me fighting - The boys
not taking the last hint, SO delicately given, /
,eplied, "we have been thinking of our great /
obligation to you for that nice ration you got
is the other day, and 50 we have all agreed
o call you " old hominy
II is said that the largest dictionaries on
he continent do not contain some Of the words, /
Ehich the astounded general used on that oc
,asion.
A private soldier sends US the subjoined an
.cdote, which is to the same purport as that
given above During the seige Of Petersburg
n '64 and IS, an officer was thought to be
90 fond Of his bomb-proof, when the mortar
hells were in the air. One day, there being
lull ia the storm Of shot and shell, fatigue
,arty was sent out to work on the trenches
With their sentres to give notice Of the ap-
roach Of dangerous visitor, by the cry
look out, shell !! 2 Our hero took advan-
age Of the quiet to make a regular spreading
peech to his men, Now the rebel soldiers
ad great contempt for speechifying. They
ad heard many eloquent, thrilling speeches
efore the war, but some how or another, the
rators had nearly all stayed at home. Hence
he universal belief with them was that good
,ar-talker was poor fighter. The working
arty then listened impatiently to the fiery APP
eaIs made to their courage and patriotism,
-ithout ever deigning to stop the regular ply
spade and shovel. Human endurance had
cen tested to the utmost when low CONVEX
alton began between John 1. and Tom B.
Amt you getting sick, Tom ? " Yes, pow
rfuI, let US make him dry up" Agreed"
ohm L turned his face to the sky and cried
! tones Of the greatest alarm, look out a
belll" The word :" liberty" was in the
1outh Of the eloquent speaker, but twas only
alf uttered, when bastE bound placed him
afe in the bomb-proof Inc shell did not ex-
lode, but whole brigade Of laughter did,
nd 50 loud and 50 animated that the yankees
bought that it was the old rebel shout before
charge. We take it for granted that Tom
}. was never made sick in that precise way
gain.
L., n,